代脉动中看,迟迟止复还。
平人多不利,惟有养胎间。
(结促止无常数,或二动一止,或三五动一止即来。代脉之止有常数,必根据数而止,还入尺中,良久方来。
滑伯仁曰∶“若无病羸瘦,脉代者危。”有病而气不能续者,代为病脉。伤寒心悸脉代者,复脉汤主之。妊
娠脉代者,其胎百日。代之生死,不可不辨。)
本来督任一身中,寻得仙源有路通。
剖别阴阳维跷界,调冲运带鼎炉红。
八脉者,督脉、任脉、阳维、阴维、阳跷、阴跷、冲脉、带脉是也。以其不拘于经,故曰奇。督、任、冲
起于会阴
穴,一源而三脉。督脉由长强穴贯脊上行,过巅顶,至龈交而止,为阳脉之总督,故曰阳脉之海。任脉上行脐
腹,过咽喉,至承浆而止,为阴脉之承任,故曰阴脉之海。阳维起于诸阳之会,由外踝之金门穴,而上行于卫
分。阴维起于诸阴之会,由内踝之筑宾穴,而上行于营分。夫人身之经络繁密,二脉能于阴交阳会之间,加一
紧缚,举纲齐目,而阴阳斯得维持之力。阳跷之脉,起于足跟,循外踝上行于身之左右。阴跷之脉,起于足跟,
循内踝上行于身之左右,所以使机关之跷捷也。冲脉前行于腹,后行于背,上行于头,下行于足,凡筋骨脾肉,
无处不到,十二经络上下之冲要,故曰十二经络之海。带脉横围于腰,状如束带,所以总束诸脉。医家知乎
八脉,则十二经、十五络之旨得矣;修炼家知乎八脉,则龙虎升降、开牝幽微之窍妙,于此入其门矣。养生
者无事之暇,撮起督脉,循尾闾夹脊双关,上行脑顶,下通乎任,循环无端,终而复始,久久调息,二脉贯通
如一脉矣。人身元阳之气,自下而生者,亦自下而竭。督任相联,转运不已,有其生之,断难竭之,而寿有不
稳固者乎?!鹿顾尾闾,能通督脉;龟纳鼻息,能通任脉。二物俱得长寿,有明征矣。提督而上行也,阴阳维
跷,随督而升;通任而下行也,阴阳维跷,随任而降。一升一降,阴阳维跷,亦得为之疏畅。由是从会阴穴
起,上至天,下至渊,所以运其冲也;从季肋穴起,左转三十六,右回三十六,所以运其带也。第见营卫和而
颜色日以滋润,机关利而手足日以轻捷。三百六十骨节,节节光莹,八万四千毛窍,窍窍亨通。血不蹇涩,气不停
滞,六淫不得而干之,七情不得而伤之。却病延年之方,未有过于此者。何必采商山之芝,贮盘铜之露,而后
永其寿乎!从知紫府长生诀,尽在奇经八脉中。
(《参同契》曰∶“北方河车,即此法也。循而习之,疏经畅脉,可以养生;进而求之,还精摄气,可以延
年;神而明之,进火退符,可以夺丹。”仙经所传,抽铅添汞,降龙伏虎,擒鸟捉兔,霏雪产莲,无不寓于其
中。浅者得之为浅,深者得之为深。)
代脉在跳动中观察,表现为脉搏迟缓且间歇后再次恢复。
普通人出现此脉大多不利,只有在怀孕养胎期间属于正常现象。
(结脉和促脉的间歇没有固定规律,有时跳两下停一次,有时跳三五下停一次随即恢复。而代脉的间歇有固定规律,必定按照特定次数停止,停顿后脉气回归尺部,需要较长时间才再次搏动。
滑伯仁说:“如果没有疾病但身体消瘦,出现代脉则病情危重。”如果有病且元气不能接续,代脉即为病脉。伤寒病中出现心悸且脉象为代脉的,用复脉汤主治。妊娠期间出现代脉的,说明胎儿已满百日。代脉关乎生死,不可不仔细辨别。)
督脉和任脉位于人体正中,探寻其中的仙源是有路径可通的。
剖析并区分阴阳维脉与跷脉的界限,调理冲脉与带脉如同使鼎炉中的火焰红润旺盛。
奇经八脉,指的是督脉、任脉、阳维脉、阴维脉、阳跷脉、阴跷脉、冲脉、带脉。因为它们不拘束于十二正经,所以称为“奇”。督脉、任脉、冲脉都起于会阴穴,同源而出三条经脉。督脉从长强穴贯穿脊柱上行,经过头顶,至龈交穴为止,它是阳脉的总纲,所以被称为“阳脉之海”。任脉沿腹部和脐部上行,经过咽喉,至承浆穴为止,它是阴脉的承受者,所以被称为“阴脉之海”。阳维脉起于诸阳经交会之处,从外踝的金门穴开始,向上运行于卫分。阴维脉起于诸阴经交会之处,从内踝的筑宾穴开始,向上运行于营分。人体的经络繁密复杂,这两条脉能在阴阳交汇之间起到紧缚约束的作用,犹如提纲挈领,使阴阳得以维持平衡。阳跷脉起于足跟,沿着外踝上行于身体的左右两侧。阴跷脉起于足跟,沿着内踝上行于身体的左右两侧,这是为了使关节活动轻捷灵敏。冲脉前行于腹部,后行于背部,上行于头部,下行于足部,凡筋骨脾肉,无处不到,是十二经络上下通行的要冲,所以称为“十二经络之海”。带脉横向环绕腰部,形状像束带,用来总束各条经脉。医生如果通晓了八脉的道理,那么十二经、十五络的要旨也就掌握了;修炼之人如果通晓了八脉,那么关于龙虎升降、开启幽微窍妙的道理,就能由此入门。养生的人在闲暇无事时,提起督脉之气,沿着尾闾夹脊双关,上行至脑顶,再下行连通任脉,循环无端,终而复始,长久地调息,使二脉贯通如同一脉。人身上的元阳之气,从下部产生,也会从下部耗尽。督脉和任脉相互关联,转运不停,既然有生发之源,就难以枯竭,寿命怎能不稳固呢?!鹿回头顾视尾闾,能通督脉;龟吸气入鼻,能通任脉。这两种动物都获得长寿,是有明确证据的。提起督脉之气而上行,阴阳维跷脉随之上升;打通任脉而下行的时候,阴阳维跷脉随之下降。一升一降,阴阳维跷脉也因此得到疏畅。于是从会阴穴起,上至于天,下至于渊,以此来运转冲脉;从季肋穴起,左转三十六圈,右转三十六圈,以此来运转带脉。只见营卫调和而面色日益滋润,关节灵活而手足日益轻捷。三百六十个骨节,节节光洁莹润,八万四千个毛孔,窍窍亨通。血液不凝滞涩阻,气机不停滞不畅,六淫邪气不能侵犯,七情内伤不能伤害。抵御疾病、延长寿命的方法,没有比这更好的了。何必去采摘商山的灵芝,收集铜盘上的露水,才能永久保持长寿呢!由此可知,紫府长生诀的奥秘,全都在奇经八脉之中。
