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Huangdi asked: When the Foot-Yangming meridian is diseased, the patient dislikes people and fire. Hearing the sound of wood causes them to startle in fear, but the sound of bells and drums does not move them. Why does hearing the sound of wood cause alarm? I wish to hear the reason. Qibo replied: The Yangming meridian is the stomach meridian. The stomach belongs to Earth in the Five Phases. Therefore, hearing the sound of wood causes alarm because Earth fears Wood. Huangdi said: Good. Why do they dislike fire? Qibo said: Yangming governs the flesh. Its meridian has abundant blood and qi. When pathogenic factors invade, heat is generated. When the heat is severe, the patient dislikes fire. Huangdi said: Why do they dislike people? Qibo said: Reversal of Qi in Yangming leads to panting and distress (Wan). Distress leads to disliking people. Huangdi said: Some die from panting, while some survive. Why is this? Qibo said: If the reversal of Qi connects to the Zang organs, death occurs; if it connects only to the meridians, survival occurs. Huangdi said: Good. In severe cases, patients discard their clothes and run, climb high places and sing. Some do not eat for several days, jump over walls and roofs. They go to places they could never reach normally, yet the disease enables them to do so. Why is this? Qibo said: The four limbs are the root of all Yang meridians. When Yang is excessive, the four limbs become solid and strong, enabling one to climb high. Huangdi said: Why do they discard their clothes and run? Qibo said: Heat is excessive in the body, so they discard clothes and wish to run. Huangdi said: Why do they speak wildly, curse without distinguishing between close and distant relatives, and sing? Qibo said: Excessive Yang causes wild speech, cursing without distinction, and loss of appetite. Due to loss of appetite, they wander aimlessly.

Huangdi asked: Current febrile diseases all belong to the category of Cold Damage (Shanghan). Some recover, some die. Those who die usually do so within six or seven days, while those who recover usually take more than ten days. Why is this? I do not understand the explanation and wish to hear the reason. Qibo replied: Juyang (Taiyang) is the leader of all Yang meridians. Its meridian connects to the Fengfu point (GV16), thus serving as the master Qi of all Yang meridians. When humans are injured by cold, a febrile disease ensues. Even if the heat is severe, death will not occur. However, for those suffering from simultaneous contraction of cold (Lianggan), death is inevitable. Huangdi said: I wish to hear the manifestations. Qibo said: On the first day of Cold Damage, Juyang is affected, causing headache, stiff neck, and stiffness in the lower back and spine. On the second day, Yangming is affected. Yangming governs the flesh; its meridian runs along the nose and connects to the eyes. Thus, there is body heat, eye pain, dry nose, and inability to sleep. On the third day, Shaoyang is affected. Shaoyang governs the Gallbladder; its meridian follows the flanks and connects to the ears. Thus, there is pain in the chest and flanks, and deafness. When the meridians of the three Yang channels are all diseased but the pathogens have not entered the Zang organs, the condition can be cured by sweating. On the fourth day, Taiyin is affected. The Taiyin meridian spreads in the stomach and connects to the throat. Thus, there is abdominal fullness and dry throat. On the fifth day, Shaoyin is affected. The Shaoyin meridian passes through the Kidneys, connects to the Lungs, and ties to the root of the tongue. Thus, there is dry mouth, dry tongue, and thirst. On the sixth day, Jueyin is affected. The Jueyin meridian follows the genitalia and connects to the Liver. Thus, there is vexation, abdominal fullness, and retraction of the scrotum. If the three Yin and three Yang channels, and the five Zang and six Fu organs are all diseased, and Ying and Wei Qi cease to circulate, and the five Zang organs are blocked, death will occur. For those not suffering from simultaneous contraction of cold: on the seventh day, the disease of Juyang declines, and the headache slightly improves; on the eighth day, the disease of Yangming declines, and body heat slightly subsides; on the ninth day, the disease of Shaoyang declines, and deafness slightly improves with faint hearing; on the tenth day, the disease of Taiyin declines, abdominal fullness reduces to normal, and appetite returns; on the eleventh day, the disease of Shaoyin declines, thirst stops, bloating ceases, dry tongue resolves, and sneezing occurs; on the twelfth day, the disease of Jueyin declines, the scrotum relaxes, the lower abdomen slightly softens, the major pathogenic factors are expelled, and the disease heals day by day. Huangdi said: How should it be treated? Qibo said: Treatment requires unblocking the meridians of each respective Zang organ. The disease will decline and heal day by day. For conditions lasting less than three days, sweating can cure them. For conditions lasting three days or more, purging/draining can cure them. Huangdi said: After a febrile disease has healed, why does residual heat sometimes remain? Qibo said: Residual heat occurs when food is forced upon the patient while heat is still intense. In such cases, although the disease has declined, heat remains hidden. The Qi of the food conflicts with the residual heat, and the two heats combine, resulting in residual symptoms. Huangdi said: Good. How to treat residual heat? Qibo said: Observe deficiency and excess, regulate rebellion and compliance, and the disease will certainly heal. Huangdi said: What should be prohibited during febrile disease? Qibo said: When febrile disease slightly improves, eating meat causes recurrence, and overeating causes residual heat. These are the prohibitions. Huangdi said: For those suffering from simultaneous contraction of cold, what are the pulse and clinical manifestations? Qibo said: In simultaneous contraction of cold, on the first day, Juyang and Shaoyin are both diseased, causing headache, dry mouth, and vexation/fullness. On the second day, Yangming and Taiyin are both diseased, causing abdominal fullness, body heat, anorexia, and delirious speech. On the third day, Shaoyang and Jueyin are both diseased, causing deafness, scrotal retraction, and cold extremities. With inability to ingest water or grain and unconsciousness, death occurs on the sixth day. Huangdi said: The five Zang organs are damaged, the six Fu organs are blocked, and Ying and Wei Qi do not circulate. Why does death occur three days after this state? Qibo said: Yangming is the head of the twelve meridians, possessing abundant blood and Qi. Unconsciousness results from this. After three days, its Qi is exhausted, hence death. Any disease originating from Cold Damage that transforms into Warmth (Wen): if it occurs before the Summer Solstice, it is called Warm Disease; if it occurs after the Summer Solstice, it is called Summerheat. Summerheat must be expelled with sweat; do not stop sweating.