黄帝问曰∶经脉十二者，别为五行，分为四时，何失而乱，何得而治？岐伯对曰∶五行
有序，四时有分，相顺而治，相逆而乱。曰∶何谓相顺而治？曰∶经脉十二，以应十二月。十
二月者，分为四时。四时者，春夏秋冬，其气各异。营卫相随，阴阳相合，清浊不相干，如
是则顺而治矣。曰∶何谓相逆而乱？曰∶清气在阴，浊气在阳，营气顺脉，卫气逆行，清浊
相干，乱于胸中，是谓大 。故气乱于心，则烦心密默，俯首静伏；乱于肺，则俯仰喘喝，
按手以呼；乱于肠胃，则为霍乱；乱于臂胫，则为四厥；乱于头则为厥逆，头痛（一作头
重）眩仆。气在心者，取之手少阴心主之俞。气在于肺者，取之手太阴荥，足少阴俞。
气在于肠胃者，取之手足太阴、阳明，不下者，取之三里。气在于头者，取之天柱、大杼，
不知取足（《灵枢》作手）太阳之荥俞。气在臂足者，先去血脉，后取其阳明、少阳之荥俞
。徐入徐出，是谓之导气。补泻无形，是谓之同精。是非有余不足也，乱气之相逆也。
黄帝问曰∶有人于此，并行并立，其年之长少等也，衣之浓薄均也，卒然遇烈风疾雨，
或病或不病或皆死，其故何也？岐伯对曰∶春温风，夏阳风，秋凉风，冬寒风。凡此四时
之风者，其所病各不同形。黄色薄皮弱肉者，不胜春之虚风；白色薄皮弱肉者，不胜夏之虚
风；表色薄皮弱肉者，不胜秋之虚风；赤色薄皮弱肉者，不胜冬之虚风；曰∶黑色不病乎？
曰∶黑色而皮浓肉坚，固不能伤于四时之风。其皮薄而肉不坚，色不一者，长夏至而有虚风
者病矣。其皮浓而肌肉坚者，长夏至而有虚风者不病矣。其皮浓而肌肉坚者，必重感于寒，
内外皆然，乃病也。曰∶贼风邪气之伤人也，令人病焉。今有不离屏蔽，不出室穴之中，卒
然而病者，其故何也？曰∶此皆尝有所伤于湿气，藏于血脉之中，分肉之间，久留而不去。
若有所坠堕，恶血在内而不去。卒然喜怒不节，饮食不适，寒温不时，腠理闭不通（《素》
下有其开二字），而适遇风寒，则血气凝结，与故邪相袭，则为寒痹。其有热则汗出，汗出
则受风，虽不遇贼风邪气，必有因加而发矣。曰∶夫子之所言皆病患所自知也，其无遇邪风
，又无怵惕之志，卒然而病，其故何也？唯有因鬼神之事乎？曰∶此亦有故邪留而未发也。因
而志有所恶，及有所慕，血气内乱，两气相搏，其所从来者微，视之不见，听之不闻，故似
鬼神。曰∶其有祝由而已者，其故何也？曰∶先巫者，因知百病之胜，先知百病之所从者，
可祝由而已也。
黄帝问道：十二经脉，分别对应五行，分属于四季，是什么因素导致它们紊乱，又是什么因素使它们得到调理？岐伯回答说：五行运行有序，四季更替有节，顺应规律则生理功能正常，违背规律则发生紊乱。黄帝问：什么叫顺应规律而生理功能正常？岐伯说：十二经脉对应一年十二月。十二月分为四季。四季即春、夏、秋、冬，各自的气候特点不同。营气（行于脉中，具有营养作用的气）与卫气（行于脉外，具有防御作用的气）相随，阴与阳相互协调，清阳之气与浊阴之气互不干扰，像这样就是顺而生理功能正常。黄帝问：什么叫违背规律而发生紊乱？岐伯说：清阳之气滞留于阴分，浊阴之气滞留于阳分，营气沿经脉正常运行，卫气却逆乱运行，清浊之气相互干扰，扰乱于胸中，这就称为大悖乱。因此，气乱于心，就会出现心烦意乱、沉默不语、低头静伏的症状；气乱于肺，就会出现呼吸急促、喘息有声、用手按胸以助呼吸的症状；气乱于肠胃，就会发生霍乱；气乱于手臂和小腿，就会发生四肢厥冷；气乱于头部，就会发生厥逆，出现头痛、头晕目眩甚至跌倒的症状。气乱在心部的，取手少阴心经和手厥阴心包经的输穴；气乱在肺部的，取手太阴肺经的荥穴和足少阴肾经的输穴；气乱在肠胃的，取手太阴肺经、足太阴脾经、手阳明大肠经、足阳明胃经的穴位，如果效果不佳，再取足三里穴；气乱在头部的，取天柱穴和大杼穴，若无效，取足太阳膀胱经（《灵枢》作手太阳小肠经）的荥穴和输穴；气乱在手臂和腿脚的，先刺破瘀血络脉放血，然后取手阳明大肠经、足阳明胃经、手少阳三焦经、足少阳胆经的荥穴和输穴。缓慢进针，缓慢出针，这叫做导气法。补法和泻法在无形之中进行，这叫做调和精气。这并不是因为正气有余或不足，而是由于逆乱之气相互冲突所致。
黄帝问道：这里有两个人，同时行动，同时站立，他们的年龄大小相等，穿着衣服的厚薄也相同，突然遇到狂风暴雨，有的生病，有的不生病，甚至有的都死亡，这是什么原因呢？岐伯回答说：春天的温风，夏天的阳风，秋天的凉风，冬天的寒风。这些四季的风邪，所导致的疾病形态各不相同。肤色黄、皮肤薄、肌肉软弱的人，不能耐受春季的虚风；肤色白、皮肤薄、肌肉软弱的人，不能耐受夏季的虚风；面色浅淡、皮肤薄、肌肉软弱的人，不能耐受秋季的虚风；肤色红、皮肤薄、肌肉软弱的人，不能耐受冬季的虚风；黄帝问：黑色肤色的人就不生病吗？岐伯说：肤色黑且皮肤厚实、肌肉坚实的人，确实不容易被四季之风所伤害。但是，如果皮肤薄且肌肉不坚实，面色不均一的人，在长夏时节遇到虚风就会生病。如果皮肤厚实且肌肉坚实的人，在长夏时节遇到虚风就不会生病。如果皮肤厚实且肌肉坚实的人，必定是再次感受寒邪，内外皆受寒邪影响，才会生病。黄帝问：贼风邪气伤人，使人患病。现在有人虽然躲在遮蔽物后，不出居室，却突然生病，这是什么原因呢？岐伯说：这都是曾经受过湿气的伤害，湿气藏伏在血脉之中、分肉之间，长久停留而不消散。或者曾经有跌坠损伤，恶血（离经之血）留在体内而不消散。加上突然喜怒无常，饮食不当，寒温调节失宜，腠理闭塞不通，此时恰好遇到风寒，就会导致血气凝结，与原有的邪气相合，从而形成寒痹。如果有热象则会出汗，出汗后容易受风，即使没有遇到贼风邪气，也必然会有因诱因激发而发病的情况。黄帝问：先生所说的都是病人自己知道的情况，如果没有遇到邪风，又没有惊恐忧虑的情绪，却突然生病，这是什么原因呢？难道是因为鬼神作祟吗？岐伯说：这也是因为有旧的邪气留滞而未发作。加上情绪上有厌恶，或者有强烈的欲望追求，导致血气内部紊乱，新旧两股气机相互搏结，这种病来的原因很细微，看也看不见，听也听不见，所以看起来像是鬼神作祟。黄帝问：那些通过祝由术就能治愈的病人，是什么原因呢？岐伯说：古代的巫医，因为知道各种疾病之间的克制关系，预先知道各种疾病的来源，所以可以通过祝由术来治愈。
Huangdi asked: The twelve meridians correspond to the Five Elements and are divided into the Four Seasons. What causes them to become disordered, and what allows them to be regulated? Qibo replied: When the Five Elements operate in order and the Four Seasons follow their distinct phases, harmony leads to proper functioning, while discordance leads to disorder. Huangdi asked: What is meant by "harmony leading to proper functioning"? Qibo said: The twelve meridians correspond