诸涩枯涸，干劲皴揭，皆属于燥。（阳明燥金，乃肺与大肠之气也）
（涩）
涩∶物湿则滑泽，干则涩滞，燥湿相反故也。如遍身中外涩滞，皆属燥金之化，故秋脉
。 ，涩也。或麻者，亦由涩也，由水液衰少而燥涩，气行壅滞，而不得滑泽通
利，气强攻冲而为麻也。如平人抑其手足，则真气顿行之甚，而涩滞壅碍不得通利而麻。亦
犹鼓物之象也，其不欲动者，动则为阳。使气行之转甚，故转麻也。俗方治麻病，多用乌、
附者，令气行之暴甚，以故转麻。因之冲开道路，以得通利，药气尽则平，气行通而麻愈也
。然六气不必一气独为病，气有相兼，若亡液为燥，或麻无热证，即当此法；或风热胜湿为
燥，因而病麻，则宜以退风散热、活血养液、润燥通气之凉药调之，则麻自愈也。治诸燥涩
，悉如此法。
（枯涸）
枯，不荣王也。涸，无水液也。干，不滋润也。劲，不柔合也。春秋相反，燥湿不同故
也。大法，身表热为热在表，渴饮水为热在里。身热饮水，表里俱有热；身凉不渴，表里俱
无热。《经》所不取火化渴者，谓渴非特为热。如病寒吐利，亡液过极，则亦燥而渴也；虽病风
热，而液尚未衰，则亦不渴。岂可止言渴为热而否为寒也？夫燥渴之为病也。多兼于热。故
《易》曰∶燥万物者，莫 乎火。今言渴为燥，则亦备矣。如大法身凉不渴，为表里俱
无热，故不言为寒也。谓表里微热，则亦有身不热而不渴者，不亦宜乎！
（皴揭）
皴揭∶皮肤启裂也。干为天，而为燥金；坤为地，而为湿土。天地相反，燥湿异用。故
燥金主于紧敛，所以秋脉紧细而微。湿土主于纵缓，所以六月其脉缓大而长也。如地湿则纵
缓滑泽，干则紧敛燥涩，皴揭之理，明可见焉。俗云皴揭为风者，由风能胜湿而为燥也。《经》
言∶厥阴所至，为风府，为璺启。由风胜湿而为燥也。所谓寒月甚而暑月衰者，由寒能收敛
，腠理闭密，无汗而燥，故病甚也。热则皮肤纵缓腠理疏通而汗润，故病衰也。或以水湿皮
肤，而反喜皴揭者，水湿自招风寒故也。
各种干涩、枯槁、枯竭、干燥、皮肤紧绷皲裂的症状，都归属于燥邪。（阳明燥金，对应肺与大肠的气机）
（涩）
涩：物体湿润则滑利，干燥则滞涩，这是燥与湿性质相反的缘故。如全身内外出现涩滞感，都属于燥金的化生影响，所以秋季的脉象表现为涩。或者出现麻木感，也是由涩引起的，因为津液衰少导致燥涩，气机运行壅滞，不能滑利通畅，气机强盛攻冲而表现为麻木。比如正常人抑制手足活动，真气突然运行受阻，涩滞壅塞不通利而发麻。这也像敲击物体时的现象一样，那些不想动的部位，一动就属阳。使气机运行更加剧烈，所以麻木感加重。世俗方剂治疗麻木病，多用乌头、附子，让气机运行变得暴烈剧烈，因此反而加重麻木。借此冲开道路，以求得通利，药力耗尽后平复，气行通畅则麻木自愈。然而六气不一定单一之气致病，气有相兼的情况，如果津液亡失导致燥证，或者麻木没有热证表现，就用这种方法；如果是风热胜湿转化为燥，因而导致麻木病，则适宜用退风散热、活血养液、润燥通气的凉性药物来调理，麻木自然痊愈。治疗各种燥涩，都遵循这种方法。
（枯涸）
枯，指不荣养旺盛。涸，指无水液。干，指不滋润。劲（僵硬），指不柔和。春秋季节相反，燥湿不同，所以如此。大凡法则：体表发热为热在表，口渴饮水为热在里。身体发热且饮水，说明表里都有热；身体凉爽且不渴，说明表里都没有热。《内经》中不单独取用火化致渴的说法，是因为口渴不仅仅是因为热。比如患寒病呕吐腹泻，津液亡失过度，也会因燥而口渴；虽然患风热病，但津液尚未衰少，也不会口渴。怎么能只说口渴是热证而否认它是寒证呢？夫燥渴这种病症，多兼夹热邪。所以《易经》说：“使万物干燥的，没有什么比火更厉害的了。”现在说口渴属于燥，也就完备了。如果按照大凡法则，身体凉爽不渴，说明表里俱无热，所以不说它是寒证。如果说表里有微热，那么也有身体不热而不渴的情况，这难道不是合理的吗！
（皴揭）
皴揭：指皮肤开裂。乾为天，对应燥金；坤为地，对应湿土。天地相反，燥湿作用不同。所以燥金主收敛紧束，因此秋季脉象紧细而微。湿土主舒展缓和，因此六月其脉缓大而长。比如地面湿润则舒展滑利，干燥则紧束燥涩，皮肤皲裂的道理，明显可见。世俗常说皴揭是由风引起的，是因为风能胜湿从而化为燥。《内经》说：“厥阴所至，表现为风府，表现为裂缝。”这是因为风胜湿而化为燥。所谓寒冷月份病情重而暑热月份病情轻，是因为寒能收敛，腠理闭密，无汗而燥，所以病情严重。热则皮肤舒展缓和，腠理疏通而汗出润泽，所以病情减轻。有人用水湿浸泡皮肤，反而喜欢皮肤皲裂，是因为水湿自招风寒的缘故。
All cases of astringency, withering, drying up, dryness, and skin cracking are attributed to Dryness. (Yangming Dry Metal corresponds to the Qi mechanism of the Lung and Large Intestine.)
