腹中论者，言腹中之病也。凡八则，而今删其一。腹中之病，诚不止此，而此特其大凡耳。
黄帝问曰∶有病心腹满，旦食则不能暮食，此为何病？岐伯曰∶名为鼓胀。（心腹胀满，不能再食，形如
鼓胀，故名鼓胀也。按∶鼓胀一证，最为恶候，似不止于心腹胀满，不能再食而已也。太素作谷胀，良是。盖
气壅而不能化食者，非真鼓胀，注言形如，是也。）帝曰∶治之奈何？岐伯曰∶治之以鸡矢醴，一剂知，二剂
已。（古本草，鸡矢并不治鼓胀，惟大利小便，微寒。今方制法，当处汤渍服之。按∶鼓胀固非鸡矢所能治，
即谷胀恐亦非宜。大抵方药有古人能用之，而后人必不可用者，此类是也。）帝曰∶其时有复发者，何也？（复
谓再发，言如旧也。）岐伯曰∶此饮食不节，故时有病也。（……按∶言腹满而不能食者，其因原起于饮食，
继又不能樽节，故令复发如旧也。）
帝曰∶有病胸胁支满者，妨于食，病至则先闻腥臊臭，出清液，先唾血，四肢清，目眩，时时前后血，病
名为何？何以得之？（清液，清水也，亦谓之清涕。清涕者，谓从窈漏中漫液而下，水出清冷也。眩谓目视眩
转也。前后血谓前阴后阴
出血也。）岐伯曰∶病名血枯。此得之年少时有所大脱血，若醉入房，中气竭，肝伤，故月事衰少不来也。
（出血多者，谓之脱血，漏下、鼻衄、呕吐出血皆同焉。夫醉则血气盛，血气盛则内热，因而入房，髓液皆下，故
肾中气竭也。肝藏血，以少大脱血，故肝伤也。然于丈夫则精液衰乏，女子则月事衰少而不来。）帝曰∶治
之奈何？复以何术？岐伯曰∶以四乌 骨、一 茹，二物并合之，丸以雀卵，大如小豆，以五丸为后饭，饮以
鲍鱼汁，利肠中。（……饭后药先，谓之后饭。按古本草经云，乌 鱼骨、 茹等，并不治血枯。然经法用之，
是攻其所生所起尔。夫醉劳力以入房，则肾中精气耗竭；月事衰少不至，则中有恶血淹留。精气耗竭，则阴萎
不起而无精；恶血淹留，则血痹着中而不散。故先兹四味，用入方焉。古本草经曰∶乌 鱼骨，味咸冷平无毒，
主治女子血闭。 茹味辛寒平有小毒，主散恶血。雀卵味甘温平无毒，主治男子阴萎不起，强之令热，多精有子。
鲍鱼味辛臭温平无毒，主治瘀血血痹在四肢不散者。寻文会意，方义如此而处治之也。按∶新校正云∶“按甲乙
经及太素 作 ，详王注性味乃 茹，当改 作 。又按本草乌 鱼骨冷作微温，雀卵甘作酸，与王注异。”）
帝曰∶病有少腹盛，上下左右皆有根，此为何病？可治不？岐伯曰∶病名曰伏梁。（按∶伏梁本为心之积，今
本篇又有两伏梁，详求其义，彼此殊别，乃知凡胸腹之间，病有聚而成形者，皆得谓之伏梁，所谓名同而实异也。）
帝曰∶伏梁何因而得之？岐伯曰∶裹大脓血，居肠胃之外，不可治，治之每切，按之致死。帝曰∶何以然？
岐伯曰∶此下则因阴，必下脓血，上则迫胃脘，生膈挟胃脘内痈。（正当冲脉带脉之部分也。带脉者，起于季
胁，回身一周，横络于脐下。冲脉者，与足少阴之络，起于肾下，出于气街，循阴股。其上行者，出脐下三寸
关元之分，挟脐直上，循腹各行，会于咽
喉。故病当其分，则少腹盛，上下左右皆有根也。以其上下坚盛，如有潜梁，故曰病名伏梁，不可治也。以裹
大脓血居肠胃之外，按之痛闷不堪，故每切接之致死也。以冲脉下行者络阴，上行者循腹故也。上则迫近于胃
脘，下则因薄于阴器。若因薄于阴，则便下脓血。若迫近于胃，则病气上出于膈，复挟胃脘内长其痛也。以本
有大脓血在肠胃之外故也。生当为出，传文误也。按∶切，切痛也。注切按连续，误矣。又注生作出，太素挟
胃作使胃，义并通。）此久病也，难治。居脐上为逆，居脐下为从，勿动亟夺。（……若裹大脓血居脐上，则
渐伤心脏，故为逆。居脐下，则去心稍远，犹得渐攻，故为从。从，顺也。亟，数也。夺，去也。言不可移动，
但数数去之则可矣。）
帝曰∶夫子数言热中。消中，不可服高梁、芳草、石药，石药发癫，芳草发狂。（多饮数溲，谓之热中。多
