呼者因阳出。吸者随阴入。呼吸之间。肺经主之。喉咙以下言六脏为手足之阴。咽门以下言六腑为手足之阳。
盖诸脏属阴。为里。诸腑属阳。为表。以脏者藏也。藏诸神流通也。腑者府库。主出纳水谷糟粕转输之谓也。自喉
咙以下六脏。喉应天气乃肺之系也。以肺属金。干为天。干金也。故天气之道。其中空长。可以通气息但喉咙与咽
并行。其实两异。而人多惑之。盖喉咙为息道。咽中下水谷。其喉下接肺之气一云喉中三窍者。非果喉中具三窍。
则水谷与气各从一窍而俱下。肺中肺下无窍何由传送水谷入于下焦。黄帝书云。肺为诸脏之华盖。藏真高之气于肺
经也。故清阳出上窍浊阴出下窍。若世人不知保元风寒暑湿燥火之六气喜怒忧思悲恐惊之七情役冒非理。百病生焉
病疡既成须寻所自若喉痹乳蛾缠喉风喉闭喉疮风毒热毒等症当刺者则刺不可乱医。宜吐者则吐不可妄治须识其标本
辨其虚实而攻导之不失其法临症变通功效立见其患自安。至于虚损劳瘦咳伤咽痛者此乃真阴亏竭金木不能相生而龙
雷之火奔腾上灼火炎则金伤金伤高源无以蒸吻布沤。而咳血声哑咽痛干紧之症作矣。吁如症至此不惟非法可治。且
百无一生。可胜言哉。
夫咽喉者生于肺胃之上。咽者咽也主通利水谷。为胃之系乃胃气之通道也。长一尺六寸重六两。喉者空虚。主
气息出入呼吸为肺之系。乃肺气之通道也。凡九节。长一尺六寸重十二两。故咽喉虽并行其实异用也然人之一身惟
此最为关要，一气之流行通于六脏六腑呼吸之经若脏腑充实。肺胃和平则体安身泰一有风邪热毒蕴积于内传在经
络。结于三焦气凝血滞。不得舒畅。故令咽喉诸症种种而发苟非见症随治则风痰愈盛热毒日深渐至喉间紧闭水泄不
通几何而不殒命耶。大抵风之为患好攻上而致疾者。三十六症内关咽喉为第一。
呼气是阳气向外发散。吸气是阴气向内收敛。呼吸的过程，由肺经所主管。从喉咙往下，涉及的是手足三阴经所属的六脏；从咽门往下，涉及的是手足三阳经所属的六腑。
大概来说，所有的脏器属于阴，位于体内（里）；所有的腑器属于阳，位于体表或通道（表）。所谓“脏”，是因为它们具有贮藏功能，藏纳精神并维持流通；所谓“腑”，是因为它们像府库一样，主要负责受纳和排泄水谷及糟粕，以及进行转输运化。从喉咙以下的六脏中，喉与天气相应，它是肺系的延伸。因为肺在五行中属金，天干中对应“干”代表天，而“干”也属金。所以天气运行的道理，其特点是中空且长，能够通达气息。但是，喉咙和咽虽然并行存在，其实功能各异，而人们常常对此感到困惑。大概而言，喉咙是气息通行的道路，咽部则输送水谷。喉的下端连接肺的气机，有一种说法认为喉中有三个窍孔，这并非指喉中真的具备三个孔洞，而是说水谷和气息各自通过不同的通道下行。如果肺中和肺下没有孔窍，水谷如何传送进入下焦呢？《黄帝内经》说：肺是五脏六腑的华盖，将真元之气高居于肺经之中。所以清阳之气出于上窍，浊阴之气出于下窍。如果世人不懂得保养元气，被风、寒、暑、湿、燥、火这六气，以及喜、怒、忧、思、悲、恐、惊这七情所过度劳损或冒犯，违背常理，就会生出各种疾病。一旦形成疮疡等病症，必须追溯病因源头。如果是喉痹（咽喉肿痛闭塞）、乳蛾（扁桃体肿大）、缠喉风（急性喉梗阻伴呼吸困难）、喉闭（咽喉闭塞不通）、喉疮、风毒、热毒等症状，需要针刺的就应当针刺，不可胡乱医治；适宜催吐的就应当催吐，不可妄加治疗。必须识别疾病的标本，辨别虚实，然后采用攻邪或导滞的方法，只要不违背治疗法则，临证时灵活变通，疗效立刻显现，病患自然平安。至于那些因虚损、消瘦、咳嗽损伤导致的咽痛，这是真阴枯竭，导致金（肺）木（肝）不能相生，从而引发龙雷之火（相火）奔腾上炎，灼伤咽喉。火势炽盛则金气受伤，肺源无法蒸腾津液布散滋润，于是咳血、声音嘶哑、咽痛、干燥紧缩等症状就发作了。唉！像这样的病症到了这种地步，不仅不符合常规治法，而且百无一救，怎能说得完其中的凶险呢。
大抵咽喉部位生于肺和胃的上方。咽，就是吞咽的意思，主要功能是通利水谷，它是胃系的延伸，也是胃气通行的通道。咽长约一尺六寸，重六两。喉，中间空虚，主要功能是主管气息的出入和呼吸，它是肺系的延伸，也是肺气通行的通道。喉共有九节，长约一尺六寸，重十二两。所以，虽然喉咙和咽并行存在，但它们的实际功用是不同的。然而，人的一身之中，只有这里最为关键，它是气机流行、贯通六脏六腑、联系呼吸的关键经络。如果脏腑充实，肺胃平和，那么身体就安康泰然；一旦有风邪、热毒蕴积在体内，传变到经络，结聚于三焦，导致气滞血凝，不得舒畅，就会导致咽喉各种病症纷纷发作。如果不是见症治症，那么风痰会更加旺盛，热毒日益加深，逐渐发展到喉间紧闭，连水都喝不下去，没多久难道不会丧命吗？大体上说，风邪为患，喜欢攻击上部而导致疾病，在三十六种病症中，侵犯咽喉的病症位居第一。
Exhalation is the outward diffusion of Yang Qi. Inhalation is the inward convergence of Yin Qi. The process of respiration is governed by the Lung Meridian (Fei Jing). Below the larynx, we refer to the six Zang organs associated with the Hand and Foot Yin meridians; below the pharynx, we refer to the six Fu organs associated with the Hand and Foot Yang meridians.
