Library

The *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) discusses the origins of diseases predominant in the four seasons, but uniquely omits dryness syndromes. Yu Jiayan, based on the phrase "autumn injury by dampness" (Qiu shang yu shi), corrected it to "autumn injury by dryness" (Qiu shang yu zao), thereby clarifying a doubt that had persisted for millennia. Dryness belongs to Metal Qi; autumn is the season when Yangming Dry Metal governs, its climate being austere and killing, hence grasses and trees turn yellow and fall. The *Suwen: Tianyuanji Dalun* states: "Above Yangming, Dryness Qi governs." The *Suwen: Qijiaobian Dalun* states: "When the year's Metal is excessive, Dryness Qi prevails." It also says: "All cases of astringency, withering, drying up, stiffness, and skin cracking belong to Dryness." The *Suwen: Zhizhen Yao Dalun* states: "All qi stagnation and constraint belong to the Lung." Yu Jiayan interpreted this as referring to Dryness belonging to the Lung. It further states: "All flaccidity, panting, and vomiting belong to the Upper Jiao," which also pertains to Dryness of the Lung.

Causes of dryness include: accumulation of heat overcoming dampness leading to dryness; depletion of Lung Qi and consumption of fluids leading to dryness; sudden invasion of cold pathogen causing Yang Qi to be constrained externally leading to dryness; indulgence in raw and cold foods causing Yang Qi to be constrained internally leading to dryness; dampness transforming into heat leading to dryness; or wind overcoming dampness leading to dryness. Wang Haogu proposed there is withering due to Qi deficiency and withering due to Blood deficiency. Li Shizhen stated: "Withering is Dryness." Upper dryness causes thirst; lower dryness causes constipation; tendon dryness causes stiffness; skin dryness causes cracking; muscle dryness causes fissures; bone dryness causes emaciation; Lung dryness leads to Wei syndrome (Flaccidity); Kidney dryness leads to Xiao Ke (Wasting-thirst). The white part of the eye belongs to the Lung; dryness causes dry discharge and itching. The black part of the eye belongs to the Liver; dryness causes nebulae and blurred vision. The pupil belongs to the Kidney; dryness causes dim vision. The Heart belongs to Fire; dryness causes floating Heart Yang, resulting in red filaments entangling. The Spleen belongs to Earth; dryness causes stagnant and contracted Spleen Yin, resulting in yellow membranes obscuring vision. Treatment should nourish Ying (Nutrient) and moisten dryness, tonify Lung Qi and clear Metal. In cases where Yin deficiency is inherent, bile is insufficient, or the Gallbladder channel is scorched and depleted, the divine essence fluid in the eye may dry up immediately; urgent supplementation of True Yin is required so that body fluids generate naturally, allowing visual brilliance to gradually recover.

Zhu Danxi said: "Taiji moves to generate Yang, stillness generates Yin. Yang movement transforms, Yin stillness combines, generating Water, Fire, Wood, Metal, and Earth, each having its own nature. Only Fire has two types: Ministerial Fire (Jun Huo) belongs to the Heart, and Ministerial Fire (Xiang Huo) belongs to the Liver and Kidneys." The *Suwen: Yinyang Yingxiang Dalun* states: "Excessive Fire scatters Qi, mild Fire generates Qi." Among the Nineteen Pathogenesis Categories, five belong to Fire. Fire is internally Yin and externally Yang, primarily characterized by movement. Thus, all movements belong to Fire. In the human body, the Lung is the source of Water generation, and the Kidney is the reservoir of Water. If Fire acts recklessly, it injures Yuan Qi (Original Qi), and the water source easily dries up. This refers to what the *Suwen: Nidiao Lun* calls "one Water cannot overcome two Fires." There are also Fire of Jueyang within the Zang-Fu organs, rooted in the Five Emotions, stimulated by Six Desires and Seven Passions, arising spontaneously. Anger causes Fire to rise from the Liver; drunkenness and overeating cause Fire to rise from the Stomach; sexual exhaustion causes Fire to rise from the Kidney; grief causes Fire to rise from the Lung. The Heart is the Sovereign Monarch; if it burns itself, death ensues. This refers to what the *Suwen: Jiejingwei Lun* calls "one Water cannot overcome five Fires."

There are transfers of heat between Zang-Fu organs, such as Liver transferring heat to the Gallbladder, or Heart transferring heat to the Small Intestine. There are also relationships of excess and suppression, such as Heart Fire excess suppressing Lung Metal, or Liver Fire excess suppressing Spleen Earth. Zhang Zihe said: "The eyes do not become diseased without Fire. Redness of the sclera indicates Fire invading the Lung; swelling and redness of the eyelids indicate Fire invading the Spleen; obstruction of the corneal divine light by nebulae indicates Fire invading the Liver and Kidney; red vessels traversing the eye indicate self-excess of Fire." These are Fires generated internally from the Five Emotions. If it is epidemic heat, it is an external pathogenic Fire; those affected by its seasonal influence present with red, swollen, itchy, and painful eyes, tears like pus, aversion to heat and light, red tongue, and thirst. For Fires from the Five Emotions, one should descend deficient Yang and nourish Lung and Kidney; when Water is abundant, Fire calms itself. For external Fire, one should raise Yang to disperse it and use bitter-cold herbs to drain it, following the principle of "releasing constrained Fire." In cases of Yang deficiency and Yin excess, with Fire failing to return to its source, although the eyes are red and swollen, the pulse becomes weak and soft; treatment should warm and tonify to support Yang. This is what Wang Bing (Wang Taipu) called "benefiting the source of Fire to eliminate Yin shadows." In cases of Water deficiency and Fire excess, with Heart-Kidney non-interaction, dim vision, and a floating and洪 (surging) pulse, treatment should nourish Yin and moisten Water. This is what Wang Bing called "strengthening the master of Water to suppress Solar brilliance."