三七先生：这个饮食入于胃，入胃了之后就要转化。实际上食物就象加工的一个原 料，生产的一个原料。它生产出来的东西是什么呢？就是精，精中还有气，有精了 才能藏气。所以说脾胃是个中转站，转化为阳还是阴？阳化气，阴成形。它这个东 西是什么呢？是阴中有阳，如果是纯阴的东西不能转化为阳，这样呢它就是个废物 。所以是精，转化的是精。五脏的这个肾，主藏精，受五脏之精而藏之。它是闭藏 ，不能泄，如果泄了的话精就受损了。如果饮食不入胃的话，水谷精微转化成精就 没有来源了。气无所摄，这时候就会表现成虚。但是要转化需要阳气的运化。这个 阳气呢，实际上就是脾阳，脾胃之间的阳气。这个阳气的根本还是在下焦，所以先 后天实际上是一个互补的关系。后天的饮食摄入要为先天肾阳来提供燃料，然后命 火才能不衰，生命之火不熄。如果没有这个来源了，就象是炉中的火没有燃料了， 就会熄灭。炉火点起来之后，还可以烧水，腐熟五谷。命火烧起来之后就能帮助脾 胃运化，所以它们之间是相互依存。先天后天之间这个阳，其实都是一个东西，不 过是在不同的部位作用不同。此衰彼亦衰，此盛彼亦盛，它们相互之间是一个相互 依存的关系。
网友：冬天如何进补？
三七先生：冬不藏精的话，春必温病了，为什么说是温病呢？精不藏则气不能摄。 气不摄就外散，外散，阴就不足以摄阳，首先风动，然后化火，枯燥，水不能上承 。已经水少了，阴阳不在里了，这时候就成问题了。表面看上来阳多了，但实际是 阴少了，这时是要滋阴，不能随便伐阳。所以冬藏精，主要是不用。你只要不动就 行了，并不是需要摄入太多的东西。所以冬眠的动物实际上它冬天的饮食都是中断 的，它就睡觉。睡觉的同时，就是在养。所以说冬天你只要不用就可以了，冬季一 定要忌耗散。不是说怎么的非得要吃什么东西，如果要吃，吃什么呢？就吃桂附地 黄丸，这是平补。阴盛的人反而要补阳，用姜、桂、附之类的东西，来助阳气的收 藏。不然的话，阴盛格阳于外，阳气降路受阻，归不回去，反而外现假热之象，实 际上是内寒。春季阳在外扰动啊，它就应该收摄，如果它冲得太高，木火去刑金去 了，就可以用麦味。如果还没有那么高，只是水不涵木，就可以用杞菊地黄丸之类 ，甚至是六味，加点水。麦味地黄丸这个药是好药，这个药同时可以配附子理中吃 。上边是润，下边是燥。燥湿相济，同时它就成补了。
网友：阴盛格阳怎么理解？
三七先生：阴盛格阳，这是一个很形象的事。阴中要有阳，阴要是太多了，阳反而 会格于外，格于上焦。阳明这地方降不下去了，不入太阴，太阴寒湿太盛，阳浮于 上，上面表面显示像是有火，实际上是阴盛所致。如果你把这个太过的阴破了，阳 自然就下降了。如果你当成实火去治，用凉药，越用下面的寒就会越盛，这就是虚 虚实实了。本来就阳虚，使它更虚，本来阴盛，使它更盛。所以有些病，比如口腔 溃疡，青春痘什么的，表面上是火，火郁于上，其实是阴盛于下。你看《医理真传 》讲口腔溃疡和慢性咽炎什么的，都是阴盛的症。这样的例子太多了，普遍被认为 火盛的这些病实际上都是阴盛。辨脉象也能辨出来，脉象是沉紧、外格，阻力非常 大。那个气，那个脉象向下用力的时候，有一种不容易往下按的反抗的力量，实际 上是阴气在里边阻隔。
三七先生：这慢性咽炎一定是阴虚火旺吗？回答这个问题得加一个不字就可以了。 慢性咽炎不一定是阴虚火旺，可以这么说。再进一步说呢，更大的可能性是慢性咽 炎一定不是阴虚火旺。不一定是，更大的可能性是一定不是。不知道能不能听明白 这个意思，就是说阴虚火旺的可能性是极小的，阴盛格阳的可能性是极大的。这个 比例可能是按照百分之九十几和百分之几的比例。所以那种情况你用凉药永远好不 了，只能越用越重，没完没了。所以说这又是一个大方向的问题，举世错误的判断 加起来得出这么个结论——阴虚火旺。所以不要信这些东西，这些东西又变成了广 告的依据，这个慢性咽炎就得用凉药了。你要用上了你就永远不好。
网友：郑钦安先生对脉象是如何认识的？
三七先生：郑钦安先生其实对脉他不太注重，他不太讲这个脉，所以我对他讲的这 个脉象的印象也不是太深。真正看脉理，看黄元御的《四圣心源》，那里头讲得非 常的详细。脉怎么看的都有，怎么定的也都有，这么看那么看，横看竖看，左看右 看，但是大的方向不能错。左升右降，这一定错不了。你是与四象相应呢，还是与 五行相应，与六气相应，那是你自己定位置。脉呢？大纲说的都不一样，浮沉迟数 滑涩，有的又说的是别的。但是主要还是升降啊，看他那个左脉能不能升起来，右 脉能不能降下去。升降出入，无器不有。六气在升降浮沉，左边是阴出阳的路，右 边是阳入阴的路，左边是木火上升，右边是金水下降。论坛上不是有个数字图吗？ （见第46页）后来我不是把那个数的意思都讲了一下吗？有一圈，那个第三层，就 是脉的数。说到大小的话，这脉有个定数的就是这个四象啊。哪个位置最大，哪个 位置最小，它是有区别的。如果不合于这个数呢，就说明出了问题。就象心脉，心 脉浮而大散，与肺脉同居于浮部，居于上焦。浮而大散者为心，浮而短涩者为肺。 