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Huangdi Neijing · The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon
Lingshu 39 · Blood Networks
Read in English. Switch to Original for word notes, or select text to ask a question.
The Yellow Emperor said: “I wish to hear about unusual harmful influences not situated in the channels.”
Qi Bo said: “These concern the blood networks.”
The Yellow Emperor said: “Why does someone collapse when a blood network is needled? Why does blood shoot out? Why is blood scant, dark and turbid? Why is it clear and half fluid? Why does swelling follow withdrawal of the needle? Why does the face turn dusky whether the blood is much or little? Why, after withdrawal, can the complexion remain unchanged while vexed oppression occurs? Why can much blood be drawn without disturbing the person? I wish to hear the reasons.”
Qi Bo said: “When vessel qi is abundant but blood empty, needling causes loss of qi, and loss of qi causes collapse. When blood and qi are both abundant and yin qi plentiful, blood is slippery and shoots out on needling. When yang qi accumulates and remains long without draining, blood becomes dark and turbid and cannot shoot out.
“After recent drinking, fluid seeps into the networks before harmonizing with blood, so blood emerges separately from fluid. Without recent drinking, water is already in the body; after a long time it produces swelling. Yin qi accumulating in yang relies on the networks, so needling sends qi moving before blood emerges, producing swelling.
“If yin and yang qi have newly encountered each other but have not harmonized, draining makes both escape and separates exterior from interior; the complexion loses color and becomes dusky. If much blood comes out, the complexion does not change, but vexed oppression occurs, needling the networks has emptied the channels that belong to yin. Loss of yin causes the oppression.
“If yin and yang meet and combine into obstruction, there is internal overflow into channels and outward pouring into networks. Both yin and yang are in excess; even much bloodletting cannot empty them.”
The Yellow Emperor said: “How are they inspected?”
Qi Bo said: “Blood vessels that are abundant, firm, transverse and red have no fixed place above or below. The small are like needles and the large like sinews. Following their pattern in draining brings complete success. Do not lose the proper measure. If the measure is lost and the result reversed, each consequence follows its degree.”
The final brief reference to each consequence and degree is retained without adding an unstated numerical schedule.
The Yellow Emperor said: “Why does flesh adhere when the needle enters?”
Qi Bo said: “Heat qi follows the needle and makes it hot. With heat, flesh adheres to it, so it becomes fixed.”
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