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Huangdi Neijing · The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon
Suwen 64 · Seasonal Needling: Following and Opposing
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Jueyin excess produces yin obstruction; insufficiency produces heat obstruction. A slippery pulse produces fox hernia and Wind; a rough pulse accumulated qi in the lower abdomen.
Shaoyin excess produces skin obstruction with concealed raised marks; insufficiency Lung obstruction. A slippery pulse produces Lung Wind hernia; a rough pulse accumulations with bloody urination.
Taiyin excess produces flesh obstruction and internal cold; insufficiency Spleen obstruction. A slippery pulse produces Spleen Wind hernia; a rough pulse accumulations with periodic fullness at Heart and abdomen.
Yangming excess produces vessel obstruction and periodic bodily heat; insufficiency Heart obstruction. A slippery pulse produces Heart Wind hernia; a rough pulse accumulations with frequent startlement at times.
Taiyang excess produces bone obstruction and a heavy body; insufficiency Kidney obstruction. A slippery pulse produces Kidney Wind hernia; a rough pulse accumulations with periodic dian illness.
Shaoyang excess produces sinew obstruction and flank fullness; insufficiency Liver obstruction. A slippery pulse produces Liver Wind hernia; a rough pulse accumulations with periodic sinew tension and eye pain.
Thus spring qi is in channel vessels; summer qi in fine networks; long-summer qi in flesh; autumn qi in skin; winter qi within bone marrow.
The Emperor said: “I wish to hear why.”
Qi Bo said: “In spring Heaven’s qi begins opening and Earth’s qi begins discharging. Frozen ground thaws and ice melts; water moves and channels open. Thus human qi is in the vessels. In summer channels fill and qi overflows into fine networks to receive blood; skin becomes full. In long summer channels and networks are abundant, overflowing inward into flesh.
In autumn Heaven’s qi begins gathering; interstices close and skin draws tight. Winter covers and stores: blood and qi are within, lodging in bone marrow and communicating with the five zang organs.
Harmful qi therefore always follows the seasons’ blood and qi inward. Its transformations cannot be assigned a fixed measure, but one must follow channel qi to remove the harm. With the harm removed, disordered qi does not arise.”
The Emperor asked: “How does opposing the four seasons produce disordered qi?”
Qi Bo said: “Needling networks in spring makes blood and qi overflow outward and leaves scant qi. Needling flesh in spring makes blood and qi circle contrary and brings upward qi. Needling sinews and bones in spring lodges blood and qi within and brings abdominal distention.”
Needling channels in summer exhausts blood and qi and brings lassitude. Needling flesh in summer drives blood and qi inward and brings frequent fear. Needling sinews and bones in summer sends blood and qi contrary upward and brings frequent anger.
Needling channels in autumn sends blood and qi contrary upward and brings frequent forgetfulness. Needling networks in autumn prevents qi from moving outward and makes the person lie down, unwilling to move. Needling sinews and bones in autumn scatters blood and qi within and brings shivering cold.
Needling channels in winter strips away blood and qi and dims vision. Needling networks in winter discharges internal qi outside, leaving great obstruction. Needling flesh in winter exhausts yang qi and brings frequent forgetfulness.
These needling errors through the four seasons cause illnesses of great contrariness. Their proper order must be followed. Reversal produces disordered qi that invades and causes illness. Needling without knowing the seasonal channels, the origin of illness, and which course follows or opposes the order disorders correct qi within and makes it contend with essence. Carefully examine the nine examinations so correct qi is not disordered and essential qi not diverted.
The Emperor said: “Good.”
Needling the five zang organs: striking Heart brings death in one day, its movement belching; Liver in five days, its movement speech; Lung in three days, its movement cough; Kidney in six days, its movement sneezing and yawning; Spleen in ten days, its movement swallowing. Needling injury to the five zang organs must cause death. Their movements follow the changed signs of the respective organ, through which death is known.
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