所以它表现一个是外散，一个是收敛。要与六气相应的话，一个是少阴君火。一个 是阳明燥金。如果它俩相反了的话，那就很成问题了。在右寸脉上见浮而大散之象 ，这就说明是金受火刑，火克金了。这个人会表现什么样呢？口渴，口燥，说话的 声音有些沙哑，发不出声，甚至最后就是发不出音来了。其他部位，也可以类推。 右寸脉大，关下也大，尺也大，这说明内热相，内热就表现出来了，阴虚，阴不足 ，金水气不足了这时候就可以用我刚才说那个麦味收敛一下了。如果寸大，关下反 而紧，这就是刚才所说的阴盛格阳了，就要开太阴，把中间这个阻碍打开，让它降 下去。。阴一破，阳就收，尺脉就充实了。不然的话尺下或者是紧或者是细。太阳 是升极而降，所以它始于晴明穴，从上面开始，降到至阴，从小脚指转入至阴之地 。方向是从上到下，开始于上，就说明是从下面升起来的，升到极点之后，又降下 去了。
网友：什么时候切脉时间最准确？
三七先生：切脉时间最准的时候就是早饭前，阳气未动，饮食未入的时候。
讲述：三七生
时间：2006年2月15日
整理：观自在
三七先生：这个问题它本身就有些问题，说对肝脏有无影响，这并不在于附子多少 克，而是他现在这个肝脏是个什么情况。如果是一种阴寒凝滞的情况，如陈新华先 生治疗肝硬化，他最后用到350克，最后病就完全治好了，而且老年斑什么的都去 掉了。350克比30克多了多少倍呢？十倍还多。有无影响呢？当然是有影响，但是 这个影响是好的影响。如果是肝阴不足的人，应该用芍药甘草汤来治的人，如果你 用到30克，肯定会有不好的影响。不用30克，5克6克可能都会不好。所以说这个问 题是有个前提的，并不是说30克就会怎么样。这个问题，就象什么呢？就象是说炉 子里面的火对房间里的人有没影响？它肯定会有影响，但是这要一个前提，如果是 在冬季的时候，炉火对人会有正面的影响。没有炉火房间很冷，人会受不了。如果 是在夏季三伏天的时候，你再烧这一炉子的火，就会受不了了。所以这类问题就和 刚才这个比喻是一个性质，一定要有个前提，一定要辨证，究竟是什么证？是阴是 阳？如果你是阴盛的话，热就得多，不然的话就破不掉这个阴。
网友：请问先生相火是怎么回事？
三七先生：相火的问题，我写的那几篇短文也都提到了。相火与君火相对，君火以 明，相火以位。实际上就是一个坎中的阳，一个离中的阴。火这个东西，为什么西 医不知道呢？其实火它就是气，它看不见摸不着。真正点着的火还可以看得见，也 可以摸得着，但是抓不住。人身上的火呢？看不见摸不着，摸着的都是皮相的东西 ，都是物质的东西。但实际上你还是摸得着，就是温度。如果这个火也就是这个气 散了的话，人就会变冰凉，僵硬，就是这种死尸的触觉。人没有火了，没有气了， 就变成一个死物。相火是什么呢？相火以位，它位于下，藏于肾中，也就是龙雷之 火。郑钦安先生医理真传一上来不就是讲相火嘛，相火有种种不同的名字。但是说 来说去都是一个东西，也就是位于下面的这个火。这个火是什么呢?就是一个动力 之源，也就是坎中这一阳。这一阳如果没有了的话，阳根就脱了，上面就成了浮游 之火。浮火散尽，人也就气绝了。
火这个东西有一个特点，必须要有燃料，必须要有一个可以燃烧的东西。一张纸， 烧尽的时候火也就灭了。所以说这个火，也就是气，必然与物质同在。相火以位， 相火是什么东西呢？相火是肾所藏的火，也就是肾中这个气。它附于什么呢？它是 与精相合。如果精要泻出去的话，火自然也就随之外散。也就是说，阴为阳之宅。 如果阴不足了的话，没有阴了的话，火也无所附。这个相当于什么呢？相当于煤， 或者是柴。有柴了有煤了你把它点着了，就能点起火，火不能凭空存在。在肾中的 火，这个相火实际上就是精。而在心中的火就是血，有血它必然就有火。如果血瘀 了的话，血凝了的话，这说明血中就没有气了。所以人体使用手册里面主要讲的就 是这个血气，你只要血多了，自然气也盛。当然这个血必须是好血，不能是瘀血。 所以他抓住这一点，只要这个血多了，身体它自然会好，气也足嘛。所以说，血和 精实际上是气的物质形式。当然，如果它是败精了，是瘀血了，这说明这里面就没 有气了。这个血这个精这个本来含有生气的东西就没有生气了。没有生气了，就变 成了死物。死物它就凝滞不通，就变成了一种瘀滞的东西，阻碍气机升降的东西， 也就是没有生机的东西，生机不存了。火和气啊，就是一种能量，能量是能源转化 出来的。如果没有能源，谈不上什么能量。能源也是很有局限的，比如现在工业用 的能源，石油，煤炭之类的。它不能拿石头直接转化成动力，水也不行。为什么呢 ？因为它不能直接燃起火来，一切可以点起火的东西实际上都是能源。
网友：今天的讲堂的主题是什么？
三七先生：不要问什么主题不主题的，什么都可以是主题。一个问题你要弄清楚了 的话，你就可以一通百通，如果全不通的话，你一本书一个字一个字讲最后也不通 。讲课的话也可以拿一本书来讲，也可以随便说，但是最后你要说到实质的问题上 。
网友：开合枢是怎么回事？
