Lung Shu (BL-13) – Part 2

[This is from the upcoming translation of Explanations of Channels and Points, translated by Michael Brown and edited by Allen Tsaur, published by Purple Cloud Press. This work may not reflect the final edition. Another point will come out next Wednesday.]

肺腧之本病:肺痿咳嗽,肉痛皮癢,嘔吐支滿,不嗜食,腰脊强痛,背僂,肺中風偃卧,胸滿短氣,瞀滿汗出,百毒病,食後吐水,勞瘵,口舌乾,勞熱上氣,寒熱,喘滿虚煩,傳屍骨蒸,癭氣,小兒龜背

Principal diseases of Fèi Shù: lung wilting with cough, flesh pain with itchy skin, vomiting with propping fullness, no desire to eat, stiffness and pain of the lumbar spine, a hump on the back[1], wind strike of the lung [and can only] lie in supine position, fullness of the chest with shortness of breath, visual distortion with fullness and sweating, disease of the hundred toxins, vomiting of fluids after eating, consumption [disease], dry mouth and tongue, taxation heat with qì ascent, chills and fever, panting and fullness with vacuity vexation, corpse transmission with steaming bone, goitre, child with a tortoise back[2].

注:喘嗽二症,所得之始雖不同,而成病傷肺者,故宜責此穴,以散肺之火與風。嘔吐支滿,氣全上逆也,取此穴以散上逆之氣。

Explanation: the two signs of panting and cough, even though they have different origins, however, they both eventually become diseases that damage the lung; therefore it is appropriate to seek this point in order to dissipate the fire and wind in the lung. Vomiting and propping fullness, this is entirely due to counterflow ascent of qì, choose this point in order to dissipate the counterflow ascent of qì.

腰脊强痛,氣逆作下也,肺統一身之氣,取腧穴以散下逆之氣。背者,肺之室也,先氣鬱在内,而後背爲之僂,故先泄此穴,以散其中鬱之氣。

Stiffness and pain of the lumbar spine, this is descending qì counterflow, as the lung controls the qì of the entire body, choose the back transport point in order to dissipate the descending qì counterflow. The upper back is the chamber of the lung, initially when there is qì depression in the interior, then subsequently the upper back will become stooped; thus initially drain this point in order to dissipate the depression of qì in the interior.

肺中風於内,而氣滯偃卧,則肺葉閉塞而氣不通,遂胸滿氣短矣,故取此穴以散其中鬱之風。肺傷風則汗出瞀而且悶,皆風氣爲之,宜泄此穴。

When the lung is struck by wind in the interior[3], then qì becomes stagnant and then one can only lie supine. This is due to the lobes of the lung being blocked, which obstructs the flow of qì, resulting in fullness of the chest and shortness of breath; therefore, choose this point in order to dissipate the internal depression of wind. When the lung is damaged by wind that causes sweating with visual distortion and oppression, in all cases it is the effect of wind qì, it is appropriate to drain this point.

食後吐水,氣逆載水上也,泄此穴以散上逆之氣。勞瘵口乾並上氣,熱上蒸而氣逆極矣,泄此穴以散肺中之火與氣。

Vomiting of fluids after eating is counterflow qì with simultaneous ascending of water, drain this point in order to dissipate the counterflow ascent of qì. Consumption pdisease], dry mouth, and qì ascent, these are due to ascending and steaming of heat leading to extreme counterflow of qì, drain this point in order to dissipate the fire and qì within the lung.

倏寒倏熱,此肺受邪也,而又喘滿虚煩,則肺中之邪甚,審其虚實而補泄之。傳屍而至骨蒸,此病極矣,先泄此穴,後更别治。

Sudden chills and sudden fevers, this is due to the lung contracting evil. When it is further combined with panting, fullness and vacuity vexation, this is a severe evil within the lungs. Examine whether it is deficiency or excess and then [appropriately] tonify or drain it. Corpse transmission leading to steaming bone, the disease has become critical, initially drain this point, and then subsequently proceed with other treatments.

