厥论篇/Jue Lun

(On Jue-syndrome)

黄帝问日:厥之寒热者何也!岐伯对日:阳气衰于下，则为寒厥;阴气衰于下，则为热厥。

Yellow Emperor asked:"Why are there the cold-type jue-syndromes and the heat-type jue-syndrome?" Qibo answered: "When the Yang energy begins to decline in the feet, it is the cold-type jue-syndrome, when the Yin energy begins to decline in the feet, it is heat-type jue-synarome."

帝曰:热厥之为热也[《甲乙》、《千金》“热厥”下并无“之为热也”四字]，必起于足下者何也?岐伯日:阳气起于[林校引《甲乙》“起”作“走”]足五指之表，阴脉者[《太素》、《病沅》、《千金》“集于”上并无“阴脉者”三字]集于足下，而聚于足心，故阳气[《太素》、《甲乙》“阳”下并无“气”字]胜则足下热也。

Yellow Emperor asked:"The heat-type jue-syndrome is certain to emerges from the foot, and why is it?" Qibo said:"The Yang energy passes through the outer flank of the five toes, concentrates under the foot and assembles on the sole, When Yang is abundant under the foot, it will produce heat."

帝日:寒厥之为寒[《甲乙》《千金》并无“之为寒也”四字]也，必从[《甲乙》《千金》“从”并作“起”，《太素》《病沅》“而上于膝者”并作“始上于膝下”]五指而上于膝者何也?岐伯日:阴气起于五指之里，集于膝下[《千金》无“下”字]而聚于膝上，故阴气胜，则从五指至膝上寒，其寒也，不从外，皆从内也[《太素》、《病沅》并作“内寒”]。

Yellow Emperor asked:"The cold-type jue-syndrome initiates regularly from the five toes and then go up to the location under the knee, and what is the reason?" Qibo said:"The Yin energy emerges from the inside of the five toes, and accumulates on the knee. When the Yin energy is abundant, it can cause the cold to emerge from the toes and then goes up to the knee; the cold is not the kind of cold which invades the body from outside, but is the cold due to the asthenic Yang from inside."

帝日:寒厥何失[“失”字误，疑应作“如”]而然也?岐伯日:前阴者，宗[《甲乙》“宗”作“众”]筋之所聚，太阴阳明之所合也。春夏则阳气多而阴气少，秋冬则阴气盛而阳气衰。此人者质壮，以秋冬夺于所用，下气上争不能复，精气溢下，邪气因从之而上也;气因[《太素》“因”作“居”]于中，阳气衰，不能渗营其经络，阳气日损，阴气独在，故手足为之寒也。

Yellow Emperor asked:"How does the cold-type jue-syndrome come about?" Qibo said:"The anterior yin (external genitals) is the place where the various tendons assemble and it is also the juncture of the Taiyang Channel of spleen and the Yangming Channel of stomach. Generally, in spring and summer, the Yang energy is plenty and the Yin energy is little, in autumn and winter, the Yin energy is prosperous and the Yang energy is deficient. Mostly, the patient of the cold-type jue-syndrome is self-assured that he is having a strong body, neglects to practise temperance to the sexual activities in autumn and winter when the Yang energy is declined, it causes the Yin energy below to float up and contend with the Yang energy, As the Yang energy can not be stored inside, the Yin energy which is cold will be reversed up to become the cold-type jue-syndrome. Since the cold-evil is harbouring inside, the Yang energy will decline in the wake of it, and it will not be able to permeat and operate in the channels and collaterals. In this way, the Yang energy is injured every day, and finally, the Yin energy will be existing solely, and as a result, the patient will have cold extremities."