受谷气者浊，受气者清，清者注阴，浊者注阳。浊而清者上出于咽，清而浊者则下行，
清浊
相干，命曰乱气。帝曰∶夫阴清而阳浊，浊者有清，清者有浊，清浊别之奈何？岐伯曰∶气
之大别，清者上注于肺，浊者下走于胃，胃之清气，上出于口。肺之浊气，下注于经，内积
于海。帝曰∶诸阳皆浊，何阳浊甚乎？岐伯曰∶手太阳独受阳之浊，手太阴独受阴之清，其
清者上走空窍，其浊者下行诸经。诸阴皆清，足太阴独受其浊，清者其气滑，浊者其气涩。
此气之常也，故刺阴者深而留之，刺阳者浅而疾之，清浊相干者，以数调之。
病发于心∶一日而之肺，三日而之肝，五日而之脾，三日不已死。冬夜半，夏日中。病
先发
于肺，三日而之肝，一日而之脾，五日而之胃，十日不已死。冬日入，夏日出。病先发于肝
，三日而之脾，五日而之胃，三日而之肾，三日不已死。冬日入，夏早食，病发于脾，一日
而之胃，二日而之肾，三日而之膂膀胱，十日不已死。冬人定，夏晏食，病先发于胃，五日
而之肾，三日而之膂膀胱，五日而上之心，二日不已死。冬夜半，夏日昧，病先发于肾，三
日而之膂膀胱，三日而上之心，三日而之小肠，三日不已死。冬大晨，夏早晡，病先发于膀
胱，五日而之肾，一日而之小肠，一日而之心，二日不已死，冬鸡鸣，夏下晡。诸病以次相
传，如是者皆有死期，不可刺也，间一脏及三四脏者，乃可刺也。
接受水谷之气的是浊气，接受自然清气的是清气。清气注入阴分，浊气注入阳分。浊气中清的部分向上出于咽喉，清气中浊的部分则向下运行。清与浊相互干扰，称为乱气。黄帝问：阴气清而阳气浊，浊气中有清的部分，清气中有浊的部分，如何区分它们？岐伯说：气的总体区别是，清气向上注入肺脏，浊气向下流入胃腑。胃中的清气，向上出于口。肺中的浊气，向下注入经脉，在内积聚于膻中（气海）。黄帝问：所有阳经都受浊气影响，哪条阳经受的浊气最重？岐伯说：手太阳小肠经单独承受阳气的浊气，手太阴肺经单独承受阴气的清气。其清气向上流注空窍，其浊气向下运行于各条经脉。所有阴经都受清气影响，足太阴脾经单独承受其浊气。清气的气机滑利，浊气的气机涩滞。这是气的常态，所以针刺阴经要深刺并留针，针刺阳经要浅刺并快速出针，对于清浊相干扰的情况，通过调整针刺的次数来调和。
病邪首发于心：一天后传至肺，三天后传至肝，五天后传至脾，如果三天后病情仍未停止就会死亡。死于冬季夜半时分，夏季日中时分。病邪首发自肺：三天后传至肝，一天后传至脾，五天后传至胃，十天后病情仍未停止就会死亡。死于冬季日落时分，夏季日出时分。病邪首发于肝：三天后传至脾，五天后传至胃，三天后传至肾，三天后病情仍未停止就会死亡。死于冬季日落时分，夏季早饭时分。病邪首发于脾：一天后传至胃，两天后传至肾，三天后传至脊骨和膀胱，十天后病情仍未停止就会死亡。死于冬季人定时分，夏季晚食时分。病邪首发于胃：五天后传至肾，三天后传至脊骨和膀胱，五天后上行传至心，两天后病情仍未停止就会死亡。死于冬季夜半时分，夏季天色微明时分。病邪首发于肾：三天后传至脊骨和膀胱，三天后上行传至心，三天后传至小肠，三天后病情仍未停止就会死亡。死于冬季大晨时分，夏季早晡时分。病邪首发于膀胱：五天后传至肾，一天后传至小肠，一天后传至心，两天后病情仍未停止就会死亡，死于冬季鸡鸣时分，夏季下晡时分。各种病邪按次序依次相传，像这样都有固定的死期，不可进行针刺治疗，如果是间隔一脏或三四脏才传变的，才可以针刺。
Those receiving the Qi of grain and food are turbid; those receiving natural Qi are clear. Clear Qi enters Yin, while turbid Qi enters Yang. The clear portion of turbidity ascends to emerge from the pharynx, while the turbid portion of clarity descends. When clear and turbid interfere with each other, it is called chaotic Qi (Luan Qi). The Yellow Emperor asked: Yin is clear and Yang is turbid; within turbidity there is clarity, and within clarity there is turbidity. How can they be distinguished? Qibo replied: The general distinction of Qi is that clear Qi ascends to pour into the Lung (Fei), while turbid Qi flows downward into the Stomach (Wei). The clear Qi of the Stomach ascends to emerge from the mouth. The turbid Qi of the Lung descends to pour into the meridians and accumulates internally in the Sea of Qi (Dan Zhong / Qi Hai). The Yellow Emperor asked: All Yang meridians receive turbid Qi; which Yang meridian receives the heaviest turbidity? Qibo replied: The Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian alone receives the turbidity of Yang Qi, while the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian alone receives the clarity of Yin Qi. Its clear Qi flows upward to the orifices, and its turbid Qi descends through the various meridians. All Yin meridians receive clear Qi, but the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian alone receives its turbidity. The Qi of clarity is slippery (Hua), while the Qi of turbidity is sluggish (Se). This is the normal state of Qi. Therefore, when needling Yin meridians, one should needle deeply and retain the needle; when needling Yang meridians, one should needle superficially and withdraw quickly. For cases where clear and turbid Qi interfere, regulation is achieved by adjusting the number of manipulations.
