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Huangdi Neijing · The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon
Suwen 44 · Wilting Weakness
Read in English. Switch to Original for word notes, or select text to ask a question.
The Yellow Emperor asked: “Why do the five zang organs make a person develop wilting weakness?”
Qi Bo replied: “Lung governs the body’s skin and hair; Heart its blood vessels; Liver its sinew membranes; Spleen its flesh; Kidney its bones and marrow.
When Lung is hot and its lobes scorched, skin and hair become deficient and weak. Urgent, persistent pressure then produces wilting with inability to walk. When Heart qi is hot, the lower vessels turn contrary and rise. Their rising empties the lower vessels; deficiency produces vessel wilting. The pivots fail, the lower legs hang slack and cannot support weight on the ground.
When Liver qi is hot, Gallbladder discharges and the mouth is bitter. Sinew membranes dry; drying makes sinews tighten and contract, producing sinew wilting. When Spleen qi is hot, Stomach dries with thirst and flesh is numb: flesh wilting. When Kidney qi is hot, waist and spine cannot be raised; bones wither and marrow diminishes: bone wilting.”
The Emperor asked: “How are they acquired?”
Qi Bo said: “Lung is chief of the zang organs and Heart’s covering. Losing something, or failing to obtain what is sought, makes Lung sound out. This makes Lung hot and its lobes scorched. Thus it is said that the five zang organs develop wilting and inability to walk through Lung heat and scorched lobes. This is the meaning.
Excessive grief severs the enclosing networks. Yang qi then stirs within; its outbreak brings downward collapse below Heart and frequent bloody urination. Thus the Root Illnesses says: ‘The great channels become empty and deficient, producing flesh obstruction, which transmits into vessel wilting.’
Endless thought, unfulfilled wishes, intention wandering outward and excessive intercourse loosen the gathering sinews. Sinew wilting follows, along with white discharge. Thus the Lower Canon says: ‘Sinew wilting arises when Liver is overused within.’”
Prolonged immersion in dampness, working with water or remaining in a damp dwelling soaks the flesh. Obstruction and numbness follow, developing into flesh wilting. Thus the Lower Canon says: “Flesh wilting is acquired on damp ground.”
Long journeys and exhaustion, with great heat and thirst, make yang qi attack within. Heat then lodges in Kidney. Kidney is the Water organ; Water now fails to overcome Fire, so bones wither and marrow becomes deficient. Feet cannot support the body, producing bone wilting. Thus the Lower Canon says: “Bone wilting arises from great heat.”
The Emperor asked: “How are they distinguished?”
Qi Bo said: “Lung heat gives white color and deteriorating body hair. Heart heat gives red color and overflowing network vessels. Liver heat gives blue-green color and withered nails. Spleen heat gives yellow color and twitching flesh. Kidney heat gives black color and parched teeth.”
The Emperor said: “Your explanation is clear. But why does the discourse say that treatment of wilting selects Yangming alone?”
Qi Bo said: “Yangming is the sea of the five zang and six fu organs. It moistens the gathering sinews, which bind bones and make joints and pivots move freely.
The Chong vessel is the sea of the channel vessels. It irrigates the small and great valleys, joining Yangming at the gathering sinews. Yin and yang converge there and meet at the Qi Street, with Yangming as their chief. All belong to the Dai belt vessel and network with the Du governing vessel. Thus deficient Yangming lets the gathering sinews slacken; the belt vessel fails to draw them, and the feet wilt and cannot function.”
The Emperor asked: “How is it treated?”
Qi Bo said: “Supplement each ying-spring point and free its shu-transport point. Regulate deficiency and repletion and harmonize contrary and following courses. Sinews, vessels, bones and flesh each receive treatment according to their season and month. Then the illness ends.”
The Emperor said: “Good.”
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