1-5-3: Check the condition of Ying-Qi’s flow to Five-Zang by observing the pulse of Cunkou.

《靈樞根結第五》

一日一夜五十營﹐以營五藏之精﹐不應數者﹐名曰狂生。所謂五十營者﹐五藏皆受氣﹐持其脈口﹐數其至也。五十動而不一代者﹐五藏皆受氣﹐四十動而一代者﹐一藏無氣﹔三十動而一代者﹐二藏無氣﹔二十動一代者﹐三藏無氣﹔十動一代者﹐四藏無氣﹔不滿十動一代者﹐五藏無氣﹐予之短期﹐要在終始﹐所謂五十動而不一代者﹐以為常也。以知五藏之期﹐予之短期者﹐乍數乍疏也。

《Ling Shu Chapter 5》

         Ying-Qi runs fifty cycles daily to the Five-Zang organs for them to receive their nutrients.  If it runs more or less than fifty cycles a day the Five-Zang organs will not completely receive their nutrients from Ying-Qi.

         The condition of Ying-Qi’s flow can be observed by checking the Cunkou pulse. If the Cunkou pulse does not have any irregular beat within fifty beats, then that means the Five-Zang organs received their nutrients from Ying-Qi.  If the pulse has one irregular beat within forty beats, then one Zang organ did not receive its nutrients from Ying-Qi. If the pulse has one irregular beat within thirty beats, then two Zang organs did not receive their nutriments from Ying-Qi. If the pulse has one irregular beat within twenty beats, then three Zang organs did not receive their nutrients from Ying-Qi. If the pulse has one irregular beat within ten beats, then four Zang organs did not receive their nutrients from Ying-Qi. If the pulse has one irregular beat in less than ten beats the person will soon die.  This indicates that the five Zang organs are not receiving their nutrients from Ying-Qi.

         A normal Cunkou pulse shows no irregular beat within fifty beats. An irregular beat found in the Cunkou pulse reflects an abnormal condition of the Five-Zang organs, and tells the prognosis of the disease.

【Comment】

An irregular beat found in the Cunkou pulse indicates that one or more Zang organ has an insufficient supply of Ying-Qi. Yet, which of the Five Zang organs are being affected? 

Dr.Yang, Shangshan (AD 605) said, “If one Zang organ does not receive nutrients from Ying-Qi, it is the Kidney organ. If two-Zang organs do not receive nutrients from Ying-Qi, they are the Liver and Kidney organs. If three-Zang organs do not receive nutrients from Ying-Qi, they are the Spleen, Liver and Kidney organs. If four-Zang organs do not receive nutrients from Ying-Qi, they are the Heart, Spleen, Liver and Kidney organs.  If five-Zang organs do not receive nutrients from Ying-Qi, they are the Lung, Heart, Spleen, Liver and Kidney organs.” (楊尚善《黃帝內經太素》﹕“一藏無氣在腎﹔二藏無氣在肝腎﹔三藏無氣在脾肝腎﹔四藏無氣在心脾肝腎﹔五藏無氣在肺心脾肝腎”)            

Table 2-1-1 Indications for Irregular Beats in the Cunkou Pulse

1-6: Wei-Qi

1-6-1: General Circulation and Function of Wei-Qi

《靈樞脹論第三十五篇》

衛氣之在身也﹐常然並脈循分肉﹐行有逆順﹐陰陽相隨﹐乃得天和﹐五藏更始﹐四時循序﹐五谷乃化。

《Ling Shu Chapter 35》

         The circulation of Wei-Qi in the body goes along the Meridian, and flows in its own order. It is transferred to the muscles, and then further to the Five-Zang organs by the Meridians. It runs outside of the Meridians while Ying-Qi runs inside.

         The circulation of Wei-Qi and its distribution to the exterior of the body correspond with the change in season.

A man may live a long life as long as the circulation of Wei-Qi meets all the requirements mentioned above.

【Comment】

This chapter discusses several important characteristics of Wei-qi circulation and function.

(1) “The circulation of Wei-Qi in the body goes along the Meridian, and flows in its own order”.

Although Wei-Qi also flows along the Meridians, the order of circulation of Wei-Qi is different with Ying-Qi. This will be discussed further in the next chapter.

(2) “It is transferred to the muscles, and then further to the Five-Zang organs by the Meridians.”

Wei-Qi is transferred to the muscles meaning the exterior of the body and further to the Five-Zang organs; the interior of the body.

Most acupuncturists think that the function of Wei-Qi is only for defense because it nourishes the skin and muscles.  Few are aware that Wei-Qi also flows to the interior of the body at night to nourish the Zang-Fu organs. It has both the functions of defense and nourishment just like that of Ying-Qi, which also flows to the exterior of the body by the Meridians.

《Ling Shu Chapter 18》states “The source of Qi/Blood of man is from the intake of water and food. After the digestion of water and food by the Stomach (Spleen and Stomach), the nutrition from the water and food ascend up to the Lungs, then nourish Five-Zang and Six-Fu organs by dispense function of the Lung. The clear part of nutrition is called ‘Ying-Qi’; the turbid part is called ‘Wei-Qi’. Ying-Qi flows within the Meridians while the Wei-Qi flows outside of the Meridians, Ying-Qi and Wei-Qi run along the Meridians unceasingly.”

The Acupuncturist who thought the function of Wei-Qi is only defense and the function of Ying-Qi is only to nourish merely acknowledged the superficial meanings of the Chinese characters; Ying-Qi and Wei-Qi.