三七先生：饮食进入胃中，入胃之后就要进行转化。实际上食物就像加工的原料、生产的原料。它生产出来的东西是什么呢？就是精，精中还有气，有精了才能藏气。所以说脾胃是个中转站，转化为阳还是阴？阳化气，阴成形。这个东西是什么呢？是阴中有阳，如果是纯阴的东西不能转化为阳，这样呢它就是个废物。所以是精，转化的是精。五脏中的肾，主藏精，受五脏之精而藏之。它是闭藏，不能泄，如果泄了的话精就受损了。如果饮食不入胃的话，水谷精微转化成精就没有来源了。气无所摄，这时候就会表现成虚。但是要转化需要阳气的运化。这个阳气呢，实际上就是脾阳，脾胃之间的阳气。这个阳气的根本还是在下焦，所以先天和后天实际上是一个互补的关系。后天的饮食摄入要为先天肾阳来提供燃料，然后命门之火才能不衰，生命之火不熄。如果没有这个来源了，就象是炉中的火没有燃料了，就会熄灭。炉火点起来之后，还可以烧水，腐熟五谷。命火烧起来之后就能帮助脾胃运化，所以它们之间是相互依存。先天后天之间这个阳，其实都是一个东西，不过是在不同的部位作用不同。此衰彼亦衰，此盛彼亦盛，它们相互之间是一个相互依存的关系。
网友：冬天如何进补？
三七先生：冬天如果不藏精的话，春天必定得温病（温热性质的疾病），为什么说是温病呢？精不藏则气不能摄。气不摄就外散，外散，阴就不足以摄阳，首先风动，然后化火，枯燥，水不能上承。已经水少了，阴阳不在里了，这时候就成问题了。表面看上来阳多了，但实际是阴少了，这时是要滋阴，不能随便伐阳。所以冬藏精，主要是不用。你只要不动就行了，并不是需要摄入太多的东西。所以冬眠的动物实际上它冬天的饮食都是中断的，它就睡觉。睡觉的同时，就是在养。所以说冬天你只要不用就可以了，冬季一定要忌耗散。不是说怎么的非得要吃什么东西，如果要吃，吃什么呢？就吃桂附地黄丸（方剂名，由肉桂、附子、地黄等组成，具有温补肾阳功效），这是平补。阴盛的人反而要补阳，用姜、桂、附之类的东西，来助阳气的收藏。不然的话，阴盛格阳于外（阴寒内盛，逼迫阳气浮越于外），阳气降路受阻，归不回去，反而外现假热之象，实际上是内寒。春季阳在外扰动啊，它就应该收摄，如果它冲得太高，木火去刑金（肝木心火过旺克制肺金）去了，就可以用麦味（指麦味地黄丸）。如果还没有那么高，只是水不涵木（肾水不足不能滋养肝木），就可以用杞菊地黄丸之类，甚至是六味（指六味地黄丸），加点水。麦味地黄丸这个药是好药，这个药同时可以配附子理中（方剂名，即附子理中丸/汤，温中健脾）吃。上边是润，下边是燥。燥湿相济，同时它就成补了。
网友：阴盛格阳怎么理解？
三七先生：阴盛格阳，这是一个很形象的事。阴中要有阳，阴要是太多了，阳反而会格于外，格于上焦。阳明这地方降不下去了，不入太阴，太阴寒湿太盛，阳浮于上，上面表面显示像是有火，实际上是阴盛所致。如果你把这个太过的阴破了，阳自然就下降了。如果你当成实火去治，用凉药，越用下面的寒就会越盛，这就是虚虚实实了（使虚者更虚，实者更实）。本来就阳虚，使它更虚，本来阴盛，使它更盛。所以有些病，比如口腔溃疡，青春痘什么的，表面上是火，火郁于上，其实是阴盛于下。你看《医理真传》讲口腔溃疡和慢性咽炎什么的，都是阴盛的症。这样的例子太多了，普遍被认为火盛的这些病实际上都是阴盛。辨脉象也能辨出来，脉象是沉紧、外格，阻力非常大。那个气，那个脉象向下用力的时候，有一种不容易往下按的反抗的力量，实际上是阴气在里边阻隔。
三七先生：这慢性咽炎一定是阴虚火旺吗？回答这个问题得加一个不字就可以了。慢性咽炎不一定是阴虚火旺，可以这么说。再进一步说呢，更大的可能性是慢性咽炎一定不是阴虚火旺。不一定是，更大的可能性是一定不是。不知道能不能听明白这个意思，就是说阴虚火旺的可能性是极小的，阴盛格阳的可能性是极大的。这个比例可能是按照百分之九十几和百分之几的比例。所以那种情况你用凉药永远好不了，只能越用越重，没完没了。所以说这又是一个大方向的问题，举世错误的判断加起来得出这么个结论——阴虚火旺。所以不要信这些东西，这些东西又变成了广告的依据，这个慢性咽炎就得用凉药了。你要用上了你就永远不好。
网友：郑钦安先生对脉象是如何认识的？
三七先生：郑钦安先生其实对脉他不太注重，他不太讲这个脉，所以我对他讲的这个脉象的印象也不是太深。真正看脉理，看黄元御的《四圣心源》，那里头讲得非常详细。脉怎么看的都有，怎么定的也都有，这么看那么看，横看竖看，左看右看，但是大的方向不能错。左升右降，这一定错不了。你是与四象相应呢，还是与五行相应，与六气相应，那是你自己定位置。脉呢？大纲说的都不一样，浮沉迟数滑涩，有的又说的是别的。但是主要还是升降啊，看他那个左脉能不能升起来，右脉能不能降下去。升降出入，无器不有。六气在升降浮沉，左边是阴出阳的路，右边是阳入阴的路，左边是木火上升，右边是金水下降。论坛上不是有个数字图吗？（见第46页）后来我不是把那个数的意思都讲了一下吗？有一圈，那个第三层，就是脉的数。说到大小的话，这脉有个定数的就是这个四象啊。哪个位置最大，哪个位置最小，它是有区别的。