癭氣者,肺氣之鬱也,泄此穴以散肺氣。小兒龜背,乃肺氣之弱也,宜補此穴以生其肺氣。

Goitre qì is depression of lung qì, drain this point in order to dissipate lung qì. For a child with a tortoise back, this is a result of weak lung qì, it is appropriate to tonify this point in order to generate the lung qì.

肺腧之胃病:黄疸。

Stomach disease of Fèi Shù: juandice.

注:胃有濕熱,蒸爲黄疸,泄此穴以散胃之熱,更宜解胃之濕熱。

Explanation: when the stomach has damp heat, [the damp heat] will steam to become jaundice, drain this point in order to dissipate the heat of the stomach, it is even more appropriate to resolve the damp heat of the stomach.

肺腧之心病:狂走欲自殺。

Heart disease of Fèi Shù: manic walking with desire to kill oneself.

注:此火迷心而逆上之病也,泄此穴以散逆上之火。

Explanation: this is fire confounding the heart leading to the disease of counterflow ascent, drain this point in order to dissipate counterflow ascent of fire.

[1] Like a a hunchback.

[2] Also like a hunchback. The Practical Dictionary states this is “a deformity in infants which the spine curves outward giving the back the appearance of a tortoise’s shell”.

[3] i.e. internal wind.

Lung Shu (BL-13) – Part 1

[This is from the upcoming translation of Explanations of Channels and Points, translated by Michael Brown and edited by Allen Tsaur, published by Purple Cloud Press. This work may not reflect the final edition. Part 2 next will include the diseases that BL-13 treats]

BL-13 Fèi Shù – Lung Shu
膀胱經第十三穴肺腧

穴在第三椎下兩旁,相去脊一寸五分。《千金》云:對乳引繩度之。甄權云:以搭手,左取右,右取左,當中指末是穴,正坐取之。

This point is located beside and below the third vetebra, 1 cùn 5 fēn from the spine, on each side. The Qiānjīn states [it is] opposite the breast, draw a string to locate it. The Zhēnquán states put the hand over the shoulder, for left [point] use right [hand], for right [point] use left [hand], spot under the tip of the middle finger is the point, sit upright to locate it.

《甲乙》:鍼三分,留七呼,得氣即泄。甄搏:灸百壯。《明下》:灸三壯。《素》戒云:刺中肺,三日死,其動爲咳。

The Jiǎyǐ states needle 3 fēn, retain for 7 respirations, obtain qì then promptly drain. Zhēn bó states moxa 100 zhuàng. The Míngxià states moxa 3 cones. The Sùwèn warns piercing into the lung, in three days there will be death, and manifest as coughing.[1]

注:五臟六腑皆系於背,乃系於背之挾脊脂絡中,其腧穴,按臟腑之高下而定焉,實臓腑至要之處,爲臓腑之本也。太陽一經,歷主其穴,所謂巨陽者,蓋一身之臓腑無所不統也。

Explanation: the five zàng-viscera and six fǔ-bowels all have connectors on the back, that connect to the fatty network on the back that clasps the spine. As for the [back] transport points, [their locations] are determined by the relative height of the zàng-viscera and fǔ-bowels. They are truly the most crucial places and foundations of the zàng-viscera and fǔ-bowels. The channel of the tàiyáng passes through and governs these points. This is the reason it is called the great yáng, as all the zàng-viscera and fǔ-bowels of the body are governed by it, without exception.

各腧即統其原於挾脊之兩旁,而各腧臟腑之餘,本經背一行之支别者,又再分按其部而主之,故臓腑外受之邪,無不取於本經在背之穴也。

Each back transport [point] precisely controls its origin on the [lateral] side of the paravertebrals, and transports the surplus of its respective zàng-viscera and fǔ-bowels. For the diverging branch of first line of this channel on the back, it also governs based on its location. Thus, when the zàng-viscera and fǔ-bowels externally contract an evil, without exception always select a point of this channel that is on the back.