食数溲，谓之消中。多喜曰癫。多怒曰狂。芳，美味也。）夫热中、消中者，皆富贵人也。今禁高梁，是不合其
心，禁芳草、石药，是病不愈，愿闻其说。热中消中者，脾气之上溢，甘肥之所致，故禁食高梁芳美之草也。
富贵人者，骄恣纵欲，轻人而无能禁之，禁之则逆其志，顺之则加其病。帝思难诘，故发问之。高，膏。粱，
米也。石药，英乳也。芳草，浓美也。然此五者，富贵人常服之，难禁也。岐伯曰∶夫芳草之气美，石药之气
悍，二者其气急疾坚劲，故非缓心和人，不可以服此二者。（脾气溢而生病，气美则重盛于脾，气悍则又滋其
热。若人性和心缓，气候舒匀，不与物争，释然宽泰，则神不躁迫，无惧内伤也。按∶富贵者观此，其亦可以
知所守矣。）帝曰∶不可以服此二者，何以然？岐伯曰∶夫热气 悍，药气亦然，二者相遇，恐内伤脾。脾者土
也而恶木，服此药者，至甲乙日更论。（热气 盛则木气内余，故心非和缓则躁怒数起，躁怒数起则热气因木
以伤脾，甲乙为木，故至甲乙日更论脾病之增减也。）
帝曰∶有病膺肿、（按∶甲乙经作痈肿，非也。）颈痛、胸满、腹胀，此为何病？何以得之？（膺，胸旁也。
颈，项前也。胸，膺间也。）岐伯曰∶名厥逆。（气逆所生，故名厥逆。）帝曰∶治之奈何？岐伯曰∶灸之则
喑，石之则狂，须其气并，乃可治也。（石谓以石针开破之。）帝曰∶何以然？岐伯曰∶阳气重上，有余于上。
灸之则阳气入阴，入则喑；石之则阳气虚，虚则狂。（灸之则火气助阳，阳盛故入阴；石之则阳气出，阳气出则
内不足，故狂。）须其气并而治之，可使全也。（按，并，注谓并合，是也。至其所以并合可治之解，惜未明快。
盖言气逆之证，上冲胸膺，散漫腹胁，攻之急则气不归经而逆愈甚。故须因势利导，使气合而并于一，然后中满
者补其母，阳浮者滋其阴，火盛气壅者消散而清利，则上冲者必降而顺下，散漫者自敛而归于原也。）
帝曰∶善！何以知怀子之且生也？岐伯曰∶身有病而无邪脉也。（病谓经闭也。脉法曰∶“尺中之脉，来而
继绝者，经闭也。月水不利，若尺中脉绝者，经闭也。”今病经闭，脉反如常者，妇人妊娠之证，故云身有病而
无邪脉也。按∶帝问怀子之且生是有二意，而伯答有病无邪，是止解怀子，而且生义竟无所解，必有脱简。且生
谓将产也。）
帝曰∶病热而有所痛者，何也。岐伯曰∶病热者，阳脉也，以三阳之动也。人迎一盛少阳，二盛太阳，三盛
阳明，入阴也。夫阳入于阴，故病在头与腹，乃 胀而头痛也。帝曰∶善！（按∶热者，火之气也。火盛则热，
病属三阳，三阳盛极，气及于阴，皆火之为患也。）
《腹中论》篇，论述的是腹部内部的疾病。全篇原有八条医案，如今删去了一条。腹部的疾病确实不止这些，但这里列举的只是其中比较典型和常见的情况。
黄帝问道：有人患有心腹胀满，早晨吃了饭到了晚上就不能再吃，这是什么病？岐伯回答说：这种病名叫鼓胀。（心腹胀满，无法继续进食，腹部形状像鼓一样，所以叫鼓胀。按语：鼓胀这一证候，属于非常凶险的病候，似乎不仅仅表现为心腹胀满和不能进食。《太素》中写作“谷胀”，这很合理。因为气机壅滞导致食物无法消化，并非真正的鼓胀，王注中说“形如”，是正确的。）黄帝问：怎么治疗？岐伯说：用鸡矢醴治疗，服一剂见效，服两剂痊愈。（古代本草书中，鸡矢并不治疗鼓胀，主要作用是利小便，性微寒。现在的方制方法，应当将其煎汤服用。按语：鼓胀本来就不是鸡矢能治疗的，即使是谷胀恐怕也不适宜。大抵有些方药古人能用，而后人一定不能再用，这类情况就是如此。）黄帝问：为什么有时候会复发呢？（复发指再次发病，症状如同旧病。）岐伯说：这是因为饮食没有节制，所以时常发病。（……按语：说的是腹满而不能进食的人，起因原本在于饮食，后来又不能自我节制，所以导致病情复发如同从前。）
