典藏书目

Hands and feet are the root of all Yang meridians. Yang Qi possesses the attribute of movement, corresponding to the Heavenly Dao. The Classics state: Heaven has ten Heavenly Stems, and humans have ten fingers on their hands to correspond to them; Heaven has twelve Earthly Branches (time periods), and humans have ten toes on their feet and the pendulous genitalia to correspond to them. It is also said that the feet can walk when nourished by blood, the palms can grasp when nourished by blood, and the fingers can manipulate objects when nourished by blood. Therefore, in all daily movements and actions, humans rely on the strength of their hands and feet. Those with abundant Qi and Blood are robust and move lightly; those with deficient Qi and Blood appear listless and move heavily.

When diseases occur within them, some are caused by Wind pathogen invasion, some by Cold pathogen invasion, and some by Dampness pathogen invasion. The causes of injury differ, so the diseases occurring in the upper and lower extremities also vary. The Medical Classics state: "Wind is the chief of a hundred diseases," and its changes are unpredictable; Dampness lingering in the joints causes numbness and insensitivity in the four limbs. Wind pathogen belongs to Yang and tends to affect the upper body; Dampness pathogen belongs to Yin and tends to affect the lower body. Only when Yin-Cold Qi carries Wind and Dampness and takes advantage of the body's deficiencies to invade will the disease location be indeterminate in the upper, lower, interior, and exterior. If Cold Qi accumulates and cannot dissipate, Warm Qi departs, leading to blood coagulation and stagnation, obstruction of the vessels, and consequently spasmodic pain in the hands and feet. This is what the *Neijing* refers to as "Winter Qi fills the four limbs."

Furthermore, if the Lung or Heart has pathogenic factors, their Qi remains stagnant in the two elbows; if the Liver has pathogenic factors, their Qi remains stagnant in the two thighs; if the Spleen has pathogenic factors, their Qi remains stagnant in the two hips/thighs; if the Kidney has pathogenic factors, their Qi remains stagnant in the two knees. The stagnation of pathogenic factors in these five Zang organs leads to diseases of the hands and feet, with the key mechanism governed by the Spleen. Because the Spleen governs the four limbs, excessive Spleen Meridian Qi results in external pathology causing inability to lift the limbs; the Spleen stores flesh, and physical deficiency leads to non-function of the limbs. From this, one can verify the deficiency or excess of the Spleen and understand the general principles of limb diseases.

Arm pain is commonly attributed to Wind-Cold invading the arm, but it is unknown that where pathogenic factors gather, Zheng Qi (Upright Qi) must be deficient. Treatment should differentiate by meridian. First, instruct the patient to extend both arms straight down along the sides of the body, with the thumb forward and the little finger backward. Pain on the anterior aspect of the arm belongs to the Yangming Meridian; pain on the posterior aspect belongs to the Taiyang Meridian; pain on the lateral aspect belongs to the Shaoyang Meridian; pain on the medial aspect belongs to the Jueyin Meridian; pain on the anteromedial aspect belongs to the Taiyin Meridian; pain on the posteromedial aspect belongs to the Shaoyin Meridian. Observe which meridian is affected, select acupoints according to that meridian, and apply moxibustion therapy to avoid directional errors (going south while intending to go north).

If the hand swells and hurts, or if the fingers and palm extend pain to the arm, it is called "Hand Qi" (Hand Gas/Pathology). Or if the arm hurts and cannot be lifted, or due to carbuncles/toxins and trauma, these are all results of Qi and Blood stagnation. Arm pain extending to the shoulder and back, with softness and numbness in both hands, is caused by Phlegm-Fluid flowing into the four limbs. Arm pain caused by Blood failing to nourish the sinews requires nourishing the Blood, after which the pain will cease. Sinew spasm due to Blood Dryness worsens with cold; this is due to Liver Qi deficiency with Wind-Cold lodging in the meridians. Spasms and numbness of the hands and feet are caused by deficiency of Lung and Spleen Qi and failure to transform Dampness.

