《痿论》曰∶五脏使人痿何也？（痿，谓痿弱无力以运动。）肺主身之皮毛，心主身之血脉，
肝主身之筋膜，（膜者，皮下肉上筋膜也。）脾主身之肌肉，肾主身之骨髓，（所主不同，痿生亦各归
其主。）故肺热叶焦，则皮毛虚弱急薄着，则生痿 也。（ ，谓挛 ，足不得伸以行也。肺热则肾
受热气故耳。）心气热，则下脉厥而上，上则下脉虚，虚则生脉痿，枢折挈，胫纵而不任
地也。（心热盛则火独光炎上，肾之脉常下行，令火盛上炎用事，故肾脉亦随火炎灼而逆上行也。阴气厥逆，火
复内燔，阴上隔阳，下不守位，心气通脉，故生脉痿。肾气主足，故膝枢纽如折。胫筋纵缓而行不能任地也。）肝
气热，则胆泄口苦筋膜干，筋膜干则筋急而挛，发为筋痿。（胆约肝叶而汁味至苦，肝热则胆
液渗泄，故口苦也。肝主筋膜，热则筋膜干而挛急，发为筋痿。）脾气热，则胃干而渴，肌肉不仁，发
为肉痿。（脾与胃以膜相连，脾气热则胃液渗泄，故干而渴。脾主肌肉，热搏于内，故肌肉不仁，发为肉痿。）肾
气热，则腰脊不举，骨枯而髓减，发为骨痿。（腰为肾府，又肾脉上股内贯脊属肾，故肾气热则腰
脊不举。肾主骨髓，热则骨枯而髓减，故发为骨痿。）治痿者独取阳明何也？阳明者，五脏六腑之
海，（阳明，胃脉也，为水谷之海。）主润宗筋，宗筋主束骨而利机关也。（宗筋，谓阴毛中横骨上下之坚
筋也。上络胸腹下贯髋尻，又经于背腹上头顶，故云宗筋主束骨而利机关。然腰者，身之大关节，所以司屈伸，
故曰机关。）冲脉者，经脉之海也，（《灵枢》曰∶冲脉者，十二经之海。）主渗灌溪谷，与阳明合于宗
筋，（寻此则横骨上下脐两旁坚筋，正宗筋也。冲脉循腹侠脐旁各同身寸之五分而上，阳明脉亦侠脐旁各同身寸
之一寸五分而上，宗筋脉于中，故曰与阳明合于宗筋也。以为十二经海，故主渗灌溪谷也。肉之大会为谷，小会
为溪。）阴阳总宗筋之会，会于气街，而阳明为之长，皆属于带脉，而络于督脉。（宗筋聚
会，会于横骨之中，从上而下，故云阴阳总宗筋之会也。宗筋侠脐下合于横骨，阳明辅其外，冲脉居其中，故云
会于气街而阳明为之长。气街，阴毛两旁脉动处也。带脉者，起于季胁，回身一周，而络于督脉也。督脉者，起
于关元，上下循腹。故云皆属于带脉而络于督脉也。督脉任脉波脉三者，同起而异行，故经文或参差引之。）故
阳明虚则宗筋纵，带脉不引，故足痿不用也。（阳明之脉，从缺盆下乳内廉，下侠脐至气街中；其
支别者，起胃下口，循腹里下至气街中而合，以下髀，抵伏兔，下入膝膑中，下循 外廉，下足跗，入中指内间；
其支别者，下膝三寸而别，以下入中指外间。故阳明虚则宗筋纵，带脉不引，而足痿不用也。）
《痿论》中说：五脏为何会导致痿证？（痿，是指肢体痿弱无力，无法运动。）肺主管身体的皮毛，心主管身体的血脉，肝主管身体的筋膜，（膜，是指皮下肌肉之上的筋膜。）脾主管身体的肌肉，肾主管身体的骨髓，（所主管的部位不同，痿证的发生也各自归属于其对应的脏腑。）所以肺热导致叶焦枯，则皮毛虚弱、紧缩变薄并附着于骨，从而产生痿躄。（躄，是指足部挛缩，脚不能伸直行走。肺热则肾受热气影响，因此如此。）心气热，则下部血脉厥逆而上行，上行则下部血脉空虚，空虚则产生脉痿，关节枢纽折断般无力提起，小腿纵缓而不能站立承重。（心热盛则火独自光亮炎上，肾的经脉常下行，现在火盛上炎用事，所以肾脉也随着火势炎灼而逆向上行。阴气厥逆，火又在内焚烧，阴气上隔阻阳气，下部不能守位，心气通于脉，所以产生脉痿。肾气主司足部，所以膝部枢纽像折断一样。小腿筋脉纵缓，行走时不能承受地面压力。）肝气热，则胆汁外泄口苦，筋膜干燥，筋膜干燥则筋脉拘急而挛缩，发为筋痿。（胆包裹肝叶，胆汁味道极苦，肝热则胆汁渗泄，所以口苦。肝主管筋膜，热则筋膜干燥而挛急，发为筋痿。）脾气热，则胃干燥而口渴，肌肉麻木不仁，发为肉痿。（脾与胃以膜相连，脾气热则胃液渗泄，所以干燥而口渴。脾主管肌肉，热邪搏结于内，所以肌肉麻木不仁，发为肉痿。）肾气热，则腰脊不能抬起，骨骼枯槁而髓液减少，发为骨痿。（腰部是肾的府邸，另外肾脉上行穿过大腿内侧贯穿脊柱属络于肾，所以肾气热则腰脊不能抬起。肾主管骨髓，热则骨骼枯槁而髓液减少，所以发为骨痿。）治疗痿证为何唯独选取阳明经呢？阳明经，是五脏六腑的海，（阳明，指胃脉，是水谷之海。）主管滋润宗筋，宗筋主管约束骨骼而利于关节活动。（宗筋，是指阴毛中横骨上下坚硬的筋脉。上联络胸腹，下贯穿髋部和尾部，又经过背腹上达头顶，所以说宗筋主管约束骨骼而利于关节活动。然而腰，是身体的大关节，所以主管屈伸，因此称为机关。）冲脉，是十二经脉的海，（《灵枢》说：冲脉，是十二经的海。）主管渗透灌溉溪谷，与阳明经会合于宗筋，（寻究此意，则横骨上下脐两旁坚硬的筋脉，就是正宗筋。冲脉沿着腹部夹脐旁各五分处上行，阳明脉也夹脐旁各一寸五分处上行，宗筋脉在中间，所以说与阳明经会合于宗筋。因为作为十二经的海，所以主管渗透灌溉溪谷。肌肉的大聚会处称为谷，小聚会处称为溪。）阴阳总汇于宗筋，会合于气街，而阳明经为之统领，都隶属于带脉，而联络于督脉。（宗筋聚会，会合于横骨之中，从上而下，所以说阴阳总汇于宗筋。宗筋夹脐下会合于横骨，阳明经辅佐其外，冲脉居其中，所以说会合于气街而阳明经为之统领。气街，是阴毛两旁脉搏跳动之处。带脉，起于季胁，环绕身体一周，而联络于督脉。督脉，起于关元，上下循行于腹部。所以说都隶属于带脉而联络于督脉。督脉、任脉、冲脉三者，同一起源而不同路径，所以经文有时参差错落地引用它们。）所以阳明经虚弱则宗筋弛纵，带脉不能牵引，所以足部痿废不能使用。（阳明经的脉，从缺盆向下至乳内廉，向下夹脐至气街中；其支脉，起于胃的下口，循行腹里向下至气街中而会合，向下经过大腿，抵伏兔穴，向下进入膝盖膑骨中，向下循行小腿外侧廉，向下至足背，入中指内侧间；其支脉，从膝下三寸处分出，向下入中指外侧间。所以阳明经虚弱则宗筋弛纵，带脉不能牵引，而足部痿废不能使用。）
The "Treatise on Flaccidity" (Wei Lun) states: Why do the five zang organs cause flaccidity syndromes? (Flaccidity refers to weakness and inability to move.) The Lung governs the skin and hair of the body, the Heart governs the blood vessels of the body, the Liver governs the sinews and fascia of the body, (Fascia refers to the tendinous tissue above the subcutaneous muscle.) the Spleen governs the muscles of the body, and the Kidney governs the bone marrow of the body. (Since the governed parts differ, the onset