(Astringency)
Astringency: Objects are slippery when moist and obstructed when dry; this is because Dryness and Dampness have opposite natures. For instance, if there is an obstructive sensation throughout the body inside and out, it belongs to the transformation of Dry Metal, hence the autumn pulse is described as "astringent." Numbness may also arise from astringency; due to the scarcity of body fluids leading to dryness and obstruction, the Qi mechanism becomes stagnant and fails to flow smoothly and freely. When the Qi force strongly attacks and rushes, it manifests as numbness. For example, when a healthy person restrains their limbs, the True Qi suddenly encounters severe obstruction, becoming stagnant and blocked, failing to flow smoothly, resulting in numbness. This is similar to the phenomenon of striking an object: parts that do not wish to move belong to Yang. If one causes the Qi mechanism to move more vigorously, the numbness intensifies. Secular prescriptions for treating numbness often employ Aconitum Radix Preparata (Fuzi, 附子) and Aconitum Carmichaelii Radix (Wutou, 乌头) to make the Qi movement violent and intense, thereby exacerbating the numbness. This serves to break open pathways to achieve smooth flow; once the medicinal effect subsides, things return to normal, and when Qi flows freely, the numbness heals. However, the Six Qi do not necessarily cause disease singly; Qi can combine. If fluid loss leads to Dryness, or if numbness presents without heat signs, this method applies; if Wind-Heat overcomes Dampness to transform into Dryness, causing numbness, then it is appropriate to regulate with cooling herbs that dispel wind, clear heat, invigorate blood, nourish fluids, moisten dryness, and unblock Qi, allowing the numbness to heal naturally. The treatment of all astringent-dry conditions follows this method.
(Withering and Drying Up)
Withered refers to lack of flourishing nourishment. Dried up means absence of water/fluids. Dry means lacking moisture. Stiff/rigid means lacking flexibility. Spring and Autumn seasons are opposite, and Dryness and Dampness differ, hence the distinction. Generally, surface heat indicates Heat at the Exterior; thirst with desire to drink indicates Heat at the Interior. Body heat combined with drinking indicates Heat in both Exterior and Interior; cool body without thirst indicates no Heat in either Exterior or Interior. The Classic does not solely attribute thirst to Fire transformation because thirst is not exclusively caused by Heat. For example, in cold diseases involving vomiting and diarrhea, extreme loss of fluids can also lead to dryness and thirst; conversely, even in Wind-Heat diseases, if fluids have not yet depleted, there will be no thirst. How can one only say thirst signifies Heat and deny it signifies Cold? In fact, the pathology of dry-thirst often accompanies Heat. Thus, the I Ching states: "Among all things that dry, none is greater than Fire." Now stating that thirst belongs to Dryness completes the picture. According to general principles, a cool body without thirst indicates no Heat in Exterior or Interior, so it is not termed Cold. If one posits slight Heat in Exterior and Interior, there are indeed cases where the body is not hot and there is no thirst; is this not reasonable?
(Cracking and Peeling)
Cracking and peeling refer to skin fissures. Qian (Heaven) corresponds to Dry Metal; Kun (Earth) corresponds to Wet Earth. Heaven and Earth are opposite, and Dryness and Dampness have different functions. Therefore, Dry Metal governs contraction and tightening, which is why the autumn pulse is tight, fine, and subtle. Wet Earth governs relaxation and slowness, which is why the pulse in the sixth month is slow, large, and long. Just as wet earth relaxes and becomes slippery, while dry earth contracts and becomes rough/astringent, the principle of skin cracking is clearly visible. Secular belief holds that cracking is caused by Wind, because Wind can overcome Dampness and transform into Dryness. The Classic says: "Wherever Jueyin arrives, it manifests as Wind Mansion and as fissures/cracks." This is because Wind overcomes Dampness to create Dryness. The reason symptoms are worse in cold months and milder in hot months is that Cold causes contraction, closing the interstices (Cou Li), preventing sweating, leading to dryness, thus worsening the condition. Heat causes the skin to relax and interstices to open, allowing sweat to moisten, thus alleviating the condition. Some people soak their skin in water but still prefer cracking/peeling; this is because water/dampness attracts Wind-Cold.