to the twelve months of the year. These twelve months are divided into the Four Seasons. The Four Seasons are Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, each with its own climatic characteristics. Ying Qi (nutritive qi circulating within the vessels) and Wei Qi (defensive qi circulating outside the vessels) move together; Yin and Yang harmonize with each other; clear qi and turbid qi do not interfere with one another. Under such conditions, the body functions smoothly. Huangdi asked: What is meant by "discordance leading to disorder"? Qibo said: When clear qi remains in the Yin aspects and turbid qi remains in the Yang aspects; when Ying Qi flows smoothly along the meridians but Wei Qi moves in reverse; when clear and turbid qi interfere with each other and cause chaos in the chest, this is called great rebellion. Thus, if qi becomes chaotic in the Heart, it results in mental restlessness, silence, and a posture of bowing the head and crouching still; if chaotic in the Lungs, it results in difficulty breathing, wheezing, and the need to press the hands against the chest to exhale; if chaotic in the intestines and stomach, it results in Huoluan (cholera-like syndrome with vomiting and diarrhea); if chaotic in the arms and shins, it results in Si Jue (cold extremities); if chaotic in the head, it results in Jue Ni (reversal of qi), headache, dizziness, and fainting. For qi chaotic in the heart region, treat with the Shu points of the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian and the Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian. For qi chaotic in the lung region, treat with the Ying-Spring point of the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian and the Shu point of the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. For qi chaotic in the intestines and stomach, treat with the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian and Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian; if ineffective, add Zusanli (ST36). For qi chaotic in the head, treat with Tianzhu (BL10) and Dazhu (BL11); if ineffective, treat with the Ying-Spring and Shu points of the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian (the Ling Shu text suggests Hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian). For qi chaotic in the arms and legs, first puncture the collateral vessels to release blood, then treat with the Ying-Spring and Shu points of the Yangming and Shaoyang meridians. Slow insertion and slow withdrawal is called Dao Qi (guiding qi). Performing tonification and sedation without visible manipulation is called Tong Jing (harmonizing essence). This is not due to excess or deficiency, but rather the conflict of rebellious qi.