如果不合于这个数呢，就说明出了问题。就象心脉，心脉浮而大散，与肺脉同居于浮部，居于上焦。浮而大散者为心，浮而短涩者为肺。所以它表现一个是外散，一个是收敛。要与六气相应的话，一个是少阴君火。一个是阳明燥金。如果它俩相反了的话，那就很成问题了。在右寸脉上见浮而大散之象，这就说明是金受火刑，火克金了。这个人会表现什么样呢？口渴，口燥，说话的声音有些沙哑，发不出声，甚至最后就是发不出音来了。其他部位，也可以类推。右寸脉大，关下也大，尺也大，这说明内热相，内热就表现出来了，阴虚，阴不足，金水气不足了这时候就可以用我刚才说那个麦味收敛一下了。如果寸大，关下反而紧，这就是刚才所说的阴盛格阳了，就要开太阴，把中间这个阻碍打开，让它降下去。。阴一破，阳就收，尺脉就充实了。不然的话尺下或者是紧或者是细。太阳是升极而降，所以它始于晴明穴（穴位名，足太阳膀胱经起始穴），从上面开始，降到至阴（穴位名，足太阳膀胱经井穴），从小脚指转入至阴之地。方向是从上到下，开始于上，就说明是从下面升起来的，升到极点之后，又降下去了。
网友：什么时候切脉时间最准确？
三七先生：切脉时间最准的时候就是早饭前，阳气未动，饮食未入的时候。
讲述：三七生
时间：2006年2月15日
整理：观自在
三七先生：这个问题它本身就有些问题，说对肝脏有无影响，这并不在于附子多少克，而是他现在这个肝脏是个什么情况。如果是一种阴寒凝滞的情况，如陈新华先生治疗肝硬化，他最后用到350克，最后病就完全治好了，而且老年斑什么的都去掉了。350克比30克多了多少倍呢？十倍还多。有无影响呢？当然是有影响，但是这个影响是好的影响。如果是肝阴不足的人，应该用芍药甘草汤（方剂名，调和肝脾，缓急止痛）来治的人，如果你用到30克，肯定会有不好的影响。不用30克，5克6克可能都会不好。所以说这个问题是有个前提的，并不是说30克就会怎么样。这个问题，就象什么呢？就象是说炉子里面的火对房间里的人有没有影响？它肯定会有影响，但是这要一个前提，如果是在冬季的时候，炉火对人会有正面的影响。没有炉火房间很冷，人会受不了。如果是在夏季三伏天的时候，你再烧这一炉子的火，就会受不了了。所以这类问题就和刚才这个比喻是一个性质，一定要有个前提，一定要辨证，究竟是什么证？是阴是阳？如果你是阴盛的话，热就得多，不然的话就破不掉这个阴。
网友：请问先生相火是怎么回事？
三七先生：相火的问题，我写的那几篇短文也都提到了。相火与君火相对，君火以明，相火以位。实际上就是一个坎中的阳，一个离中的阴。火这个东西，为什么西医不知道呢？其实火它就是气，它看不见摸不着。真正点着的火还可以看得见，也可以摸得着，但是抓不住。人身上的火呢？看不见摸不着，摸着的都是皮相的东西，都是物质的东西。但实际上你还是摸得着，就是温度。如果这个火也就是这个气散了的话，人就会变冰凉，僵硬，就是这种死尸的触觉。人没有火了，没有气了，就变成一个死物。相火是什么呢？相火以位，它位于下，藏于肾中，也就是龙雷之火。郑钦安先生医理真传一上来不就是讲相火嘛，相火有种种不同的名字。但是说来说去都是一个东西，也就是位于下面的这个火。这个火是什么呢?就是一个动力之源，也就是坎中这一阳。这一阳如果没有了的话，阳根就脱了，上面就成了浮游之火。浮火散尽，人也就气绝了。
火这个东西有一个特点，必须要有燃料，必须要有一个可以燃烧的东西。一张纸，烧尽的时候火也就灭了。所以说这个火，也就是气，必然与物质同在。相火以位，相火是什么东西呢？相火是肾所藏的火，也就是肾中这个气。它附于什么呢？它是与精相合。如果精要泻出去的话，火自然也就随之外散。也就是说，阴为阳之宅。如果阴不足了的话，没有阴了的话，火也无所附。这个相当于什么呢？相当于煤，或者是柴。有柴了有煤了你把它点着了，就能点起火，火不能凭空存在。在肾中的火，这个相火实际上就是精。而在心中的火就是血，有血它必然就有火。如果血瘀了的话，血凝了的话，这说明血中就没有气了。所以人体使用手册里面主要讲的就是这个血气，你只要血多了，自然气也盛。当然这个血必须是好血，不能是瘀血。所以他抓住这一点，只要这个血多了，身体它自然会好，气也足嘛。所以说，血和精实际上是气的物质形式。当然，如果它是败精了，是瘀血了，这说明这里面就没有气了。这个血这个精这个本来含有生气的东西就没有生气了。没有生气了，就变成了死物。死物它就凝滞不通，就变成了一种瘀滞的东西，阻碍气机升降的东西，也就是没有生机的东西，生机不存了。火和气啊，就是一种能量，能量是能源转化出来的。如果没有能源，谈不上什么能量。能源也是很有局限的，比如现在工业用的能源，石油，煤炭之类的。它不能拿石头直接转化成动力，水也不行。为什么呢？因为它不能直接燃起火来，一切可以点起火的东西实际上都是能源。
网友：今天的讲堂的主题是什么？
三七先生：不要问什么主题不主题的，什么都可以是主题。一个问题你要弄清楚了的话，你就可以一通百通，如果全不通的话，你一本书一个字一个字讲最后也不通。讲课的话也可以拿一本书来讲，也可以随便说，但是最后你要说到实质性的问题上。