The term "Bi Syndrome" (Obstruction Syndrome) implies closure. The Classics state: When Wind, Cold, and Dampness mix and combine, Bi Syndrome forms. Predominance of Wind creates Xing Bi (Wandering Bi); predominance of Cold creates Tong Bi (Painful Bi); predominance of Dampness creates Zhuo Bi (Fixed Bi). There are classifications of Five Bi involving sinews, vessels, muscles, skin, and bones, clarifying the different seasonal Qi (Spring-Summer, Four Seasons, Autumn-Winter) affecting specific Zang organs. These are not five additional symptoms beyond the three pathogens. Xing Bi features migratory pain without fixed location, colloquially known as Ghost Arrow Wind, Liuhuo, Lijie Feng, or White Tiger Lijie Feng. Pain is severe at night, penetrating the bone like a tiger bite. Feng Bi (Wind Bi) has fixed pain locations, or limb spasms and joint pain, named Tongfeng (Gout). Zhuo Bi presents with numbness and insensitivity. The *Suwen* states: Deficiency of Ying Qi causes insensitivity; deficiency of Wei Qi causes inability to move; deficiency of both causes insensitivity and immobility. The *Lingshu* states: Non-flowing Wei Qi produces numbness. Li Dongyuan followed this, asserting that paralysis requires tonifying Wei Qi and promoting its flow. Zhang Jingyue stated: Treating Bi syndrome requires strongly tonifying Yin and unblocking collaterals, avoiding excessive use of drying Wind-dispelling agents, adhering to the *Neijing* principle.

Additionally, Wind Bi may circulate through the Upper, Middle, and Lower Jiao, exploiting Zang-Fu deficiencies and clashing with Qi and Blood, gathering in joints to cause pain. Leg ulcers and generalized itching indicate underlying Blood deficiency where Wind-Damp damages the Spleen (governing muscle); muscle pores are blocked by pathogens, preventing dispersion, causing itching. These two aspects specifically address Wind-Damp. However, there are also Cold Bi, Heat Bi, Phlegm Bi, Blood Bi, Chest Bi, Bao Bi (Bladder/Uterus Bi), Intestinal Bi, and Zhou Bi (Generalized Bi), requiring detailed differentiation of symptoms and pulse for treatment. The principles align with Liu Wansu and Li Dongyuan: either attacking Pathogens primarily (eliminating pathogens restores Zheng Qi) or tonifying Zheng Qi primarily (restoring Zheng Qi expels pathogens). The choice depends on the practitioner's skill in applying flexibility.

Leg-crotch wind (pain in the groin/crotch area) presents with aversion to cold, fever, or sinew spasms and swelling/pain. The Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian ascends to the inner thigh, follows the yin of the thigh, and enters the pubic region. Stagnant Liver Qi from anger descending into the crotch causes pain; alternatively, internal invasion of Wind-Cold into Liver and Kidney with stagnation of Yang Qi causes similar symptoms. People often attribute this solely to Damp-Heat sinking, knowing only half the truth.

Crane Knee Wind (Osteoarthritis/Knee deformity) presents with swollen knees and emaciated calves, resembling a crane's knee, colloquially called Drumstick Wind. It is fundamentally caused by Wind, Cold, and Dampness. Swelling indicates pathogenic stagnation; emaciation indicates Blood deficiency. Early stages may use Green Onion Moxibustion to resolve swelling; chronic cases require tonifying Qi and nourishing Blood, treating concurrent external symptoms as needed.

Hot Feet usually belong to Yin Deficiency. For example, Kidney Water depletion causes soreness in shins/knees with hot feet; Liver Blood insufficiency causes hidden sinew pain with hot feet; Spleen Yang sinking causes abdominal distension, leg soreness, and hot feet. Consumptive patients often have these symptoms. However, Hot Feet can also result from Damp-Heat sinking, obstructing the normal flow of Ying and Wei Qi, causing steaming heat. Such cases must not be treated uniformly as Yin Deficiency.

