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Huangdi Neijing · The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon
Lingshu 68 · Upper Obstruction
Read in English. Switch to Original for word notes, or select text to ask a question.
The Yellow Emperor said: “I know that upper obstruction caused by qi makes food and drink return as soon as they enter. But worms cause lower obstruction, in which food emerges only after a full day-and-night period. I have not understood this. I wish to hear it fully.”
The source’s zui period is retained as a day-and-night cycle, without identifying a modern obstructive disease.
Qi Bo said: “Unsuitable joy and anger, irregular food and drink and untimely cold and warmth make cold juice flow into the intestines. Worms become cold, gather and remain at the lower passage. Intestines and Stomach fill and expand; defensive qi does not circulate and harmful qi dwells there. When the person eats, worms rise to feed, leaving the lower passage empty and allowing harmful qi to prevail. The accumulation remains and forms an abscess, constricting the lower passage. An abscess inside the passage brings close, deep pain; one outside brings outward, superficial pain, with hot skin above it.”
The Yellow Emperor said: “How is it needled?”
Qi Bo said: “Gently press the abscess and observe where qi travels. First needle shallowly beside it, gradually entering more deeply and returning to needle, without exceeding three rows or rounds. Observe sinking and floating to determine depth. After needling, warming must follow so heat enters within. With warmth entering daily, harmful qi declines and the large abscess breaks. Combine the measures and compare the prohibitions to remove what lies within. Calmness and freedom from forced activity then allow qi to move. Afterward use salty and bitter; transformed grain can then descend.”
The threefold count and the phrase written “伍以參禁” are compressed and admit different readings. No missing ingredient list, prohibition list, modern dose, temperature or additional anatomical direction is supplied.
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