黄帝问道：有人患有胸胁支撑胀满，妨碍进食，发病时先闻到腥臊臭味，流出清稀液体，先吐出血丝，四肢发冷，头晕目眩，时常大小便出血，这是什么病？是怎么得的？（清液即清水，也称为清涕。清涕是指从细微孔窍中缓缓流出的清冷水液。眩是指视物旋转。前后血指前阴和后阴出血。）岐伯说：这种病名叫血枯。这是因为在年少时曾经有过大量失血，或者在醉酒后进行房事，导致中气衰竭，肝脏受损，所以月经减少或闭经。（出血多者，称为脱血，漏下、鼻衄、呕吐出血都属此类。醉酒时血气旺盛，血气旺盛则产生内热，此时行房事，髓液皆向下流失，所以肾中气竭。肝藏血，因年少时大量失血，所以肝受伤。然而对于男子则是精液衰乏，对于女子则是月经减少或闭经。）黄帝问：怎么治疗？用什么方法？岐伯说：用四份乌贼骨、一份蘼茹，将这两味药混合，用雀卵做丸，大小如小豆，每次以五丸为量，在饭后服用，用鲍鱼汁送服，以通利肠道。（……饭后服药称为后饭。按古代本草经记载，乌贼骨、蘼茹等并不治疗血枯。然而经典法度使用它们，是攻治其病因所在。醉酒劳累后行房，会导致肾中精气耗竭；月经减少不来，说明体内有恶血滞留。精气耗竭，则阳萎不起且无精；恶血滞留，则血痹附着于体内而不消散。所以先用这四味药入方。古本草经说：乌贼骨，味咸冷平无毒，主治女子血闭。蘼茹味辛寒平有小毒，主散恶血。雀卵味甘温平无毒，主治男子阳萎不起，使其勃起发热，增加精子生育能力。鲍鱼味辛臭温平无毒，主治瘀血血痹在四肢不散者。寻究文意，方义如此来处方治疗。按：新校正说：“按《甲乙经》及《太素》中‘’字作‘’，详察王冰注的性味乃是‘蘼茹’，应当改‘’为‘’。又按本草书乌贼骨性冷改为微温，雀卵味甘改为味酸，与王注不同。”）
黄帝问道：有人少腹坚硬胀满，上下左右都有根脚，这是什么病？可以治疗吗？岐伯说：这种病名叫伏梁。（按语：伏梁本是心的积病，现在本篇又有两处提到伏梁，详细探究其义，彼此截然不同，才知道凡是胸腹之间，病邪聚集成形的，都可以称为伏梁，这就是所谓名称相同而实质不同。）黄帝问：伏梁是什么原因引起的？岐伯说：包裹着大量的脓血，位于肠胃之外，不可治疗，治疗时如果切按，会导致死亡。黄帝问：为什么这样？岐伯说：病位在下则涉及阴部，必然导致下脓血；病位在上则压迫胃脘，形成膈症并夹杂胃脘内的痈肿。（正当冲脉和带脉的部位。带脉，起于季胁，环绕身体一周，横向联络于脐下。冲脉，与足少阴肾经的络脉，起于肾下，出于气街，沿大腿内侧下行。其上行的部分，出于脐下三寸关元穴处，挟脐直上，沿腹部各行，会合于咽喉。所以病邪当其部位，则少腹坚硬胀满，上下左右都有根脚。因为其上下坚硬胀满，如有潜伏的栋梁，所以叫病名伏梁，难以治疗。因为它包裹大量脓血位于肠胃之外，切按时疼痛闷乱不堪，所以每次切按都会致死。因为冲脉下行的联络阴器，上行沿腹部的缘故。向上则迫近胃脘，向下则逼近阴器。如果逼近阴器，则大便下脓血。如果迫近胃脘，则病气向上出于膈，又挟持胃脘内部生长痛肿。原文中“生”应为“出”，传抄有误。按：切，指切痛。注解说切按连续，是错误的。又注解说“生”作“出”，《太素》中“挟胃”作“使胃”，意义都通顺。）这是久病，难治。病位在脐上为逆证，病位在脐下为顺证，不要随意触动，应多次攻逐邪气。（……如果包裹大量脓血位于脐上，则会逐渐伤害心脏，所以为逆证。位于脐下，则离心脏稍远，还可以逐渐攻逐，所以为顺证。从，即顺。亟，即多次。夺，即去除。意思是不可移动病位，但可以多次攻逐邪气即可。）