Hong Kong Foot (Beriberi/Foot Qi) disease: Li Dongyuan attributed it to Excess Water-Dampness. Initial treatment involves moxibustion on the affected area (20-30 moxa cones) to guide Dampness out, preventing severe complications. The term originated with Su Jing in the Jin Dynasty. Hard numbness and swelling/pain correspond to the *Neijing*'s "Bi-Jue"; flaccidity corresponds to "Wei-Jue"; upward rushing sensation corresponds to "Jue-Ni". Since Li Dongyuan proposed Cold-Damp and Damp-Heat theories, later scholars rigidly divided treatments into Northern and Southern schools. However, humans exist in the interaction of Heaven and Earth Qi; pathogenic influences occur everywhere. It is not true that Southerners only get Southern diseases nor Northerners only Northern ones. Skilled practitioners must identify the meridian origin and determine which of the Six Qi is dominant. For instance: Headache, dizziness, stiff neck, back pain, pain along the Taiyang pathway from outer ankle via Jinggu to little toe = Taiyang Meridian Syndrome. Fever/chills, yawning, dry mouth/nose, abdominal distension, pain along Yangming pathway from thigh/knee to middle toe = Yangming Meridian Syndrome. Bitter taste, panting, hypochondriac pain, dull face, hair loss, headache, mastoid swelling, spontaneous sweating, chills/fever, chest/hypochondriac/thigh/knee/lateral malleolus/joint pain = Shaoyang Meridian Syndrome. Abdominal fullness, throat tightness, tongue tie, chest oppression, pain along Taiyin pathway from shin/knee inner front to big toe inner tip = Taiyin Meridian Syndrome. Back/spine pain, pain from little toe sole via inner ankle to heel/calf/thigh, rising to chest/throat, inability to eat despite hunger, dark face, dysuria, chronic cough, fearfulness, difficult-to-treat lower abdominal numbness = Shaoyin Meridian Syndrome. Flank pain, pain from big toe to dorsum foot/shin/thigh/groin/lower abdomen/umbilicus, bilateral leg spasms, dry throat, vomiting, profuse diarrhea = Jueyin Meridian Syndrome. Above six meridians should be regulated according to the prevailing Qi to avoid error.

Wei Syndrome (Flaccidity Syndrome), also called Soft Wind, features weak, flaccid limbs and lax joints. The Classics categorize Wei based on Heat in five Zang organs, manifesting as Pi Wei (Skin), Mai Wei (Vessel), Jin Wei (Sinew), Rou Wei (Muscle), and Gu Wei (Bone). Lung Heat scorches leaves, weakening skin/hair, causing Pi Wei. Heart Heat causes reversal of lower vessel Qi, leading to Mai Wei. Liver Heat causes gallbladder discharge/bitter taste, dry sinews, leading to Jin Wei. Spleen Heat causes thirst, numb muscles, leading to Rou Wei. Kidney Heat causes inability to raise waist/spine, dry bones, reduced marrow, leading to Gu Wei. These five Weis arise from Zang Heat induced by Five Labors, Five Emotions, and Six Excesses. Zhu Danxi synthesized this: Clearing South (Heart Fire) clears Lung Metal and prevents Liver Wood excess, sparing the Spleen; Tonifying North (Kidney Water) lowers Heart Fire and protects Lung Metal. This is the great method for treating Wei. Furthermore, all Wei syndromes stem from Yangming deficiency; thus, "Treating Wei focuses exclusively on Yangming" is a profound insight with no other valid approaches.

Zhuanjin Disease (Charley Horse/Cramp): Zhang Zhongjing describes straightening of arms/legs, pulsation running up/down with slight wiriness. Deficiency of Qi and Blood below the Foot Taiyang leads to cramps and heel pain. He states sinews attach to joints and Liver Blood deficiency causes sinew malnourishment and cramping pain. This differs from Shanghan. Shanghan/Huoluan originates in Yangming Stomach Meridian. Yin-Yang inversion, turbid-clear confusion, separation of upper/lower, and failure of Ying-Wei connection cause cramps, pain, chaotic meridians, sudden heat, vomiting/diarrhea, affecting Middle Jiao Wei Qi. Etiologies vary (Biao, Ben, or Ben-Biao). Six Meridian variations require different treatments. By observing pulse and complexion to identify the affected meridian and applying Ben/Biao treatments accordingly, restoration of order can be achieved swiftly.