网友：开合枢是怎么回事？
Mr. Sanqi: When food enters the stomach, it must undergo transformation after entering. In essence, food is like a raw material for processing or production. What does it produce? It produces Jing (Essence). Within Jing, there is Qi; only with Essence can Qi be stored. Therefore, the Spleen and Stomach act as a transit station. Does it transform into Yang or Yin? Yang transforms into Qi, while Yin forms structure. This substance contains Yang within Yin. If it were purely Yin, it could not transform into Yang, thus becoming waste. Hence, what is transformed is Essence. Among the Five Zang Organs, the Kidney governs the storage of Essence, receiving and storing the Essence from all five organs. Its function is closure and storage; it must not leak. If leakage occurs, Essence will be damaged. If food does not enter the stomach, there will be no source for transforming the refined nutrients of water and grain into Essence. Qi will have nothing to hold, resulting in deficiency manifestations. However, transformation requires the transportation and transformation of Yang Qi. This Yang Qi is essentially the Spleen-Yang, the Yang Qi between the Spleen and Stomach. The root of this Yang Qi lies in the Lower Jiao (Lower Burner). Thus, the Pre-Heaven (Innate) and Post-Heaven (Acquired) actually have a complementary relationship. Acquired dietary intake provides fuel for the innate Kidney-Yang, ensuring that the Mingmen Fire (Gate of Life Fire) does not decline and the fire of life does not extinguish. Without this source, it is like a stove fire without fuel, which will go out. Once the stove fire is lit, it can boil water and ripen grains. When the Mingmen Fire burns, it aids the Spleen and Stomach in transportation and transformation, so they are interdependent. The Yang of both Pre-Heaven and Post-Heaven is essentially the same thing, merely acting differently in different locations. When one declines, the other also declines; when one flourishes, the other also flourishes. They maintain an interdependent relationship.
