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Ping An: This chapter, from beginning to end, is found in Volume 10, Chapter 70 "Han Re" (Cold and Heat) of the *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot), and also in Volume 8, Part 1, Section 1 of the *Jia Yi Jing* (Classified Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).

The Yellow Emperor asked Qi Bo: What qi causes the Han Re Luo Li (scrofula with cold and heat sensations) appearing in the neck and axilla? Qi Bo replied: These are all Shu Lou (a disease characterized by neck masses and ulceration), which are toxic vapors of cold and heat that remain stagnant in the meridians without dispersing. (Wind pathogens cause cold and heat; the variations of cold and heat are countless, even becoming severe enough to form Yong Bing (carbuncles/abscesses). Now, [the pathogen] moves within the meridians causing obstruction and stagnation, thereby forming Luo Li and Shu Lou. Di refers to the blockage caused by carbuncles. Ping An notes: 'Ye' in this text corresponds to 'Xi' (axilla) in the *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing*. 'Li Yu Mai' (remaining in the vessels) in the *Jia Yi Jing* is written as 'Ji Yu Mai' (lingering in the vessels), with a note stating: "'Ji' in the *Ling Shu* is written as 'Liu'. The current version of the *Ling Shu* still uses 'Liu', without the character 'Ji'.") The Yellow Emperor said: How shall we eliminate it? Qi Bo said: The root of Shu Lou lies within the Zang-Fu organs, while its manifestation extends upward to the region between the neck and axilla. Those that float within the meridians but have not yet penetrated deeply into the muscles, and externally manifest as pus and blood, are easy to eliminate. (The qi of cold and heat resides in the lungs and other Zang organs, travels upward along the meridians, and erupts in the neck and axilla, not in the nape. Being in the meridians but not in the muscles indicates the pathology is superficial. Manifesting as pus and blood implies that external leakage of qi is significant, thus making it easy to eliminate. Ping An notes: In the *Jia Yi Jing*, 'Shang Yu' is written as 'Shang Chu' (emerge out); 'Mai Zhong' is written as 'Xiong Zhong' (chest); 'Er Wei Nei Zhuo' is written as just 'Wei Zhuo'; in the *Ling Shu*, 'Shang Yu' is written as 'Shang Chu Yu'. Note: 'Yi Qu' (easy to remove) was erroneously printed as 'Shi Qu' in the Yuan edition.) The Yellow Emperor said: How shall we eliminate it? Qi Bo said: Please follow the root to guide the branch, so that the condition may decline and the cold and heat may be cut off. Carefully examine the Dao (pathways) to administer treatment, using slow insertion and slow withdrawal to dispel the pathogen. (The 'Ben' (root) refers to the Zang organs. The 'Mo' (branch/end) refers to the affected area. The 'Dao' refers to the acupoint pathways where Zang-Fu meridians originate and travel. 'Xu Wang Lai' refers to the needle manipulation technique. Ping An notes: The Yuan edition omits the three characters 'Qi Bo Yue' after 'Nai He'.) For those small like wheat grains, one needling session brings improvement, and three sessions result in cure. (This is the dosage standard for effective treatment.) The Yellow Emperor said: How do we determine life and death prognosis? Qi Bo answered: Observe his eyes. If there are red vessels penetrating downward through the pupil, seeing one red vessel indicates death in one year; seeing one and a half red vessels indicates death in one and a half years; seeing two red vessels indicates death in two years; seeing two and a half red vessels indicates death in two and a half years; seeing three red vessels indicates death in three years. If red vessels are seen but do not penetrate downward through the pupil, the condition is treatable. (The following discusses signs of life and death. When cold and heat have become established, they reside in the Tai Yang (Greater Yang) meridian. The Tai Yang meridian serves as the upper frame of the eye. Its vessels descend and become visible, causing the Tai Yang meridian's qi to overflow into the collaterals. In severe cases, it merges into the collaterals and penetrates downward through the pupil. The pupil is the essence of the bone. Due to severe injury from cold and heat, if only one vessel penetrates alone, death occurs in one year. If there are two or three, the qi is scattered and not concentrated alone, hence death occurs in two or three years. Although red vessels are present, if they do not penetrate the pupil, treatment is possible because the essence of the bone has not been injured.)