典藏书目

Question: Regarding pulse and disease, how can one determine whether the illness is about to heal? How to distinguish it?
Answer: When the pulses at the Cun Kou (Inch Position), Guan (Bar Position), and Chi (Cubit Position) are equal in magnitude, depth (floating/sinking), and rate (slow/rapid), even if the symptoms of cold and heat have not yet resolved, this indicates that Yin and Yang in the pulse are in a state of harmony. Although the condition may be severe, it will inevitably heal.

The equality of magnitude, depth, and rate at the three positions (Cun Kou, Guan, Chi) indicates no bias towards Yin or Yang. Even if cold and heat persist and the current illness is severe, because the pulse reflects a harmonious balance of Yin and Yang, the disease will self-resolve due to the absence of pathological pulse changes. As stated, "Yin diseases presenting with Yang pulses indicate survival," because when Yin reaches its extreme, Yang recovers, leading to life. Conversely, "Yang diseases presenting with Yin pulses indicate death," because excessive Yin leads to the depletion of Yang; the external manifestation of restlessness is a false sign (true cold, false heat), hence death. If Yang reaches its extreme and Yin recovers, and the pulse reflects true signs rather than false ones, survival is indicated rather than death. Generally, the severance of Qi of Yin and Yang leads to death, while imbalance allows for potential recovery, and harmony leads to healing. The equality of the three positions signifies a balanced, non-biased state, thus indicating healing.

Question: For any illness, how can one predict when it was contracted and when it will heal?
Answer: For instance, if one falls ill at midnight, they will heal at midday (noon); if one falls ill at midday, they will heal at midnight. Why is this so? Healing from a midday-onset illness at midnight occurs because Yang obtains Yin to achieve resolution. Healing from a midnight-onset illness at midday occurs because Yin obtains Yang to achieve resolution.
If an illness contracted at midday heals by midnight, it is because the excess Yang at midday is balanced by the abundant Yin at midnight, achieving resolution. If an illness contracted at midnight heals by midday, it is because the abundant Yin at midnight is balanced by the excess Yang at midday, achieving resolution.

After six or seven days of illness, if the pulses at the hand and foot (three positions on each limb) all become palpable, and the patient experiences great vexation, trismus (lockjaw), inability to speak, and restlessness, this indicates that the disease is about to resolve. If the pulse is harmonious, the patient is greatly vexed, but presents with heavy eyelids and yellowish discoloration at the inner canthus, this also indicates impending resolution.
When the illness causes the pulses at the hands and feet to be imperceptible, indicating pure Yin without Yang, by the sixth or seventh day, the pulses at the three positions of the limbs become palpable. This signifies the return of Yang Qi to the extremities. The slight Yang Qi has just recovered and risen amidst the Yin pathogens but is obstructed by them. Due to weak force, it cannot rise immediately. During the period of stagnation, agitation, and surging, symptoms such as great vexation, trismus, inability to speak, and restlessness occur, which necessarily precede resolution. Essentially, once there is a mechanism for the recovery of Yin and Yang, victory over the pathogen is inevitable, and long-term stagnation is impossible. If the pulse returns and becomes harmonious, and the patient exhibits great vexation due to Yang recovering but unable to rise immediately, accompanied by heavy eyelids and yellowish discoloration at the inner canthus, this indicates resolution. The Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian originates at the inner canthus. Yellowish discoloration at the inner canthus relates to the function of Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) governed by Yangming Earth (Spleen/Stomach). When Wei Qi develops, Yang emerges through the eyes. "Heavy eyelids" refers to thickened eyelids; upon waking, eyelids are naturally thick because Yang Qi emerges through the eyes. (Regarding foot pulses: Wuli [GB29] of the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian is outside the pubic region; Taichong [LR3] is taken in women, two cun posterior to the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe in the depression; Taixi [KI3] of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian is posterior to the medial malleolus; Jimen [SP11] of the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian is on the belly of the gastrocnemius; Fuyang [BL58] of the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian is on the dorsum of the foot, i.e., Duzhong/Duzi position. See *Su Wen: Lun San Bu Jiu Hou*).