Netizen: How should one tonify in winter?
Mr. Sanqi: If one does not store Essence in winter, one will inevitably suffer from Warm Diseases (warm-pathogen diseases) in spring. Why is it called a Warm Disease? Because if Essence is not stored, Qi cannot be held. If Qi is not held, it scatters outward. If it scatters outward, Yin is insufficient to control Yang. First, Wind arises, then it transforms into Fire, causing dryness, and Water fails to ascend. With reduced Water, Yin and Yang are no longer balanced internally, leading to problems. Superficially, it appears that Yang has increased, but in reality, Yin has decreased. At this time, one must nourish Yin and must not casually attack Yang. Therefore, storing Essence in winter mainly involves non-action. You simply need to refrain from exertion; it does not require excessive intake of substances. Hibernating animals actually cease eating during winter; they sleep. While sleeping, they are nurturing themselves. Thus, in winter, you only need to avoid exertion; one must strictly avoid dissipative activities in winter. It is not about what specific foods one must eat. If one must eat, what should one eat? One may take Guifu Dihuang Wan (Cinnamon Twig and Aconite Rehmannia Pill), which is a mild tonic. For those with Yin Excess, one should instead tonify Yang using Ginger, Cinnamon Twig, and Aconite to assist in the conservation of Yang Qi. Otherwise, Yin Excess may force Yang outward (Yin Excess repelling Yang to the exterior), obstructing the pathway for Yang to descend. Yang cannot return inward, presenting false heat symptoms externally, while internally there is cold. In spring, Yang disturbs externally and should be gathered. If it rises too high, Wood-Fire may overact on Metal (Liver/Heart Fire attacking Lung), in which case Maiwei Dihuang Wan (Lophatherum and Schisandra Rehmannia Pill) can be used. If it has not risen that high, but merely represents Water failing to nourish Wood (Kidney Water failing to nourish Liver Wood), one may use Qiju Dihuang Wan (Dioscorea, Chrysanthemum, and Rehmannia Pill), or even Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill), adding water. Maiwei Dihuang Wan is a good medicine; it can be taken simultaneously with Fuzi Lizhong (Aconite and Magnolia Bark Decoction/Wan). The upper part is moistening, the lower part is drying. Dryness and Dampness complement each other, thereby forming a tonic effect.
Netizen: How to understand "Yin Excess repelling Yang to the exterior"?
Mr. Sanqi: "Yin Excess repelling Yang to the exterior" is a vivid concept. There must be Yang within Yin. If Yin is excessive, Yang is repelled outward, specifically to the Upper Jiao (Upper Burner). At the Yangming location, descent is blocked; it does not enter Taiyin. Taiyin Cold-Dampness is excessive, causing Yang to float upward. Superficially, there appears to be Fire above, but it is actually caused by Yin Excess. If you break through this excessive Yin, Yang will naturally descend. If you treat it as Excess Fire and use cooling medicines, the Cold below will become even more severe. This constitutes "making deficiency more deficient and excess more excessive." Since Yang is already deficient, making it more deficient; since Yin is already excessive, making it more excessive. Therefore, some diseases, such as oral ulcers or acne, appear superficially as Fire, with Fire constrained in the upper body, but are actually due to Yin Excess in the lower body. As discussed in *Yili Zhenchuan* (True Transmission of Medical Principles) regarding oral ulcers and chronic pharyngitis, these are symptoms of Yin Excess. Such examples are numerous. Diseases generally considered to be caused by Fire Excess are actually caused by Yin Excess. Pulse diagnosis can also reveal this. The pulse is deep and tight, with external repulsion, showing significant resistance. When applying pressure downward on the pulse, there is a resistant force that is difficult to press down, actually indicating obstruction by Yin Qi within.