肺處五臓最高之所,故肺腧首取之,乃系肺之原本處也。仲景曰傷寒太陽與少陽並病,頭項强痛或眩冒,時如结胸,心下痞者,當刺足太陽肺腧、肝腧。

The lung is situated in the highest place of the five zàng-viscera, therefore Fèi Shù (BL-13) is the first to adopt [this category], it also connects place that is the origin and foundation of the lung. Zhòngjǐng says “When there is cold damage of the tàiyáng together with the shǎoyáng, this is dragover disease. There is headache and stiff painful nape, or possibly veiling dizziness, periodically feeling as if there is chest bind, glomus below the heart, one should peirce the foot tàiyáng Fèi Shù (BL-13) and Gān Shù (BL-18)”.[2]

又諸腧穴,皆爲臟腑至要之所,鍼之深斷不可過三分,故古人著戒有中肺、中心、中膈之戒,非真中肺、中心也,謂中其系肺、系心之本也。

For all the back transport points, they are the most crucial places for all the zàng-viscera and fǔ-bowels, thus the depth of needling should certainly not exceed 3 fēn; therefore, the ancients composed warnings against [piercing] into lung, heart, and diaphragm; however, this is not truly [piercing] the lung and the heart, but the foundation of the connector to the lung, and of the connector to the heart.

所謂前邊深似井,言在腹諸穴也,後邊薄似餅,言在背諸穴也,可不慎哉。

It is said that the front [of the body] is deep like a well, that is regarding all the points on the abdomen. The back of the body is thin like a round flat cake. Regarding all the points on the back, [one] cannot carelessly [pierce] them!

[1] From Sùwèn Chapter 52.

[2] This is slightly modified quote from Line 171 of the Shānghán Lùn.

Zhīmǔ from Běncǎo Jīngjiě

Zhīmǔ from Běncǎo Jīngjiě 《本草經解》 (c. 1724 CE), attributed to Yè Tānshì 葉天士

氣寒,味苦,無毒。主消渴熱中,除邪氣,肢體浮腫,下水,補不足,益氣。

Its qì is cold, flavour is bitter, not poisonous. It governs dispersion-thirst with heat in the interior, eliminates evil qì, puffy swelling of the body and limbs, watery diarrhoea, tonifies insufficiency, increases qì.

知母氣寒,稟天冬寒之水氣,入足少陰腎經;味苦無毒,得地南方之火味,入手少陰心經。氣味俱降,陰也。

Zhīmǔ’s qì is cold, it is endowed with water qì of heavenly winter-cold, it enters the foot shàoyīn kidney channel. Its flavour is bitter and is not poisonous, it is virtued with the fire flavour of the southern direction, it enters the shàoyīn heart channel. The qì and flavour both descends, it is yīn.

腎屬水,心屬火,水不制火,火爍津液,則病消渴;火熏五內,則病熱中。其苦之者,苦清心火,寒滋腎水也。

The kidneys belong to water, the heart belongs to fire, when water cannot restrain fire, if fire scorches the jīn-fluids and yè-humours, then the disease of dispersion-thirst occur; if fire fumes the five internal [zàng-viscera], then the disease of heat in the interior will occur. [Because] it is bitter [flavour], and bitter clears heart fire, and cold enriches the kidney-water.

除邪氣者,苦寒之味,能除燥火之邪氣也。

Regarding eliminating evil qì, its flavour is bitter-cold, so it is able to eliminate the dry and fire evil qì.

熱勝則浮,火勝則腫;苦能清火,寒能退熱,故主肢體浮腫也。腎者水藏,其性惡燥,燥則開合不利,而水反蓄矣;知母寒滑,滑利關門而水自下也。補不足者,苦寒補寒水之不足也。益氣者,苦寒益五臟之陰氣也。

When heat is prevalent there will be floating, when fire is prevalent there will be swelling; bitter [flavour] is able to clear fire, cold [qì] is able to abate heat, therefore it governs puffy swelling in the limbs and body. The kidneys are the water zàng-viscus, their nature is to be averse to dryness. When there is dryness then opening and closing [of the bowels] is inhibited, and water will on the contrary accumulate; Zhīmǔ is cold and lubricating, it can lubricate and disinhibit the opening and closing [of the bowels] and then the water will naturally descend. Regarding tonifying insufficiency, the bitter-cold tonifies the insufficiency of cold-water. Regarding increasing qì, the bitter-cold increase the yīn qì of the five zàng-viscera.