黄帝说：先生多次提到热中和消中，不可以服用膏粱厚味、芳草类药物和石药，石药会引起癫狂，芳草会引起发狂。（多饮多尿，称为热中。多食多尿，称为消中。多喜笑称为癫。多愤怒称为狂。芳，指美味。）热中和消中这两种病，都是富贵人得的。现在禁止食用膏粱厚味，是不符合他们的心意；禁止服用芳草、石药，是病好不了，希望听听您的说法。热中和消中，是由于脾气上溢，由甘肥饮食所致，所以禁止食用膏粱芳美之草。富贵人骄纵放肆，轻视他人而无法禁止他们，禁止他们会违背他们的意志，顺从他们则会加重病情。黄帝思考难以诘问，所以提出这个问题。高，指膏脂。粱，指精细米粮。石药，指矿物药。芳草，指气味浓美的草药。但这五种东西，富贵人经常服用，很难禁止。岐伯说：芳草的气味美好，石药的气性刚悍，这两者的气急疾坚劲，所以对于性格缓慢平和的人，不可以服用这两类药。（脾气溢出而生病，气美则重盛于脾，气悍则又滋长其热。如果人性情温和舒缓，气候舒匀，不与外物争竞，释然宽泰，则神志不躁迫，没有内在损伤的恐惧。按：富贵人看了这个，也应该知道如何守住了。）黄帝问：不可以服用这两类药，为什么呢？岐伯说：热气刚悍，药气也是如此，两者相遇，恐怕会内伤脾脏。脾属土而恶木，服用这些药的人，到了甲乙日需要重新讨论。（热气盛则木气内余，所以如果人心不和缓则会躁怒频发，躁怒频发则热气借木气来伤脾，甲乙属木，所以到了甲乙日需要重新讨论脾病的增减情况。）
黄帝问道：有人患有胸部肿胀、颈痛、胸满、腹胀，这是什么病？是怎么得的？（膺，指胸旁。颈，指项前。胸，指膺间。）岐伯说：名叫厥逆。（气逆所生，所以名叫厥逆。）黄帝问：怎么治疗？岐伯说：艾灸会导致失音，砭石放血会导致发狂，必须等到气机合并调和，才可以治疗。（石指用石针切开排脓。）黄帝问：为什么这样？岐伯说：阳气重聚于上部，上部有余。艾灸则阳气陷入阴分，陷入则失音；砭石放血则阳气虚损，虚损则发狂。（艾灸则火气助阳，阳盛故陷入阴分；砭石则阳气外出，阳气外出则内部不足，所以发狂。）必须等到气机合并调和后再治疗，可以使疾病痊愈。（按：并，注解说并合，是正确的。至于为什么并合后可治的解释，可惜没有讲明白。大概意思是气逆之证，向上冲撞胸膺，散漫于腹胁，攻之急则气不归经而逆更甚。所以必须因势利导，使气合而并于一，然后中满者补其母，阳浮者滋其阴，火盛气壅者消散而清利，则上冲者必降而顺下，散漫者自敛而归于原也。）
黄帝说：好！怎么知道怀孕妇女快要分娩了？岐伯说：身体有病象但没有邪脉。（病象指经闭。脉法说：“尺中的脉，来而继绝者，是经闭。月水不利，如果尺中脉绝者，也是经闭。”现在病象是经闭，脉象反而正常，这是妇人妊娠的证候，所以说身有病而无邪脉。按：帝问怀子之且生是有两层意思，而伯答有病无邪，只解释了怀子，而且生的意思竟然没有解释，必定有脱简。且生谓将产也。）
黄帝问：患热病并且伴有疼痛的，是怎么回事？岐伯说：患热病，是阳脉的表现，因为三阳之气发动。人迎脉大一倍为少阳病，大二倍为太阳病，大三倍为阳明病，病邪就会传入阴分。阳入于阴，所以病在头部和腹部，于是出现胀满和头痛。黄帝说：好！（按：热，是火的气。火盛则热，病属三阳，三阳盛极，气及于阴，都是火的祸患。）
*Suwen Jingzhu Jiejie* (Annotated and Annotated Excerpts of the Suwen), Chapter "Fu Zhong Lun" (Discourse on Diseases in the Abdomen) discusses diseases occurring within the abdomen. Originally containing eight clinical cases, one has been deleted here. Diseases of the abdomen indeed extend beyond these examples, but these represent the general and typical cases.
