Library

Huangdi asked: May I inquire about the relative amounts of Qi and Blood in the twelve meridians? Qibo replied: Those that can be measured are determined by a standard medium, corresponding to the twelve meridians through the analogy of water streams. The distance, depth, and varying amounts of Qi and Blood differ among the muscle clefts (Xigu).

Treatment employs acupuncture and moxibustion to regulate Qi and Blood respectively. When needling together, tonifying deficiency and draining excess requires a thorough understanding of their respective anatomical regions.

Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian: Less Qi, more Blood.
Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian: Less Blood, more Qi.
Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian: Less Blood, more Qi.
Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian: Less Blood, more Qi.
Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian: Less Blood, more Qi.
Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian: Less Blood, more Qi.
Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian: More Blood, less Qi.
Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian: More Blood, more Qi.
Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian: More Blood, more Qi.
Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian: More Blood, less Qi.
Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian: More Blood, less Qi.
Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian: More Qi, less Blood.

Observe the floating collaterals (Fuluo) within the affected area: if the color is predominantly blue/green, it indicates pain; if black, wind-bi syndrome; if yellow or red, heat; if white, cold. If all five colors are present, it indicates mixed cold and heat. Upon pathogenic invasion, if Qi is deficient, pathogens remain between sinews and bones; excessive cold causes sinew spasm and bone pain; excessive heat causes bone wasting and sinew laxity.

[Shidong Bing] (Qi-related disorders)
Lung distension with fullness, bloating, wheezing, and coughing; pain in the supraclavicular fossa (Quepen); severe cases involve crossing both hands over the chest and mental confusion, known as Bi Jue (Arm Jue). This primarily governs diseases of the Lung.

[Suo Sheng Bing] (Blood-related disorders)
Cough, upward rushing of Qi, asthma, hoarseness, irritability, and chest/epigastric fullness. Pain along the anterior medial aspect of the arm and heat in the palm. In excess conditions (Shi), there is wind-pain in the shoulder and back, sweating, wind-stroke, frequent urination, and yawning. In deficiency conditions (Xu), there is shoulder and back pain, aversion to cold, shortness of breath (insufficient respiration), changes in urine color, or even sudden incontinence without control.

[Shidong Bing]
Sore throat, swelling of the mandible, inability to turn the head, shoulder pain feeling like being pulled out or broken. This primarily governs disorders of the axilla.

[Suo Sheng Bing]
Deafness, yellow eyes, swelling of the cheek and mandible, pain along the posterior lateral aspect of the neck, shoulder, elbow, and arm. These are symptoms of the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian.

[Shidong Bing]
Toothache and swelling. This primarily governs the metabolism of Body Fluids (Jinye).

[Suo Sheng Bing]
Yellow eyes, dry mouth, nasal congestion or epistaxis, bi-syndrome of the throat, pain in the anterior shoulder, pain and dysfunction of the thumb and index finger. In excess conditions, there is hot swelling along the meridian pathway; in deficiency conditions, there is chills and rigors, difficult to recover.