Five Disorders

Huangdi said: "The twelve main channels are respectively connected with the five phases and also correspond with the four seasons. What causes them to become disordered? And what causes them to function normally?" Qibo said: "The five phases have a fixed order, and the four seasons have clear boundaries. Complying with this law results in normalcy; violating it results in disorder."

Huangdi said: "What is meant by complying with the law?" Qibo said: "The twelve main channels correspond to the twelve months. The twelve months are further divided into the four seasons. The four seasons are spring, summer, autumn, and winter, and their qi are each different. Nutritive qi and defensive qi accompany each other, yin and yang are already harmonized, and clear qi and turbid qi do not interfere with each other. This is what is meant by complying with the law, and therefore normalcy can be maintained."

Huangdi said: "What is meant by violating the law and thereby causing disorder?" Qibo said: "Clear qi should reside in the yin aspect, yet it stays in the yang aspect; turbid qi should reside in the yang aspect, yet it stays in the yin aspect. Nutritive qi moves along the channels, while defensive qi moves counter to them. Clear and turbid interfere with each other, causing disorder in the chest. This is called 'great confusion.' Therefore, when qi is disordered in the heart, there will be oppression in the heart, silence, and a tendency to bow the head and lie still. When qi is disordered in the lung, there will be panting with the body bent forward and backward, hands crossed and pressed against the chest, and calling out. When qi is disordered in the stomach and intestines, there will be sudden turmoil disorder. When qi is disordered in the arms and lower legs, there will be cold reversal of the four limbs. When qi is disordered in the head, there will be reversal, heavy-headedness, dizziness, and falling."

Huangdi said: "For these five types of qi disorder, is there a rule to follow in needling?" Qibo said: "Disease qi has a pattern of coming and a pattern of going. Carefully examining this pattern is the treasure of the body."

Huangdi said: "Well said. I wish to hear these rules." Qibo said: "For qi disordered in the heart, select the Shu point of the Hand Shaoyin Heart Channel (Shenmen) and the Shu point of the Hand Jueyin Pericardium Channel (Daling). For qi disordered in the lung, select the Ying point of the Hand Taiyin Lung Channel (Yuji) and the Shu point of the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Channel (Taixi). For qi disordered in the stomach and intestines, select points of the Foot Taiyin Spleen Channel and the Foot Yangming Stomach Channel. If, after needling, the qi does not descend, then select the Zusanli point. For qi disordered in the head, select the Tianzhu point and the Dazhu point. If the effect is not obvious, then select the Ying point (Tonggu) and the Shu point (Shugu) of the Foot Taiyang Bladder Channel. For qi disordered in the arms and lower legs, first needle the local blood vessels to drain stagnant blood, then select the Ying and Shu points of the Hand Yangming, Hand Shaoyang, Foot Yangming, and Foot Shaoyang channels."

Huangdi said: "How are the reinforcing and reducing techniques applied?" Qibo said: "Insert the needle slowly and withdraw it slowly. This is called guiding and drawing the qi. The reinforcing and reducing techniques have no fixed form. This is called nurturing the essence and qi. This is because originally there is neither excess nor deficiency, but rather the disordered qi is rebelling against each other."

Huangdi said: "These rules are truly appropriate, and this discourse is truly clear! Allow me to record it on a jade tablet and name it 'Treatise on Governing Disorder.'"