Generally speaking, all Zang organs belong to Yin and are located internally (Li); all Fu organs belong to Yang and are located externally or serve as passages. The term "Zang" implies a storing function, housing the Spirit (Shen) and maintaining circulation; the term "Fu" implies a repository function, primarily responsible for receiving and excreting food, fluids, and waste, as well as for transportation and transformation. Among the six Zang organs below the larynx, the larynx corresponds to Heavenly Qi and is an extension of the Lung system. Since the Lung belongs to Metal in the Five Elements, and the Heavenly Stem "Gan" represents Heaven, which also belongs to Metal, the principle of Heavenly Qi is characterized by being hollow and long, allowing for the passage of breath. However, although the larynx and pharynx run parallel, their functions are actually different, yet people often confuse them. Generally, the larynx is the pathway for breath, while the pharynx transports food and fluids. The lower part of the larynx connects to the Qi of the lungs. There is a saying that there are three orifices in the larynx; this does not mean there are literally three holes in the larynx, but rather that food/fluids and air descend through separate pathways. If there were no openings in the lungs or below them, how could food and fluids be transmitted to the Lower Jiao? The *Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon* states: "The Lung is the canopy of all Zang organs, housing the True Qi high within the Lung Meridian." Therefore, Clear Yang emerges from the upper orifices, and Turbid Yin emerges from the lower orifices. If people do not know how to preserve their Yuan Qi (Original Qi), and are overtaxed or assaulted by the Six Qi (Wind, Cold, Summer-heat, Dampness, Dryness, Fire) or the Seven Emotions (Joy, Anger, Worry, Thought, Sorrow, Fear, Fright), acting against reason, various diseases will arise. Once sores or ulcers form, one must trace the source. For conditions such as Hou Bi (Sore Throat/Obstruction), Ru E (Tonsillitis), Chan Hou Feng (Throat Wind/Obstructive Laryngitis), Hou Bi (Throat Closure), Hou Chuang (Throat Ulcer), Feng Du (Wind Toxin), and Re Du (Heat Toxin), if acupuncture is indicated, it should be performed without reckless treatment; if emesis is indicated, it should be induced without arbitrary intervention. One must identify the root and branch, differentiate deficiency and excess, and apply attacking or guiding methods accordingly. As long as the principles are not violated and flexibility is applied during clinical practice, efficacy will be immediate, and the patient will recover. As for sore throat caused by deficiency consumption, emaciation, and coughing damage, this results from the exhaustion of True Yin, leading to a failure of Metal (Lung) and Wood (Liver) to generate each other, causing Dragon-Liver Fire (Ministerial Fire) to surge upward and scorch the throat. When fire blazes, Metal is injured, and the Lung source cannot vaporize and distribute fluids, resulting in symptoms such as hemoptysis, hoarseness, sore throat, dryness, and tightness. Alas! For conditions reaching this stage, not only are they beyond standard curative methods, but survival rates are virtually zero; the severity is beyond words.
Broadly speaking, the throat and pharynx originate above the Lung and Stomach. The pharynx (Yan) is for swallowing, primarily facilitating the passage of food and fluids; it is the extension of the Stomach system and the channel for Stomach Qi. It is approximately one chi and six cun long and weighs six liang. The larynx (Hou) is hollow, primarily governing the entry and exit of breath for respiration; it is the extension of the Lung system and the channel for Lung Qi. The larynx consists of nine segments, is approximately one chi and six cun long, and weighs twelve liang. Thus, although the larynx and pharynx run parallel, their functions differ. However, in the human body, this area is the most critical, serving as the pathway for Qi circulation connecting the six Zang and six Fu organs and respiration. If the Zang and Fu organs are robust and the Lung and Stomach are harmonious, the body remains healthy and peaceful. Conversely, if Wind Evil and Heat Toxin accumulate internally, transmitting into the meridians and knotting in the San Jiao (Triple Burner), causing Qi stagnation and Blood stasis without smooth flow, various throat disorders will manifest. If one does not treat according to the presenting symptoms, Wind-Phlegm will intensify, and Heat Toxin will deepen day by day, eventually leading to complete closure of the throat where even water cannot pass, resulting in death shortly thereafter. Generally, Wind pathogenic factors tend to attack the upper body and cause disease; among the thirty-six types of ailments, those affecting the throat rank first.