The Yellow Emperor asked: There is a patient suffering from fullness and distension in the heart and abdomen, who cannot eat dinner if they ate breakfast. What disease is this? Qibo replied: This disease is named *Guzhang* (Drum Distension). (Heart and abdominal fullness, inability to continue eating, with the abdomen shaped like a drum, hence the name Drum Distension. Commentary: *Guzhang* is a severe condition, seemingly not limited to just abdominal fullness and anorexia. *Tai Su* writes it as *Gu Zhang* (Grain Distension), which is reasonable. Qi stagnation preventing food digestion is not true *Guzhang*; Wang Bing's note stating "shaped like" is correct.) The Yellow Emperor asked: How should it be treated? Qibo replied: Treat it with *Ji Shi Li* (Chicken Dropping Fermented Liquid). One dose brings improvement; two doses bring recovery. (Ancient Materia Medica states that chicken droppings do not treat *Guzhang*, but primarily promote urination and are slightly cold. Current prescription methods involve decocting and drinking it. Commentary: *Guzhang* is inherently not treatable by chicken droppings, nor likely *Gu Zhang*. Generally, some prescriptions usable by ancients are unusable by later generations; this is such a case.) The Yellow Emperor asked: Why does it sometimes recur? (Recurrence refers to the return of symptoms similar to the original illness.) Qibo replied: This is due to unregulated diet, causing frequent relapses. (Commentary: For those with abdominal fullness and anorexia, the origin lies in diet, and subsequent failure to self-regulate leads to recurrence.)