(3) “The circulation of Wei-Qi and its distribution to the exterior of the body correspond with the change in season.”

 As we know, Wei-Qi runs 25 circles exteriorly during the daytime and 25 circles during the night. The law of circulation does not change with the seasons. For example, in the summer even though the days are longer than the night, Wei-Qi still runs 25 circles during the day and 25 circles during the night.  And in winter even though the night is longer than the day, Wei-Qi still runs in the same pattern as in the summer; 25 circles during the day and 25 circles during the night. Unlike Ying Qi, which moves 6 cun per one respiration of man; 50 circles a day; fixed, no matter in the summer or winter, the speed of which Wei-Qi moves changes with the seasons. For example, the daytime in summer is longer than the daytime in winter, therefore the speed of Wei-Qi moves faster in the winter compared to summer because it still runs 25 circles during the day.

1-6-2: Circulation of Wei-Qi in a One-day Period

《靈樞衛氣行第七十六》

黃帝問于歧伯曰﹕願聞衛氣之行﹐出入之合﹐何如﹖歧伯曰﹕…故衛氣之行一日一夜五十周于身﹐晝日行于陽二十五周﹐夜行于陰二十五周﹐周于五藏。

是故平旦陰盡﹐陽氣出于目﹐目張則氣上行于頭﹐循項下足太陽﹐循背下至小指之端。其散者﹐別于目銳眥﹐下手太陽﹐下至手小指之間外側。其散者﹐別于目銳眥﹐下足少陽﹐注小指次指之間。以上循手少陽之分側﹐下至小指次指之間。別者以上至耳前﹐合于頷脈﹐注足陽明﹐以下行至跗上﹐入五指之間。其散者﹐從耳下下手陽明﹐入大指之間﹐入掌中。其至于足也﹐入足心﹐出內踝下﹐行陰分復合于目﹐故為一周。…其始入于陰﹐常從足少陰注于腎﹐腎注于心﹐心注于肺﹐肺注于肝﹐肝注于脾﹐脾復注于腎為一周。…亦如陽行之二十五周﹐而復合于目。

《Ling Shu Chapter 76》

Huangdi asked Qibo: “Can you tell me how Wei-Qi flows in the interior and exterior of the body?”

Qibo answered: “Wei-Qi runs fifty cycles within 24 hours; 25 cycles during the daytime, and 25 cycles during the night as it moves around the Five-Zang organs.

Wei-Qi emerges from the eyes at sunrise, ascends to the head, goes downward to the nape, and then down along the Foot-Taiyang Meridian to the tip of the little toe.  Simultaneously another portion of Wei-Qi flows to the outer canthus and then downward along the Hand-Taiyang Meridian to the lateral aspect of the tip of the little finger.

Also simultaneously Wei-Qi goes downward along the Foot-Shaoyang Meridian from the outer canthus to the lateral aspect of the fourth toe, as well as along the Hand-Shaoyang Meridian to the ring finger.

Still Simultaneously, Wei-Qi ascends to the forehead from the eyes downward along the Foot-Yangming meridian to the dorsum of the foot, and then descending further to the five toes. It goes to Hand-Yangming from the anterior of the ear, to the thumb and to the palm of the hand.

Wei-Qi enters the sole after it reaches the foot, emerges from the medial malleolus, flowing along with the Yin-Meridians, and finally returns to the eyes.

All of the above is one cycle of Wei-Qi during the daytime.

Wei-Qi enters interior of the body through the Foot-Shaoyin at sunset, and then it goes to the Kidney, Heart, Lung, Liver, Spleen, and finally returns to the Kidney. This is one cycle of Wei-Qi during the nighttime. After it has circulated 25 cycles during the nighttime, Wei-Qi again emerges out of the eyes at sunrise.

【Comment】

(1) Wei-Qi starts from the eyes at sunrise, distributes to the three Foot-Yang Meridians at the same time, and then flows to the Hand-Yang Meridians. It goes to theYin Meridians from the sole, and then returns to the eyes. That is one cycle of Wei-Qi flow during the daytime.

Figure 2-1-10 Circulation of Wei-Qi in a One-day Period

(2) Wei-Qi runs 25 circles to nourish the Five-Zang organs while it flows around the Five-Zang organs during the night.

Figure 2-1-11 Wei-Qi flow among the Five Zang Organs during the Night

(3) It is clear that the circulation of Wei-Qi correlates with the sunrise and sunset. Therefore, in《Su Wen Chapter 3》, it states that “Yang-Qi (Wei-Qi) protects one’s body during the daytime. It begins flowing at sunrise, it peaks at noon, and it flows interiorly to the body at sunset. Therefore, to avoid injuring the Wei-Qi, man should not do any physical exercises or walk outside after sunset where they might encounter fog.  And if they do not follow this pattern, they will get sick.”(《素問生氣通天論第三》中﹕“陽氣者﹐一日而主外﹐平旦人氣生﹐日中而陽氣隆﹐日西而陽氣已 虛﹐氣門乃閉。是故暮而收拒﹐無擾筋骨﹐無見霧露﹐反此三時﹐形乃困薄。”)

It was advised during ancient times that one should get up to work at sunrise and go to bed at sunset in order to prevent damage to the Wei-Qi, and to maintain health.

Unfortunately, today most people live their lives in a totally different style; abandoning old wisdom.  Therefore it is impossible to avoid sickness and damages to the Wei-Qi.