of flaccidity also corresponds to its respective governing organ.) Therefore, if Lung heat causes the leaves to wither and dry, the skin and hair become weak, tight, thin, and adherent, leading to Wei Bi syndrome (flaccidity of the legs). (Bi refers to contraction of the feet, where the legs cannot extend for walking. Lung heat affects the Kidney through transmitted heat, hence this description.) If Heart qi is hot, the lower vessels become jue-ni (rebellious) and ascend; ascending leads to deficiency in the lower vessels, and deficiency generates Mai Wei (vessel flaccidity), where the joint pivot breaks and lifts poorly, the shins are flaccid and unable to bear weight. (Excessive Heart heat causes fire to flare upwards independently. The Kidney meridian usually descends, but when fire is excessive and flares up, the Kidney meridian follows the fire's scorching ascent. Yin qi becomes jue-ni, fire burns internally again, yin obstructs yang from above, and the lower part fails to maintain its position. Heart qi connects with the vessels, thus generating Mai Wei. Kidney qi governs the feet, so the knee pivot feels like it is broken. The shin sinews are flaccid, making walking impossible as they cannot support the body's weight on the ground.) If Liver qi is hot, gallbladder juice leaks causing bitter taste in the mouth, and the sinews and fascia become dry. Dry sinews and fascia lead to stiffness and contraction, resulting in Jin Wei (sinew flaccidity). (The Gallbladder wraps the Liver lobes, and its juice is extremely bitter. Liver heat causes bile to seep out, hence the bitter taste. The Liver governs sinews and fascia; heat dries them causing stiffness and contraction, resulting in Jin Wei.) If Spleen qi is hot, the Stomach becomes dry causing thirst, and the muscles lose sensation, resulting in Rou Wei (muscle flaccidity). (The Spleen and Stomach are connected by membranes. Spleen heat causes stomach fluids to leak, hence dryness and thirst. The Spleen governs muscles; heat struggles internally, causing muscle insensibility, resulting in Rou Wei.) If Kidney qi is hot, the waist and spine cannot lift, bones become withered and marrow decreases, resulting in Gu Wei (bone flaccidity). (The waist is the mansion of the Kidney. Additionally, the Kidney meridian ascends through the inner thigh, penetrates the spine, and connects to the Kidney. Thus, Kidney heat prevents lifting of the waist and spine. The Kidney governs bone marrow; heat causes bone withering and marrow depletion, resulting in Gu Wei.) Why is treating flaccidity focused solely on the Yangming channel? The Yangming channel is the sea of the five zang and six fu organs. (Yangming refers to the Stomach meridian, which is the sea of water and grain.) It governs moistening the Zong Jin (major sinews). Zong Jin governs binding the bones and facilitating joint movement. (Zong Jin refers to the strong tendons above and below the transverse