Difficulty 74

The medical classic says: In spring, needle the well points; in summer, needle the spring points; in late summer, needle the stream points; in autumn, needle the river points; in winter, needle the sea points. Why is this?

The answer says: Needling the well points in spring is because the pathogenic factor is in the liver; needling the spring points in summer is because the pathogenic factor is in the heart; needling the stream points in late summer is because the pathogenic factor is in the spleen; needling the river points in autumn is because the pathogenic factor is in the lungs; needling the sea points in winter is because the pathogenic factor is in the kidneys. Now, the liver, heart, spleen, lungs, and kidneys are each associated with the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter—why is this again?

The answer says: When the five viscera become diseased, each visceral disease manifests in five types of signs. For example, if the liver becomes diseased, a greenish complexion is a sign of the liver's issue, a preference for rank odors is a sign of the liver's issue, a preference for sour flavors is a sign of the liver's issue, a tendency to shout is a sign of the liver's issue, and a tendency to weep is a sign of the liver's issue. The diseases of the liver are many and cannot be fully enumerated. The four seasons have their fixed patterns, and these signs are each associated with the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The subtle essence of needling lies in extremely fine discrimination.