Netizen: Is chronic pharyngitis always due to Yin Deficiency with Fire Hyperactivity?
Mr. Sanqi: Is chronic pharyngitis always due to Yin Deficiency with Fire Hyperactivity? To answer this question, one simply needs to add the word "not." Chronic pharyngitis is not necessarily due to Yin Deficiency with Fire Hyperactivity. Furthermore, the greater possibility is that chronic pharyngitis is definitely NOT due to Yin Deficiency with Fire Hyperactivity. It is not necessarily so; the greater probability is that it is definitely not so. I hope this meaning is clear: the likelihood of Yin Deficiency with Fire Hyperactivity is extremely small, while the likelihood of Yin Excess repelling Yang to the exterior is extremely large. The ratio might be ninety-plus percent versus a few percent. Therefore, in such cases, using cooling medicines will never cure it; it will only worsen continuously. This is another issue of major direction. Accumulated erroneous judgments worldwide lead to the conclusion of "Yin Deficiency with Fire Hyperactivity." Do not believe these things; they become bases for advertising, claiming that chronic pharyngitis requires cooling medicines. If you use them, you will never recover.
Netizen: How did Mr. Zheng Qin'an view pulse diagnosis?
Mr. Sanqi: Mr. Zheng Qin'an did not place much emphasis on pulse diagnosis and rarely spoke about it, so my impression of his views on pulse is not very deep. To truly understand pulse theory, one should read Huang Yuanyu's *Sisheng Xinyuan* (Source of the Four Sages). It explains pulse taking in great detail. There are various methods: how to feel it, how to define it, looking this way and that, horizontally and vertically, left and right. However, the general direction must not be wrong. Left ascending and Right descending—this cannot be wrong. Whether you correspond to the Four Images, Five Elements, or Six Qi, that is your choice of positioning. Regarding pulses, the outlines vary: floating, sinking, slow, rapid, slippery, choppy, etc., and others describe different aspects. But primarily, it concerns Ascending and Descending. See if the Left pulse can ascend and the Right pulse can descend. Ascending, Descending, Exiting, and Entering exist in all vessels. The Six Qi move in Ascending, Descending, Floating, and Sinking. The Left side is the path for Yin emerging into Yang; the Right side is the path for Yang entering Yin. The Left is Wood and Fire ascending; the Right is Metal and Water descending. Wasn't there a numerical diagram on the forum? (See page 46). Didn't I explain the meaning of those numbers? There is a circle, the third layer, which represents the pulse numbers. Regarding size, the pulse has fixed numbers corresponding to the Four Images. Which position is largest, which is smallest, there are distinctions. If it does not conform to these numbers, it indicates a problem. For example, the Heart pulse is floating, large, and scattered, residing in the floating position along with the Lung pulse, located in the Upper Jiao. Floating, large, and scattered indicates the Heart; floating, short, and choppy indicates the Lung. Thus, one manifests as external scattering, the other as convergence. Corresponding to the Six Qi, one is Shaoyin Junhuo (Ministerial Fire of Shaoyin), and the other is Yangming Zaojin (Dryness Metal of Yangming). If they are reversed, serious problems arise. Seeing a floating, large, and scattered image on the Right Cun (inch) pulse indicates that Metal is being punished by Fire, i.e., Fire overcoming Metal. What would this person manifest? Thirst, dry mouth, hoarseness, inability to speak, or even complete loss of voice. Other positions can be inferred similarly. If the Right Cun pulse is large, and also large at Guan (bar) and Chi (cubit) positions, this indicates internal Heat manifestation. Internal Heat shows up as Yin Deficiency, insufficiency of Yin, and insufficiency of Metal-Water Qi. At this time, one can use the aforementioned Maiwei [Dihuang Wan] to converge. If the Cun is large, but Guan is tight, this is the previously mentioned Yin Excess repelling Yang to the exterior. One must open Taiyin, remove the central obstruction, and allow descent. Once Yin is broken, Yang gathers, and the Chi pulse becomes full. Otherwise, the Chi position is either tight or thin. Taiyang reaches its peak in ascent and then descends. It begins at Jingming acupoint, starts from above, descends to Zhiyin, and enters the land of Zhiyin via the little toe. The direction is from top to bottom. Starting from above indicates it rose from below; after reaching the peak, it descends again.
Netizen: When is the most accurate time to take the pulse?
Mr. Sanqi: The most accurate time to take the pulse is before breakfast, when Yang Qi has not yet stirred and food has not been ingested.
Talk Six: Ministerial Fire · Opening, Closing, and Pivot
Organized based on recordings from the Folk TCM Network TCM Lecture Hall
Speaker: Sanqi Sheng
Date: February 15, 2006
Editor: Guan Zizai
Netizen: Using 30 grams of Fuzi (Aconite Root) in Fuzi Tang, does it affect the Liver?