(《周易参同契》说:“北方的河车之法,就是这种方法。遵循并练习它,疏通经络,畅达血脉,可以养生;进而探求它,还精摄气,可以延年;神而明之,运用进火退符的法度,可以炼丹成仙。”仙经所传授的,抽铅添汞、降龙伏虎、擒鸟捉兔、霏雪产莲等功法,无不蕴含在其中。浅显的人学到它就只得到浅层的功效,深刻的人学到它就得到深层的功效。)
The *Dai* pulse (Intermittent Pulse) is observed during its beating, characterized by a slow rhythm with pauses that subsequently resume.
In healthy individuals, this pulse is generally unfavorable, except during pregnancy when it nourishes the fetus.
(The *Jie* pulse (Knotted Pulse) and *Cu* pulse (Rapid Intermittent Pulse) have irregular pauses; sometimes stopping after two beats, or after three to five beats before resuming. In contrast, the *Dai* pulse has regular pauses, strictly following a specific count before stopping. After the pause, the pulse qi returns to the *Chicun* position (radial artery at the wrist), taking a considerable time to resume beating.
Hua Boren stated: "If there is no disease but the body is emaciated, the appearance of a *Dai* pulse indicates a critical condition." If there is disease and the vital qi cannot continue, the *Dai* pulse is a pathological pulse. In *Shanghan* (Cold Damage) diseases, if palpitations occur with a *Dai* pulse, *Fumai Tang* (Decoction for Reviving the Pulse) should be administered. During pregnancy, if a *Dai* pulse appears, it indicates the fetus is one hundred days old. The distinction between life and death associated with the *Dai* pulse must not be overlooked.)
The *Du* vessel (Governing Vessel) and *Ren* vessel (Conception Vessel) run through the center of the body; seeking the source of immortality within them reveals a path.
By distinguishing the boundaries of the *Yangwei* (Yang Linking) and *Yinwei* (Yin Linking) vessels from the *Qiao* (Heel) vessels, one can regulate the *Chong* (Penetrating) and *Dai* (Girdle) vessels, akin to stoking the furnace fire until it glows red.
