寒温少阳论气机升降出入

Discussion on the qi movement from the perspective of Shaoyang diseases with the exogenous cold syndrome and the warm syndrome

“出入废则神机化灭,升降息则气立孤矣”,人身上下内外,无处不运动,气的升降出入运动,是安身立命的根本。少阳以枢为功,其在条达表里、通畅上下气机中占有重要作用,世虽多云伤寒之少阳病在足经而重表里出入,温病之少阳病在手经而重上下升降,但寒温本为一体,手足少阳本为一气,少阳实为横向气机与纵向气机的交汇纽带,共主升降出入。临证凡病及少阳,皆可握其枢之机,畅其上下之升降,达其表里之出入,则气之乖戾复安而愈。

“Once the qi movement of exiting and entering stops,the spiritual mechanism will fail.Once the qi movement of ascending and descending ceases,the establishment of general qi will extinguish.”As is said in Inner Canon of Huangdi,the qi movement in its four forms exists in everything,ensuring the well-being of all the creatures as well as we humanity.The abnormal qi movement may result in various diseases.The Shaoyang channels,functioning as the pivot of the three yang channels,play an important role in maintaining the smooth qi movement between superficies and interior,upper and lower of the body.People mostly believe that Shaoyang diseases with the exogenous cold syndrome involve the foot meridians and maintaining the smooth exiting and entering between the superficies and interior is prioritized for their treatment,and that Shaoyang diseases with the warm syndrome involve the hand meridians and maintaining the smooth ascending and descending between the upper and lower is prioritized.Nevertheless,the exogenos cold syndrome and warm syndrome are but the two syndromes of Shaoyang diseases,and the hand meridians,foot meridians and Shaoyang channels are mutually connected,so the Shaoyang channels are actually the intersection of the horizontal and vertical qi movement,jointly governing the qi movement in its four forms.In clinical practice,all diseases involving the Shaoyang channels should be differentiated by viewing Shaoyang as the pivot and treated by restoring and smoothing the qi movement.