Mr. Sanqi: This question itself has issues. Asking whether it affects the Liver does not depend on the dosage of Fuzi, but rather on the current condition of the patient's Liver. If the condition is one of Yin-Cold stagnation, such as in Mr. Chen Xinhua's treatment of liver cirrhosis, he eventually used 350 grams, and the disease was completely cured, including the disappearance of age spots. 350 grams is more than ten times 30 grams. Does it have an effect? Of course, it has an effect, but this effect is beneficial. If the patient has Liver Yin Deficiency and should be treated with Shaoyao Gancao Tang (Peony and Licorice Decoction), using 30 grams would certainly have adverse effects. Even 5 or 6 grams might be harmful. Therefore, this question has prerequisites; it is not that 30 grams will automatically cause something. This question is like asking whether the fire in a stove affects people in the room. It definitely has an effect, but there is a prerequisite. In winter, the stove fire has a positive effect on people. Without the stove, the room is cold, and people cannot endure it. However, in the dog days of summer, burning such a stove fire would be unbearable. So, this type of question is similar to the previous analogy; a prerequisite is essential. One must differentiate the syndrome: what is the syndrome? Is it Yin or Yang? If you have Yin Excess, you need more heat; otherwise, you cannot break through the Yin.
Netizen: Sir, what is Ministerial Fire?
Mr. Sanqi: The issue of Ministerial Fire has been mentioned in my short essays. Ministerial Fire contrasts with Sovereign Fire. Sovereign Fire illuminates, while Ministerial Fire maintains its position. Essentially, it is the Yang within Kan (Water trigram) and the Yin within Li (Fire trigram). Why doesn't Western medicine know about Fire? Actually, Fire is Qi; it is invisible and intangible. Real, lit fire can be seen and touched, but cannot be grasped. The Fire in the human body is invisible and intangible; what we touch are superficial, material things. However, you can still feel it—it is temperature. If this Fire, or Qi, scatters, the body becomes ice-cold and stiff, like the touch of a corpse. Without Fire, without Qi, one becomes a dead object. What is Ministerial Fire? Ministerial Fire maintains its position; it is located below, stored in the Kidneys, also known as Dragon-Lei Fire. Doesn't *Yili Zhenchuan* by Mr. Zheng Qin'an start by discussing Ministerial Fire? Ministerial Fire has various names. But ultimately, it is the same thing—the Fire located below. What is this Fire? It is the source of power, the single Yang line within Kan. If this Yang is lost, the root of Yang detaches, and the upper part becomes floating, wandering Fire. When floating Fire dissipates, Qi perishes, and the person dies.
Fire has a characteristic: it must have fuel, something combustible. When a piece of paper burns out, the fire goes out. Therefore, this Fire, or Qi, must coexist with matter. Ministerial Fire maintains its position. What is Ministerial Fire? It is the Fire stored by the Kidneys, the Qi within the Kidneys. What does it attach to? It combines with Jing (Essence). If Jing leaks out, Fire naturally scatters outward. That is, Yin is the residence of Yang. If Yin is insufficient, or absent, Fire has nowhere to attach. This is equivalent to coal or firewood. With wood or coal, you can light a fire; Fire cannot exist out of nothing. The Fire in the Kidneys, this Ministerial Fire, is essentially Jing. The Fire in the Heart is Blood; where there is Blood, there is necessarily Fire. If Blood is stagnant or congealed, it indicates that Qi is absent in the Blood. So, the *Human Body User Manual* mainly discusses this Blood-Qi. If you have more Blood, naturally Qi will flourish. Of course, this Blood must be good Blood, not Stagnant Blood. He grasps this point: as long as there is more Blood, the body will naturally improve, and Qi will be sufficient. Thus, Blood and Jing are essentially the material forms of Qi. However, if it is spoiled Jing or Stagnant Blood, it indicates that Qi is absent here. This Blood and Jing, originally containing vital Qi, have lost their vitality. Without vitality, they become dead objects. Dead objects stagnate and block, becoming stasis, hindering the ascending and descending of Qi mechanism, lacking vitality, and losing life force. Fire and Qi are a form of energy, derived from the conversion of energy sources. Without energy sources, there is no talk of energy. Energy sources are also limited, such as oil and coal used in industry today. One cannot directly convert stone into power, nor water. Why? Because they cannot ignite directly. Everything that can ignite is an energy source.
Netizen: What is the theme of today's lecture?
Mr. Sanqi: Don't ask about themes or not; anything can be a theme. If you clarify one issue, you can understand everything through it. If you don't understand at all, explaining a book word by word will still leave you confused. You can lecture based on a book or speak freely, but ultimately, you must address substantive issues.
Netizen: What is the Opening, Closing, and Pivot?