Written By Jun Heo(許浚, 1539~1615), Translated by Namil Kim, Wung Seok Cha et al., Published by Ministry of Health & Welfare (Korea)
11 Diagnosis by Pulse Taking 脈法맥법
① Zhongjing said, “A floating pulse and beadlike perspiration indicate weakened defense qi.”
② He also said, “When the wrist pulse is faint or rough, a faint pulse indicates weakened defense qi and a rough pulse indicates deficiency in nutrient qi.”
③ The Classic of the Pulse (脈經) says, “If the wrist pulse is seen in flesh, like meat floating in soup, it means that yang qi has
become feeble, and if it is felt like a wound spiderweb, it means that yin qi has become weak.”
④ It also says, “The intermittent pulse indicates weakened qi, the fine pulse indicates having no strength, and the floating and snapping pulse indicates expiring qi.”
⑤ It also says, “When the anterior tibial pulse is floating or rough, this floating pulse indicates a deficiency in defense qi and
the rough pulse a shortage of breath.”
⑥ Rhymes for the Pulse (脈訣) says, “If a sunken pulse is felt when the pulse is taken, it indicates a qi disease. If the pulse is very much sunken, it is a hidden pulse, and if the pulse is rough and weak, it is hard to cure. If the pulse is sunken and slippery, it means that the person possesses both a qi disease and phlegm.”
⑦ It also says, “The sunken, string-like, fine, and stirred pulses all indicate pain induced by qi. Heart pain is shown in the cun part and stomachache in the guan part. The lower part is represented by the pulse in the chi part.”
⑧ Zhongjing said, “If the anterior tibial pulse is faint or tight, a tight pulse indicates a cold syndrome and a faint pulse indicates a deficiency syndrome. Felt together, a faint pulse and tight pulse indicate a shortage of breath.”
12 The Various Diseases Originate from Qi 氣爲諸病기에서 여러 가지 병이 생긴다
① Zhenheng said, “Qi flows through the whole body and keeps one alive. How can there be qi disease if there is no internal damage or external contraction? Cold qi, accumulated qi, counter-flowed qi, and upward qi are all results of the lungs receiving pathogenic Fire, causing qi to flare up. Because qi only ascends and does not descend, the passageway of breathing is severely fumigated, resulting in a serious disease. In the Great Peace Imperial Grace Pharmacy’s Formulary (局方), herbs with pungent-fragrant and dry-hot properties were used, which is a way to cure Fire with Fire.”
② Zhang Zihe said, “All diseases come from qi, and all kinds of pain are caused by qi.”
③ Recovery from the Myriad Diseases (回春) says, “When qi is damaged by pathogenic wind, there is pain. When qi is invaded by a pathogenic cold, the body trembles. When qi is damaged by pathogenic summerheat, there is tightness in the chest from heat. When qi is damaged by dampness, there is hydramnios. When qi is damaged by pathogenic dryness, it gets clogged up
and makes a lump.”
④ The Prefaces (序例) says, “A person living in the air is like a fish living in the water. Fish get thin if water is turbid and people
get sick if air is spoiled. Pathogenic qi damages people the most. If the meridians receive pathogenic qi, the pathogenic qi enters the viscera and bowels and causes disease depending on the deficiency and excess, making lumps of coldness and heat. As diseases promote one another, they change and become serious.”
13 Idleness Causes Qi Stagnation 氣逸則滯한가로우면 기가 막힌다
① Quxian (臞仙) said, “Damage caused by overexertion and fatigue sometimes occur for no apparent reasons. It does not always occur by carrying heavy loads or exerting one’s strength on a light weight all day long. Rather, it often occurs in idle people. Idle people do not use their strength by moving their bodies, but they only sit or lie down after eating heartily. This blocks the meridians and blood vessels, triggering damage caused by overexertion and fatigue. Thus, eventhough a nobleperson seems to be happy outwardly, his or her mind suffers; and even though a peasant is complacent in his or
her mind, he or she appears to suffer outwardly. A nobleperson tries to satisfy one’s desires at all times, does not know abstinence, and lies down straight after eating heartily. Therefore, one should always use one’s strength, but not to the point where one feels too tired. Working to the point where nutrient qi and defense qi flow well and blood vessels spread out evenly is the adequate level. It is the same as the following: running water does not get stale, and hinges do not get eaten by moths.”