The Yellow Emperor asked: There is a patient with support-like fullness in the chest and hypochondrium, interfering with eating. Upon onset, they first smell a fishy or foul odor, discharge clear fluid, expectorate blood streaks, experience cold limbs, dizziness, and frequent bleeding from both anterior and posterior orifices. What is this disease? How is it contracted? (Clear fluid refers to clear water, also called clear nasal mucus. Dizziness refers to vertigo. Anterior and posterior bleeding refers to bleeding from the genitalia and anus.) Qibo replied: This disease is named *Xueku* (Blood Dryness/Withering). It results from significant blood loss in youth, or sexual intercourse while intoxicated, leading to exhaustion of Middle Qi and liver injury, resulting in scanty menstruation or amenorrhea. (Significant blood loss is termed *Tuoxue* (Blood Collapse); metrorrhagia, epistaxis, and hematemesis fall under this category. Intoxication causes vigorous blood and Qi, generating internal heat; engaging in intercourse then depletes marrow fluids, exhausting Kidney Qi. The Liver stores Blood; significant blood loss injures the Liver. In men, this manifests as seminal deficiency; in women, as scanty or absent menstruation.) The Yellow Emperor asked: How should it be treated? What method should be used? Qibo replied: Use four parts *Wu Mei Gu* (Cuttlebone) and one part *Ru* (likely referring to *Euphorbia* or similar herb, textually debated), combined into pills using quail eggs, sized like small beans. Take five pills after meals, washed down with *Bao Yu Zhi* (Abalone Juice), to benefit the intestines. (Commentary: Taking medicine after meals is "Hou Fan". Ancient texts state Cuttlebone and *Ru* do not treat *Blood Dryness*. However, the Classic uses them to attack the root cause. Intoxication and labor during intercourse deplete Kidney Essence; amenorrhea indicates stagnant evil blood. Depleted essence causes impotence; stagnant blood causes Bi syndrome. Thus, these four herbs are used. Cuttlebone treats female blood closure; *Ru* disperses evil blood; Quail egg treats male impotence and boosts fertility; Abalone juice treats stagnant blood in limbs. The prescription logic follows this interpretation. New Corrections note textual variations regarding the herb names and properties compared to Wang Bing's notes.)
The Yellow Emperor asked: There is a patient with hardness and fullness in the lower abdomen, with roots extending up, down, left, and right. What disease is this? Is it treatable? Qibo replied: This disease is named *Fuliang* (Hidden Beam). (Commentary: *Fuliang* originally refers to the accumulation of the Heart. The presence of other *Fuliang* descriptions in this chapter indicates that any pathological mass forming in the chest or abdomen can be called *Fuliang*, meaning same name but different substance.) The Yellow Emperor asked: What causes *Fuliang*? Qibo replied: It wraps large amounts of pus and blood, residing outside the stomach and intestines. It is untreatable; cutting or pressing it can cause death. The Yellow Emperor asked: Why? Qibo replied: If located lower, it involves the Yin organs, causing pus and blood to pass downward; if located upper, it presses on the stomach, causing Diaphragm syndrome and internal abscesses near the stomach. (It occupies the regions of the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) and Dai Mai (Girdle Vessel). The Dai Mai originates at the costal region, encircles the body, and crosses below the navel. The Chong Mai originates below the kidney, emerges at Qichong, descends along the thigh, and ascends from Guanyuan, running alongside the navel to the throat. Pathology here causes lower abdominal hardness. Due to its firmness resembling a hidden beam, it is named *Fuliang* and is difficult to treat. Pressing it causes unbearable pain and death because it contains pus/blood outside the gut. The Chong Mai connects to the Yin organs below and runs along the abdomen above. Lower involvement causes bloody/purulent stools; upper involvement causes diaphragmatic issues and gastric abscesses. Note: "Sheng" (generate) should be "Chu" (exit). Commentary: "Qie" means cutting pain. The note linking it to continuous pressing is wrong. *Tai Su* reads "Shi Wei" instead of "Xie Wei", both valid.) This is a chronic disease, difficult to treat. Located above the navel is "Ni" (Rebellious/Opposing); located below is "Cong" (Following/Favorable). Do not move it aggressively; instead, repeatedly drain it. (Above the navel approaches the Heart, hence Rebellious. Below is further from the Heart, allowing gradual treatment, hence Favorable. "Cong" means smooth/favorable. "Ji" means frequently. "Duo" means remove/draining. Meaning: Do not shift the location, but repeatedly drain the pathogen.)
