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Huangdi Neijing · The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon
Suwen 16 · Diagnostic Essentials and Channel Endings
Read in English. Switch to Original for word notes, or select text to ask a question.
The Yellow Emperor asked: “What are the essentials of diagnosis?”
Qi Bo replied: “In the first and second months, heaven’s qi begins its ordering and earth’s qi begins to emerge; human qi is in Liver.
In the third and fourth months, heaven’s qi is properly ordered and earth’s qi established in emergence; human qi is in Spleen.
In the fifth and sixth months, heaven’s qi flourishes and earth’s qi rises high; human qi is in the head.
In the seventh and eighth months, yin qi begins to diminish life; human qi is in Lung.
In the ninth and tenth months, yin qi begins to freeze and earth’s qi to close; human qi is in Heart.
In the eleventh and twelfth months, ice returns and earth’s qi closes together; human qi is in Kidney.
In spring, needle the scattered transport sites and the divisions of the tissues, stopping when blood emerges. Severe cases require transmission of qi; milder cases its circulation.
In summer, needle network transport sites and stop when blood is seen. Complete the qi and close the circuit; painful illness must subside.
In autumn, needle skin according to its pattern, using the same method above and below, stopping when spirit changes.
In winter, needle transport openings among tissue divisions. Severe cases should be directed downward; milder cases dispersed downward.
Spring, summer, autumn and winter each have their needling sites: model the location of qi.
In spring, needling the summer division disorders the vessels and weakens qi, entering deeply into bones and marrow. Illness cannot recover; appetite diminishes and qi becomes scant.
In spring, needling the autumn division contracts sinews and turns qi’s circulation contrary, producing cough. Illness does not recover; the person is repeatedly startled and also cries.
In spring, needling the winter division fixes harmful qi in the zang organs, causes distention, fails to cure the illness and also makes the person want to talk.
In summer, needling the spring division fails to cure illness and makes the person slack and weary.
In summer, needling the autumn division fails to cure illness, leaves no desire to speak and brings alarm as though someone were about to seize them.
In summer, needling the winter division fails to cure illness, causes scant qi and repeated urges to anger.
In autumn, needling the spring division fails to end illness. The person is agitated as if wanting to do something, but forgets upon rising.
In autumn, needling the summer division fails to end illness, increases the desire to lie down and brings frequent dreams.
In autumn, needling the winter division fails to end illness and causes repeated chills and shivering.
In winter, needling the spring division fails to end illness. The person wants to lie down but cannot sleep, and sees things while sleeping.
In winter, needling the summer division fails to cure illness; qi rises and produces various painful obstructions.
In winter, needling the autumn division fails to end illness and causes frequent thirst.
In needling chest and abdomen, avoid the five zang organs. Striking Heart brings death within one circuit; Spleen in five days; Kidney in seven days; Lung in five days. Striking the diaphragm injures the interior: even if the illness recovers, death must occur within a year.
Avoiding the five zang organs means understanding contrary and following courses. Following concerns the diaphragm and the places of Spleen and Kidney; one who does not know reverses them. Cover chest and abdomen with cloth before needling through the single layer. If needling does not cure, needle again. Needling must be solemn and careful. When needling a swelling, move the needle; when needling channels, do not move it. This is the Way of needling.
Reading note: The supplied one circuit, 環, is retained without inventing a modern hourly duration. The prognostic numbers and techniques remain those of this historical passage.
The Emperor said: “I wish to hear how the twelve channel vessels end.”
Qi Bo said: “At the end of Taiyang, the eyes turn upward, the body bends backward and convulsions occur. The complexion is white. Terminal sweat emerges, and with its emergence death follows.
At the end of Shaoyang, hearing is lost, the hundred joints slacken and the connections around the eyes are severed. A day and a half after that severance, death follows. The complexion first becomes blue-green and white.
At the end of Yangming, mouth and eyes move involuntarily, with frequent fright and delirious speech. The complexion is yellow. Channels above and below become excessive and sensation is lost: the end follows.
At the end of Shaoyin, the face is black, teeth appear long and coated, and the abdomen distended and blocked. Above and below cease to communicate, and the end follows.
At the end of Taiyin, the abdomen is distended and blocked, breathing difficult, with frequent belching and vomiting. Vomiting brings counterflow; counterflow makes the face red. Without counterflow, above and below cannot communicate; then the face darkens, skin and hair wither, and the end follows.
At the end of Jueyin, heat is within and the throat dry, with frequent urination and agitation at Heart. In severe cases the tongue curls and testicles draw upward, and the end follows.
These are the failures of the twelve channels.”
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