② The Introduction to Medicine (入門) says, “Idleness causes qi stagnation or qi bind. If the disease is slight, it can be cured just by moving around, but if it is serious, one should drink a Aurantii Pericarpium One Substance Decoction.”
• Aurantii Pericarpium One Substance Decoction 橘皮一物湯 귤피 일물탕
Decoct one nyang of cleansed Citrus Unshius Pericarpium (橘皮) with freshly drawn water.
14 The Seven Qi 七氣칠기
① The seven qi refer to joy, anger, sorrow, thought, anxiety, fright, and fear. Some say they are cold, heat, anger, joy, and anxiety. They all make sense.[B186]
② Renzhai’s Straight-forward Directions on Formulas (直指) says, “There are seven emotions in people, and diseases come from the seven qi. Qi bind together to make phlegm, and phlegm in turn causes qi to bind stronger. Therefore, in order to harmonize qi, phlegm should be removed first. A Seven Emotions Decoction, in which Pinelliae Tuber (半夏) is used as the
sovereign medicine and Cinnamomi Cortex Spissus (肉桂) (one that has good scent and has been dried roundly) as the assistant medicine, is a good prescription.”
③ It also says, “Seven qi mingle with one another, while phlegm and drool coagulate, forming a cotton or thin membrane-like object. If it becomes more serious, it will look like a plum seed obstructing the throat. It will not come out even if one tries to spit it out, and it will not go down even if one tries to swallow. One may experience fullness and will not be able to eat food, or even experience qi reflux and dyspnea. This is called qi dysphasia, qi stagnation, qi constipation, or apoplexy. Then it turns
into five masses, six recurrent abdominal masses, pain induced by hypochondirac mass, or aggregation-accumulation, and plumps form in the epigastric and abdominal regions causing pain. One is then about to die as one’s life is very endangered.”
④ One should take a Seven Emotions Decoction, Four Ingredients for Seven Emotions Decoction, Part Heart Qi Drink, and Aucklandia, Cloves, and Aurantii Pericarpium Decoction.
• Seven Emotions Decoction 七氣湯 칠기탕
It cures twisting pain in the epigastric region caused by the binding of the seven emotions. Chop the following herbs, add 3 pieces of Zingiberis Rhizoma Crudus (生薑), and decoct: Pinelliae Tuber (半夏) (3 don), Ginseng Radix (人參), Cinnamomi Cortex Spissus (肉桂), and Glycyrrhizae Radix Praeparata (灸甘草) (7 pun each)[B133]
• Four Ingredients for Seven Emotions Decoction 四七湯 사칠탕
It cures binding of the seven qi, which will obstruct the throat like a plum seed and will not come out when spat or go down when swallowed. It also cures stuffiness and fullness in the chest and flourishing phlegm and drool. Chop the following herbs, put in 7 pieces of Zingiberis Rhizoma Crudus (生薑) and 2 Zizyphi Fructus (大棗), and decoct: Pinelliae Tube Preparata (半夏製) (2 don), Poria Sclerotium Rubra (赤茯苓) (1.6 don), processed Magnoliae Cortex (厚朴) (1.2 don), and Perillae Folium (紫蘇葉) (8 pun)[B133]
• Part Heart Qi Drink 分心氣飮 분심기음
It cures stagnation caused by the seven emotions, and it facilitates clear and refreshing defecation and urination. Chop the following herbs, put in 3 pieces of Zingiberis Rhizoma Crudus (生薑), 2 Zizyphi Fructus (大棗), and 10 stems of Junci Medulla (燈心), and decoct: Perillae Folium (紫蘇葉) (1.2don), Glycyrrhizae Radix Praeparata (灸甘草) (7 pun), Pinelliae Tube Preparata (半夏製), Aruantii Fructus Immaturus (枳殼) (6 pun each), Citri Unshius Pericarpium Immaturus (靑皮), Citrus Unshius Pericarpium (陳皮), Akebiae Caulis (木通), Arecae Pericarpium (大腹皮), Mori Cortex (桑白皮), Aucklandiae Radix (木香), Poria
Sclerotium Rubra (赤茯苓), Arecae Semen (檳榔), Curcumae Rhizoma (蓬朮), Liriopis Tuber (麥門冬), Platycodonis Radix (桔梗), Cinnamomi Cortex (桂皮), Cyperi Rhizoma (香附子), and Agastachis Herba (藿香) (5pun each)[B186]
• Aucklandia, Cloves, and Aurantii Pericarpium Decoction 香橘湯 향귤탕