The Yellow Emperor said: You often mention *Rezhong* (Heat Center) and *Xiaozhong* (Consumption Center). These patients must avoid rich foods (*Gaoliang*), fragrant herbs (*Fangcao*), and mineral drugs (*Shiyao*). Mineral drugs cause epilepsy; fragrant herbs cause mania. (Excessive thirst and urination is *Rezhong*. Excessive eating and urination is *Xiaozhong. Excessive joy is Dian (epilepsy/mania variant). Excessive anger is Kuang (mania). Fragrant refers to delicious/tasty.) *Rezhong* and *Xiaozhong* affect wealthy people. Banning rich food goes against their desires; banning herbs/minerals prevents cure. I wish to hear your explanation. *Rezhong/Xiaozhong* result from Spleen Qi overflowing due to sweet/greasy diets, hence the ban on rich foods. Wealthy people are arrogant and indulgent; banning food offends them, worsening the disease. The Emperor posed this question due to difficulty in refutation. *Gao* refers to fat/lard; *Liang* to fine grain. *Shiyao* are mineral drugs; *Fangcao* are aromatic herbs. These are hard for the wealthy to abstain from. Qibo replied: The Qi of fragrant herbs is beautiful/mild, but the Qi of mineral drugs is fierce/harsh. Both act rapidly and firmly. Therefore, they cannot be taken by people with slow, gentle dispositions. (Spleen overflow creates disease; mild Qi burdens the Spleen; harsh Qi fuels heat. A gentle person with calm spirit avoids internal injury. Commentary: The wealthy should learn restraint from this.) The Yellow Emperor asked: Why can they not take them? Qibo replied: Heat Qi is fierce, and drug Qi is similar. Their meeting may internally injure the Spleen. The Spleen is Earth and fears Wood. Patients taking these drugs will see changes on Jia/Yi days (Wood days). (Excess Heat leaves residual Wood Qi, causing irritability. Irritability allows Heat to use Wood to injure the Spleen. Jia/Yi correspond to Wood, so Spleen pathology is reassessed on these days.)
The Yellow Emperor asked: There is a patient with swelling of the chest (*Ying*), neck pain, chest fullness, and abdominal distension. What disease is this? How is it caused? (*Ying* is the side of the chest; Neck is front of the neck; Chest is between the *Ying*.) Qibo replied: It is named *Jueni* (Jue-Ni Reversal). (Caused by rebellious Qi, hence the name.) The Yellow Emperor asked: How to treat? Qibo replied: Moxibustion causes aphonia; stone needle therapy causes mania. One must wait for the Qi to merge and harmonize before treating. (Stone refers to stone needles for lancing.) The Yellow Emperor asked: Why? Qibo replied: Yang Qi is heavy and excessive in the upper body. Moxibustion drives Yang into Yin, causing aphonia; Stone therapy drains Yang, causing mania due to deficiency. (Moxa aids Yang; excess Yang enters Yin. Stone therapy expels Yang; deficiency leads to mania.) Treatment must wait for Qi to merge, ensuring recovery. (Commentary: "Bing" means merging. The explanation is subtle: Aggressive treatment of rebellious Qi spreading to chest/abdomen worsens rebellion. One must guide the Qi to merge, then tonify the Mother for fullness, nourish Yin for floating Yang, and clear/drain fire/stagnation. This lowers ascending Qi and consolidates scattered Qi.)
The Yellow Emperor said: Excellent! How do we know a pregnant woman is about to give birth? Qibo replied: The body shows signs of illness (amenorrhea) but the pulse lacks pathogenic characteristics. (Illness here refers to amenorrhea. Pulse texts state: "Chuni pulse stopping indicates amenorrhea." Here, amenorrhea with a normal pulse indicates pregnancy. Commentary: The Emperor's question had two parts; Qibo only answered the pregnancy part, missing the "about to give birth" aspect, suggesting a textual lacuna. "Qie Sheng" means impending delivery.)
The Yellow Emperor asked: In heat diseases accompanied by pain, what is the cause? Qibo replied: Heat diseases manifest in Yang pulses due to the movement of the Three Yang channels. Renying pulse 1x stronger indicates Shaoyang; 2x indicates Taiyang; 3x indicates Yangming. When Yang enters Yin, the disease affects the head and abdomen, causing distension and headache. The Yellow Emperor said: Excellent! (Commentary: Heat is Fire. Excess Fire causes heat. Disease belongs to Three Yang; when extreme, Qi enters Yin, all being Fire-related pathology.)