《黄帝内经素问》“七损八益”之我见

My Personal Idea on “Seven Reduction and Eight Boost” in Plain Question of Inner Canon

《内经》“七损八益”乃是古今注家争论很大的一个问题，尤其在马王堆汉墓医书出土之后又常被释为房中术，与经旨大相径庭。本文根据《内经》七心八肝之义和《易经》损益二卦之理，认为经文“是以圣人为无为之事……此圣人之治身也”即是对“七损”的解释，“年四十而阴气自半也……壮者益治”即是解释“八益”，这是道家延年益寿的秘旨，也是医家祛病复康的妙诀，值得深入研究。

Although ancient and contemporary scholars fail to reach an agreement on the explanation about “QiSun and BaYi”, the following is the most acceptable. According to the medical books found in Mawangdui Tombs, scholars, domestic and abroad, take the Taoist school as lovemaking and theory of Laozi as pornographic writings. Combining the Taoist theory with my own medical practics. I argue that “QiSun and BaYi” have a different meaning. Most explanations about “QiSun and BaYi” centre on “Qi”——seven and “Ba”——eight, the two numbers, instead of “Sun” and “Yi”. Plain Questions points out the southern red colour connecting with the “heart” numbers 7——“Qi”, while the “heart” is the most important organ. Once the heart was healthy, the body is at ease, thus, one can live longer. The eastern black colour connecting with the liver numbers 8——“Ba”, so “BaYi” means to strengthen the liver and kidney.