bone in the pubic region. They connect upwards to the chest and abdomen, descend through the hips and sacrum, pass through the back and abdomen to the top of the head, hence described as governing bone binding and joint mobility. The waist, being a major joint of the body, controls flexion and extension, thus termed 'joint mechanism'.) The Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) is the sea of the meridians. (The Ling Shu states: The Chong Mai is the sea of the twelve meridians.) It governs permeating and irrigating the xi gu (valleys between muscles), combining with the Yangming at the Zong Jin. (Examining this, the strong tendons above and below the transverse bone beside the navel are the true Zong Jin. The Chong Mai ascends 0.5 cun lateral to the navel along the abdomen, and the Yangming meridian ascends 1.5 cun lateral to the navel along the abdomen, with the Zong Jin meridian in between, hence described as combining with Yangming at the Zong Jin. As the sea of the twelve meridians, it governs permeating and irrigating the xi gu. Large gatherings of muscle are called gu, small gatherings are called xi.) Yin and Yang converge at the Zong Jin, meeting at the Qi Jie (Street of Qi), with Yangming acting as their leader. All belong to the Dai Mai (Girdle Vessel) and network with the Du Mai (Governor Vessel). (Zong Jin converges, meeting within the transverse bone, descending from above, hence described as Yin and Yang converging at Zong Jin. Zong Jin joins the transverse bone below the navel; Yangming supports it externally, and Chong Mai resides in the middle, hence described as meeting at Qi Jie with Yangming as leader. Qi Jie refers to the pulse-beating area on both sides of the pubic hair. The Dai Mai originates from the hypochondrium, encircles the body once, and networks with the Du Mai. The Du Mai originates from Guan Yuan, circulating up and down the abdomen. Hence described as belonging to the Dai Mai and networking with the Du Mai. The Du, Ren, and Chong meridians share the same origin but different paths, hence the classic text sometimes cites them interchangeably.) Therefore, if Yangming is deficient, Zong Jin becomes lax, and the Dai Mai cannot draw, resulting in foot flaccidity and inability to use them. (The Yangming meridian descends from Que Pen to the inner edge of the breast, down past the navel to the Qi Jie; its branch originates from the lower opening of the Stomach, circulates inside the abdomen down to the Qi Jie to merge, then descends through the thigh, reaches Fu Tu, enters the patella, descends along the lateral aspect of the lower leg, goes to the dorsum of the foot, and enters between the medial side of the middle toe; another branch diverges three cun below the knee, entering between the lateral side of the middle toe. Thus, Yangming deficiency leads to lax Zong Jin, inability of the Dai Mai to draw, and foot flaccidity with loss of function.)