Huangdi asked: Suppose there are two people here who act simultaneously and stand together, of equal age, wearing clothes of similar thickness, yet suddenly encountering fierce winds and heavy rain, one falls ill, the other does not, or both die. What is the reason? Qibo replied: There are warm winds in Spring, yang winds in Summer, cool winds in Autumn, and cold winds in Winter. The diseases caused by these seasonal winds manifest differently. Individuals with yellowish complexion, thin skin, and weak flesh cannot withstand the deficient winds of Spring; those with white complexion, thin skin, and weak flesh cannot withstand the deficient winds of Summer; those with pale complexion, thin skin, and weak flesh cannot withstand the deficient winds of Autumn; those with reddish complexion, thin skin, and weak flesh cannot withstand the deficient winds of Winter. Huangdi asked: Do those with black complexions not get sick? Qibo said: Those with black complexions, thick skin, and firm muscles are indeed resistant to injury from the winds of the four seasons. However, those with thin skin, unfirm muscles, and uneven complexion will fall ill if exposed to deficient winds during the late summer. Those with thick skin and firm muscles will not fall ill even if exposed to deficient winds during late summer. If those with thick skin and firm muscles do fall ill, it is because they have been doubly affected by cold, suffering from both internal and external cold pathogens. Huangdi asked: When Zefeng (thieving wind) and pathogenic qi injure humans, causing disease. Now, someone who stays under shelter and never leaves their room suddenly falls ill. What is the reason? Qibo said: This is usually due to prior injury from dampness, which has hidden in the blood vessels and between the muscle layers, lingering for a long time without dispersing. Or perhaps there was a previous fall, leaving bad blood (stagnant blood) inside that has not dissipated. Combined with sudden emotional extremes, improper diet, and irregular exposure to cold and heat, causing the Cou Li (pores and interstitial spaces) to close and blockage to occur, if one then encounters wind and cold, the blood and qi will coagulate. This combines with the old pathogen, resulting in Han Bi (cold bi-syndrome/painful obstruction). If there is heat, sweating occurs; after sweating, one is susceptible to wind. Even without encountering thieving wind, illness will inevitably arise from these accumulated factors. Huangdi asked: What you say seems to be known by patients themselves. If one has not encountered pathogenic wind, nor experienced fear or anxiety, yet suddenly falls ill, what is the reason? Is it only due to ghosts and spirits? Qibo said: This is also due to old pathogens remaining latent. Triggered by aversion in the mind or intense longing, the blood and qi become internally disordered, and the two qi energies clash. The origin of this condition is subtle; it cannot be seen or heard, so it appears as if caused by ghosts and spirits. Huangdi asked: Regarding those cured solely by Zhuyou (incantation therapy), what is the reason? Qibo said: Ancient shamans knew the mutual overcoming relationships among the hundred diseases and understood their origins, so they could cure them through Zhuyou.