太阴阳明论篇

Taiyin Yangming Lun

(On the Relations Between the Superficies and Interior of Taiyin and Yangming Channels)

黄帝问曰：太阴[《甲乙》“太阴”上有“足”字]阳明为表里，脾胃脉也，生病而异者何也?岐伯对曰：阴阳异位，更虚更实，更逆更从，或从内，或从外，所从不同，故病异名也。

Yellow Emperor asked:"The Foot Taiyin Channel of spleen and the Yangming Channel of stomach are the superficies and interior, but their diseases are different, what is the reason?" Qibo answered:"The spleen belongs tor the Yin channel and the stomach belongs to the Yang channel, the two channels are moving about in different routes, they are different

in asthenia and sthenia and in agreeable condition or adverse condition; in the sources of diseases from inside or outside, they are also different, so, they are different in names."

帝曰：愿闻其异状也。岐伯曰：阳者，天气也，主外;阴者，地气也，主内。故阳道实，阴道虚。故犯贼风虚邪者，阳受之;食饮不节，起居不时者，阴受之。阳受之则入六府，阴受之则入五藏。入六府，则身热不时卧[《甲乙》作“不得眠”]，上为喘呼;入五藏，则膑满闭塞，下为飧泄，久为肠擗。故喉主天气，咽主地气。故阳受风气，阴受湿气。故阴气从足上行至头，而下行循臂至指端;阳气从手上行至头，而下行至足。故日阳病者上行极而下[《太素》、《云笈七签》“下”下并有“行”字]，阴病者下行极而上(《太素》《云笈七签》“上”下并有“行”字]。故伤于风者，上先受之;伤于湿者，下先受之。

Yellow Emperor said: "I hope you can tell me about the different conditions." Qibo said:“Yang is like heaven, guarding the exterior of human body, Yin is like earth, protecting the interior of human body. As Yang is firm and Yin is gentle, Yang is often sthenic and Yin is often asthenic. Therefore, when the thief-wind and the debilitating evil invades the

body, Yang will be affected first; when one is careless about food and drink or being irregular in daily life, Yin will be injured. If the exterior of the body contracts disease, it will be transmitted to the six hollow organs; if the interior of the body contracts disease, it will be transmitted to the five solid organs. If the evil-energy enters into the six hollow organs, one will have fever, unable to sleep and respires rapidly; if the disease is in the five solid organs, the patient will have distention of abdomen and feel depressive, have lienteric diarrhea, and, after a certain period, it will become dysentery. The throat takes charge of respiration, so it associates with the energy of heaven; the pharynx takes charge of the intake of food, so it associates with the energy of earth. The wind is Yang-evil, when the wind-evil invades the body,Yang will be infected; the wetness is Yin-evil, when the wetness-evil invades the body, Yin will be infected.

"The channels of three Yin go upwards from the feet to the head, and go downwards from the head to the arms and then to the finger tips of hands.  The channels of the three Yang go upwards from hands to the head, and then go downwards to the feet. So, the evil-energy of Yang channel goes upwards to the extreme hight first, and then goes downwards; the evil-energy of Yin channel goes downwards to the extreme bottom first, and then goes upwards. Thus, when one contracts wind-evil from outside, it is mostly on the upper part, when he contracts wetness-evil, it is mostly on the lower part."