It cures distention around the CV12 caused by damage in the seven emotions. Chop the following herbs, put in 5 pieces of Zingiberis Rhizoma Crudus (生薑) and 2 Zizyphi Fructus (大棗), and decoct: parched Cyperi Rhizoma (香附子), Pinelliae Tube Preparata (半夏製), Citrus Unshius Pericarpium (橘皮) (1.5don each), and Glycyrrhizae Radix Praeparata (灸甘草) (5pun).[B186]
15 The Nine Qi 九氣구기
① Huangdi (黃帝) said, “I know all diseases originate from qi. When one gets angry, qi flows upward. When one is joyous, qi becomes lax. When one is sorrowful, qi withers. When one fears, qi goes down. When one is cold, qi shrinks. When one gets hot, qi escapes. When one is frightened, qi becomes disturbed. When one feels fatigue, qi is exhausted. When one delves into
deep thought, qi binds. The nine qi are not the same: What disease comes from each qi?” Qibo (岐伯) said, “When one gets angry, qi flows upward. When it becomes serious, one coughs up blood and lets out what one has eaten through diarrhea. This is why qi counterflows. When one is joyous, qi becomes harmonized and active, enabling nutrient qi and defense qi to run
undisturbed. This is why qi becomes loose. When one is sorrowful, the heart area is tightened and the leaves of the lungs are raised causing the upper energizer to get clogged, which in turn leads to the incapability of the nutrient qi and defense qi to dissipate. Thus, heat is created from inside, causing qi to wither. When one fears, essence runs away. When essence runs
away, the upper energizer gets clogged. When the upper energizer gets clogged, qi returns downward, and when qi goes down, the lower energizer becomes full, causing qi to stagnate. When one is cold, his or her skin closes and thus qi cannot flow. This is why qi is said to be shrunk. When one is hot, his or her skin opens and the nutrient qi and defense qi run well; therefore, one sweats a lot, and this is why qi is said to escape. When one is frightened, there is nowhere for the heart to depend upon, and for the spirit to return. Also, one’s thoughts cannot be stabilized, and this is why qi is said to be disturbed. When one feels fatigue, one pants and perspires, causing qi to leak out. This is why qi is said to be exhausted. When one thinks a lot, the heart stays in one place, and the spirit has a place to return. Thus, healthy qi stays and does not move. This is why qi binds.”[B232]
② Also, there are the nine qi. The first is dysphagia, the second is wind qi, the third is cold qi, the fourth is heat qi, the fifth is anxiety qi, the sixth is joyous qi, the seventh is frightening qi, the eighth is anger qi, and the ninth is miasmic toxin. One should use an Immortal Inestimable Qi Decoction and Celestial Cyperus Decoction to Rectify Qi if aggregation-accumulation feels like an upside-down bowl, epigastric region has stinging pain, and dying pain is felt during spasms.[B090]
③ Treating the nine qi is as follows: suppress the high, lift the low, heat up the cold, cool the hot, relieve the frightened, warm the fatigued, scatter the bound, oppress joy with fear, and beat sorrow with joy.[B104]
• Immortal Inestimable Qi Decoction 神仙九氣湯 신선구기탕
It treats pain caused by the nine qi. Use the same amounts of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata (附子), Curcumae Longae Rhizoma (片子薑黃), and Glycyrrhizae Radix Praeparata (灸甘草). Grind these and put the powder in salty water by 2 don each time and drink.[B090]
• Celestial Cyperus Decoction to Rectify Qi 正氣天香湯 정기천향탕
It treats the same symptoms as above. It also cures women’s qi pain. Chop the following and decoct: Cyperi Rhizoma (香附子) (3 don), Linderae Radix (烏藥), Citrus Unshius Pericarpium (陳皮), Perillae Folium (紫蘇葉) (1 don each), Zingiberis Rhizoma (乾薑), and Glycyrrhizae Radix (甘草) (5 pun each). Or else they can be ground and put in salty water by 2 don each time.[P32]
