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Yellow Emperor asked, "What is the mechanism by which cold and heat shift among the five zang organs and six fu organs?" Qibo replied, "When kidney cold shifts to the liver, carbuncles and swelling occur with shortness of breath. When spleen cold shifts to the liver, carbuncles and swelling occur with tendon contraction.

When liver cold shifts to the heart, mania and chest diaphragm obstruction occur. When heart cold shifts to the lung, it transforms into Lung Xiao (Lung Consumption); in Lung Xiao, one drink yields two urinations, which is a fatal condition that cannot be treated. When lung cold shifts to the kidney, it forms Yong Shui (Surging Water); in Yong Shui, abdominal palpation reveals no hardness, but water qi resides in the large intestine, producing gurgling sounds like a bag containing liquid when walking quickly; this is a disease of water accumulation.

When spleen heat shifts to the liver, it causes fright and epistaxis. When liver heat shifts to the heart, death ensues. When heart heat shifts to the lung, it transmits as Ge Xiao (Diaphragmatic Consumption). When lung heat shifts to the kidney, it transmits as Rou Jing (Soft Spasm/Stiffness). When kidney heat shifts to the spleen, it transmits as deficiency; if intestinal worms or severe diarrhea occurs, it is incurable. When the Bao Organ (Uterus/Lower Jiao) heat shifts to the bladder, it causes Lin syndrome (dysuria) with hematuria. When bladder heat shifts to the small intestine, it causes intestinal obstruction and constipation, and heat rising to the mouth causes oral ulcers (Kou Mi). When small intestine heat shifts to the large intestine, it forms Zha masses (abdominal lumps) and heaviness. When large intestine heat shifts to the stomach, it causes excessive hunger with emaciation, termed Shi Yi (Eating Without Gaining Weight). When stomach heat shifts to the gallbladder, it is also called Shi Yi. When gallbladder heat shifts to the brain, it causes nasal pungency and Bi Yuan (Nasal Sinusitis); Bi Yuan is characterized by continuous discharge of turbid mucus; if transmitted further, it causes epistaxis, blindness, or dim vision. This arises from Qi Jue (Qi Reversal).

Yellow Emperor asked, "Why does lung pathology cause cough?" Qibo answered, "Diseases of the five zang and six fu organs can all cause cough, not solely the lung itself." The Emperor said, "I wish to hear the details." Qibo said, "The skin and hair are the exterior correspondence of the lung. Pathogenic factors first invade the skin and hair, then enter the lung through this correspondence. If cold food and drink enter the stomach, the cold travels up along the lung meridian to the lung, causing lung cold. External pathogens and internal cold combine to lodge in the lung, resulting in Lung Cough.

Each of the five zang organs is susceptible to disease during its respective season; outside these seasons, pathogenic transmission still occurs. Humans correspond with heaven and earth; thus, each zang organ is affected by cold during its ruling season. Mild cases result in cough, while severe cases result in diarrhea or pain. In autumn, the lung is primarily affected; in spring, the liver; in summer, the heart; in late summer (Zhi Yin), the spleen; and in winter, the kidney.

The Emperor asked, "How can they be distinguished?" Qibo said, "The manifestation of Lung Cough includes coughing with wheezing and audible sounds; severely, blood may be expectorated. The manifestation of Heart Cough includes coughing accompanied by heart pain, a sensation of obstruction in the throat as if something were stuck; severely, the throat becomes swollen and obstructed (Hou Bi). The manifestation of Liver Cough includes coughing with pain under both hypochondria; severely, turning the body is impossible, and turning exacerbates fullness under the hypochondria. The manifestation of Spleen Cough includes coughing with pain under the right hypochondrium radiating to the shoulder and back; severely, movement is impossible, and movement aggravates the cough. The manifestation of Kidney Cough includes coughing with pulling pain between the waist and back; severely, saliva is coughed up.

The Emperor asked, "What about Cough of the six fu organs? Where does the disease originate?" Qibo said, "Prolonged cough of the five zang organs transfers to the six fu organs. If Spleen Cough persists, the Stomach is affected; Stomach Cough presents with coughing and vomiting; severely, roundworms may be expelled. If Liver Cough persists, the Gallbladder is affected; Gallbladder Cough presents with coughing and vomiting of bile. If Lung Cough persists, the Large Intestine is affected; Large Intestine Cough presents with coughing and loss of feces/urine control. If Heart Cough persists, the Small Intestine is affected; Small Intestine Cough presents with coughing and passing gas simultaneously. If Kidney Cough persists, the Bladder is affected; Bladder Cough presents with coughing and urinary incontinence. If prolonged cough persists, the San Jiao (Triple Burner) is affected; San Jiao Cough presents with coughing, abdominal fullness, and anorexia. The pathology of all these coughs gathers in the stomach and relates to the lung, causing excessive phlegm/saliva, facial edema, and rebellious qi.

The Emperor asked, "How should they be treated?" Qibo said, "To treat zang coughs, use the Shu (Transport) points of the zang organs; to treat fu coughs, use the He (Sea) points of the fu organs; for edema, use the Jing (River) points." The Emperor said, "Excellent."

Notes on Malaria Treatise: (Huowo qie) Lu (sound Lu) Mi (Mianbi qie)
Notes on Acupuncture for Malaria Treatise: (Sound Ye) Yi (Yuji qie) (Sound Shun)
Notes on Qi Jue Treatise: (Sound Chi) Mi (Wubei qie) (Sound Fu) Mie (Mo jie qie)
Notes on Cough Treatise: Hui (Sound Hui)