Thirteenth Difficulty

The medical classic states: When observing the patient's complexion, if the pulse does not correspond to the complexion, and instead a pulse that overcomes the complexion in the five-phase cycle appears, the patient will die; if a pulse that supports the complexion appears, the disease will heal on its own. The complexion and the pulse should correspond to and reflect each other. Why is this?

It is answered: The five viscera each have five corresponding complexions, all manifested on the face, and they should also correspond to the pulse at the cunkou and the skin texture at the chi region. For example, if the complexion is green, the pulse should be wiry and tense; if the complexion is red, the pulse should be floating, large, and scattered; if the complexion is yellow, the pulse should be moderate, relaxed, and large; if the complexion is white, the pulse should be floating, rough, and short; if the complexion is black, the pulse should be deep, soft, and slippery. This is what is meant by the five colors and pulses corresponding to and reflecting each other. If the pulse is rapid, the skin texture at the chi region is also rapid; if the pulse is tense, the skin texture at the chi region is also tense; if the pulse is relaxed, the skin texture at the chi region is also relaxed; if the pulse is rough, the skin texture at the chi region is also rough; if the pulse is slippery, the skin texture at the chi region is also slippery. Each of the five viscera has its corresponding sound, breath, and flavor, and these should correspond to the cunkou and chi region; if they do not correspond, there is disease. For example, if the complexion is green, and the pulse is floating, rough, and short, or large and relaxed, this is an overcoming pulse; if the pulse is floating, large, and scattered, or small and slippery, this is a supporting pulse. The medical classic says: One who knows only one principle is a lower-level physician; one who knows two principles is a middle-level physician; one who knows three principles is an upper-level physician. An upper-level physician can cure nine out of ten patients, a middle-level physician can cure seven out of ten, and a lower-level physician can cure six out of ten. This is what is meant.