The Eight Extraordinary Vessels refer to the *Du* vessel, *Ren* vessel, *Yangwei* vessel, *Yinwei* vessel, *Yangqiao* vessel, *Yinqiao* vessel, *Chong* vessel, and *Dai* vessel. Because they do not adhere strictly to the twelve regular meridians, they are called "Extraordinary" (*Qi*). The *Du*, *Ren*, and *Chong* vessels all originate from the *Huiyin* acupoint (CV1, Confluence Point), branching out as three vessels from one source. The *Du* vessel passes through the *Changqiang* acupoint (GV1, Long Strong), ascends along the spine, crosses the vertex, and terminates at the *Yinjiao* acupoint (GV28, Gum Intersection); it serves as the commander of all Yang vessels, hence termed the "Sea of Yang Vessels." The *Ren* vessel ascends along the umbilical region and abdomen, passes through the throat, and terminates at the *Chengjiang* acupoint (CV24, Receiving Pool); it bears the Yin vessels, hence termed the "Sea of Yin Vessels." The *Yangwei* vessel originates from the convergence of all Yang meridians, starting from the *Jinmen* acupoint (BL63, Metal Gate) at the lateral malleolus, and ascends within the *Wei* (Defensive) level. The *Yinwei* vessel originates from the convergence of all Yin meridians, starting from the *Zhubin* acupoint (KI9, Building Guest) at the medial malleolus, and ascends within the *Ying* (Nutritive) level. The meridians and collaterals of the human body are dense and complex; these two vessels provide a binding constraint at the intersections of Yin and Yang, acting as the main rope that gathers the meshes, thereby maintaining the balance of Yin and Yang. The *Yangqiao* vessel originates from the heel, follows the lateral malleolus, and ascends on both sides of the body, enabling agile movement of the joints. The *Yinqiao* vessel originates from the heel, follows the medial malleolus, and ascends on both sides of the body, also facilitating joint agility. The *Chong* vessel runs forward in the abdomen, backward in the back, upward to the head, and downward to the feet, reaching every part of the tendons, bones, spleen, and flesh. It is the crucial passage for the ascending and descending of the twelve meridians, hence called the "Sea of the Twelve Meridians." The *Dai* vessel encircles the waist horizontally, resembling a belt, thereby girdling and controlling all other vessels. If physicians understand the Eight Extraordinary Vessels, they grasp the essence of the twelve meridians and fifteen collaterals; if cultivators understand them, they enter the door to the mysteries of the ascent and descent of Dragon and Tiger, and the opening of hidden portals. For health preservation, during leisure time, one may raise the Qi of the *Du* vessel, following the *Weilu* (Tailbone), *Jiaji* (Vertebral Process), and *Shuangguan* (Double Pass) points, ascending to the brain crown, then descending to connect with the *Ren* vessel. This cycle repeats endlessly, beginning and ending anew. With prolonged regulation of breathing, the two vessels merge into one. The primordial Yang Qi of the body arises from below and exhausts from below. Since the *Du* and *Ren* vessels are linked and their transport never ceases, given their source of generation, they are difficult to deplete, ensuring stability of lifespan! Deer looking back at their tails can unblock the *Du* vessel; turtles drawing breath through their noses can unblock the *Ren* vessel. These two animals achieve longevity, which is clear evidence. Raising the *Du* vessel causes the *Yangwei* and *Yinqiao* vessels to ascend with it; unblocking the *Ren* vessel causes the *Yinwei* and *Yangqiao* vessels to descend with it. Through this ascent and descent, the *Yangwei*, *Yinwei*, *Yangqiao*, and *Yinqiao* vessels also become smooth and unobstructed. Thus, starting from the *Huiyin* acupoint, moving up to heaven and down to the abyss, one operates the *Chong* vessel; starting from the *Jilei* (Costal Margin) area, turning left thirty-six times and right thirty-six times, one operates the *Dai* vessel. One observes that when Ying and Wei harmonize, the complexion becomes increasingly moist and lustrous; when joints function smoothly, hands and feet become increasingly light and agile. The 360 bone joints become bright and polished; the 84,000 hair pores become open and unobstructed. Blood flows without stagnation or obstruction; Qi circulates without stoppage. The Six Evils (Pathogenic Factors) cannot invade, and the Seven Emotions cannot harm. There is no method better than this for warding off disease and prolonging life. Why is it necessary to gather the lingzhi mushrooms of Shang Mountain or collect dew from bronze plates to achieve eternal life? From this, we know that the secret of longevity in the Purple Mansion lies entirely within the Eight Extraordinary Vessels.
(The *Cantong Qi* states: "The River Cart of the North refers to this method. Practicing it diligently unblocks meridians and smooths vessels, promoting health; pursuing it further retrieves essence and gathers Qi, extending years; illuminating it spiritually and applying the methods of 'advancing fire' and 'retreating lead,' one can refine the Elixir.")
All techniques transmitted in immortal classics—such as extracting Lead and adding Mercury, subduing the Dragon and taming the Tiger, capturing birds and catching rabbits, snow falling producing lotuses—are contained within this system. Those with shallow understanding gain shallow benefits; those with deep understanding gain profound benefits.