典藏书目

Generally speaking, the human body possesses twelve meridians of the hand and foot. Could it be that transmission occurs only in the foot meridians and not in the hand meridians? This is because the six foot meridians are associated with Water, Earth, and Wood (Taiyang Bladder belongs to Water, Yangming Stomach belongs to Earth, Shaoyang Gallbladder belongs to Wood, Taiyin Spleen belongs to Earth, Shaoyin Kidney belongs to Water, Jueyin Liver belongs to Wood). When Water encounters cold, it freezes and dries up; when Wood encounters cold, its leaves fall and branches wither; when Earth encounters cold, it collapses. This explains why the foot meridians are constrained by Cold pathogenic factors. The six hand meridians are associated with Metal and Fire (Hand Taiyang Small Intestine belongs to Fire, Hand Yangming Large Intestine belongs to Metal, Hand Shaoyin Heart belongs to Fire, Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao belongs to Fire, Hand Taiyin Lung belongs to Metal, Hand Jueyin Pericardium belongs to Fire). Metal becomes harder when encountering cold, and Fire burns more fiercely when encountering cold. Therefore, the hand meridians are not constrained by Cold, leading to the notion that *Shanghan* (Cold Damage) transmits only through the foot meridians and not the hand meridians. Although this statement seems reasonable, it is actually incorrect. Broadly speaking, the upper half of the human body is governed by Heaven Qi (Heavenly Energy), while the lower half is governed by Earth Qi (Earthly Energy). Consequently, the upper body is more susceptible to Wind-Heat, whereas the lower body is more susceptible to Cold-Dampness. Regarding the Six Qi (Six Atmospheric Factors), the first three correspond to Spring and Summer, where Qi ascends and floats, promoting the growth of all things; the upper half of the human body corresponds to this phase. The latter three correspond to Autumn and Winter, where Qi descends and sinks, promoting the storage of all things; the lower half of the human body corresponds to this phase. After the Minor Snow solar term in the twelfth lunar month, marking the end of the cycle of the Six Qi, Taiyin Cold Water dominates. Individuals who engage in excessive sexual activity or suffer from hard labor allow Cold Water Qi to enter the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian due to deficiency. Thus, after the pathogen enters, it transmits sequentially to the Yangming, Shaoyang, and the three Yin meridians. Transmission begins in the foot meridians and gradually extends to the hand meridians. This follows the natural principles of Heaven and Earth, occurring spontaneously. How could transmission occur exclusively in the foot meridians?

The Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian originates at the inner canthus of the eye, ascends to the forehead, and intersects at the vertex. From the vertex, it enters to connect with the brain, emerges again, separates, and descends down the neck, following the medial aspect of the shoulder blades, flanking the spine, reaching the middle of the waist, entering along the muscles, connecting with the Kidneys, and belonging to the Bladder. Therefore, symptoms such as headache, fever, stiffness and pain in the waist and spine, general body ache, or fever with aversion to cold, aversion to wind, floating-slow or floating-tight pulse may occur.

The Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian originates beside the nose, intersects at the center of the forehead, and descends along the lateral side of the nose, passing around the mouth, returning to the lips, descending to the chin, then following the throat, crossing internally through the diaphragm, belonging to the Stomach, and connecting with the Spleen. Therefore, symptoms such as body heat, eye pain, dry nose, inability to sleep, and long pulses in both cun, guan, and chi positions may occur.

The Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian originates at the outer canthus of the eye, ascends to reach the temporal angle, descends behind the ear, enters the ear, and then descends into the chest, following the interior of the hypochondrium, emerging at the Qichong point. Therefore, symptoms such as hypochondriac pain, deafness, bitter taste in the mouth, dry throat, alternating chills and fever with vomiting, and a wiry pulse may occur.

The Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian originates at the tip of the great toe, ascends along the knee, enters the abdomen, ascends through the diaphragm, flanks the pharynx, connects with the root of the tongue, scatters under the tongue, and then pours into the Heart. Therefore, symptoms such as abdominal fullness, dry throat, faint and thin pulse, naturally warm hands and feet, spontaneous diarrhea without thirst, or occasional abdominal pain with dark complexion and cyanotic lips may occur.

The Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian originates below the little toe, penetrates the spine, belongs to the Kidney, ascends through the Liver and Diaphragm, enters the Lungs, follows the throat, flanks the root of the tongue, connects with the Heart, and pours into the chest. Therefore, symptoms such as dry mouth, dry throat, and thirst may occur.

The Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian originates at the pubic hair on the great toe, follows the thigh, enters the pubic region, circles the external genitalia, reaches the lower abdomen, flanks the Stomach, ascends through the diaphragm, distributes in the hypochondrium, follows the throat posteriorly, ascends into the nasopharynx, connects with the visual system, emerges at the forehead, intersects at the vertex, and then descends back to the interior of the lips. Therefore, symptoms such as cyanotic lips, curled tongue, retracted testicles, irritability and fullness, and a faint and slow pulse may occur.