If disease originates in the Heart (Xin): after one day it transmits to the Lung (Fei), after three days to the Liver (Gan), after five days to the Spleen (Pi). If it persists for three more days without resolution, death occurs. Death occurs at midnight in winter and at noon in summer. If disease originates in the Lung (Fei): after three days it transmits to the Liver (Gan), after one day to the Spleen (Pi), after five days to the Stomach (Wei). If it persists for ten more days without resolution, death occurs. Death occurs at sunset in winter and at sunrise in summer. If disease originates in the Liver (Gan): after three days it transmits to the Spleen (Pi), after five days to the Stomach (Wei), after three days to the Kidney (Shen). If it persists for three more days without resolution, death occurs. Death occurs at sunset in winter and at breakfast time in summer. If disease originates in the Spleen (Pi): after one day it transmits to the Stomach (Wei), after two days to the Kidney (Shen), after three days to the spine (Lu) and Bladder (Pang Guang). If it persists for ten more days without resolution, death occurs. Death occurs at "Ren Ding" (early night) in winter and at dinner time in summer. If disease originates in the Stomach (Wei): after five days it transmits to the Kidney (Shen), after three days to the spine (Lu) and Bladder (Pang Guang), after five days it ascends to the Heart (Xin). If it persists for two more days without resolution, death occurs. Death occurs at midnight in winter and at dawn in summer. If disease originates in the Kidney (Shen): after three days it transmits to the spine (Lu) and Bladder (Pang Guang), after three days it ascends to the Heart (Xin), after three days to the Small Intestine (Xiao Chang). If it persists for three more days without resolution, death occurs. Death occurs at "Da Chen" (early morning) in winter and at early afternoon in summer. If disease originates in the Bladder (Pang Guang): after five days it transmits to the Kidney (Shen), after one day to the Small Intestine (Xiao Chang), after one day to the Heart (Xin). If it persists for two more days without resolution, death occurs. Death occurs at "Ji Ming" (cockcrow) in winter and at late afternoon in summer. Various diseases transmit sequentially in this manner, all having fixed periods of death, and acupuncture is contraindicated. However, if the transmission skips one Zang organ or involves three to four Zang organs, then acupuncture may be performed.