On the Prediction of Diseases Based on the Correlation between the Five Zang-organs, Six Fu-organs and the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches
Original Text
歌诀：
甲胆乙肝丙小肠，丁心戊胃己脾乡；庚是大肠辛属肺，壬系膀胱癸肾藏；三焦亦向壬中寄，包络同归入癸乡。
又曰：
甲头乙顶丙肩求，丁心戊肋己属腹；庚是脐轮辛属股，壬胫癸足一身由。
又曰：
子属膀胱水道耳，丑为胞肚及脾乡；寅胆发脉并两手，卯本十指内肝方；辰土为皮肩胸类，已面咽齿下宾肛；午火精神司眼目，未土胃腕隔脊梁；申金大肠经络肺，酉中精血小肠藏；戌土命门腿踝足，亥水为头及肾囊；若依此法推人病，歧伯雷公也播扬。
又曰：
午头巳未两肩均，左右二膊是辰申；卯酉双肋寅戌腿，丑亥属脚子为阴。
又曰：
乾首坤腹坎耳俦，震足巽股艮手留；兑口离目分八卦，凡看疾病此推求。
夫疾病皆因五行不和，即人身五脏不和也。盖五行通于五脏，六腑通于九窍，凡十干受病属六腑，十二支受病属五脏。丙丁己午火局南离，主病在上；壬癸亥子水局北坎，主病在下；甲乙寅卯属震，主病在左；庚辛申酉属兑，主病在右；戊己辰戌丑未属坤艮，主病在脾胃及中脘。诸风晕掉、眼光日昏，血不调畅、早年落发、筋青瓜枯，属肝家甲乙寅卯木受亏主病故也；诸脓血疮疥、舌苦喑哑者，属心家丙丁巳午火受亏主病故也；浮肿、脚气、黄肿、口臭、翻胃、脾寒膈热者，属脾家戊己辰戌丑未土受亏主病故也；鼻塞酒槁、语蹇气结、咳嗽喊者，属肺家庚辛申酉受亏主病故也；白浊、白带、霍乱、泻痢、疝气小肠，属肾家壬癸亥子受亏主病故也。
甲乙见庚辛申酉多者，内主肝胆惊悸、劳瘵、手足顽麻、筋骨疼痛；外主头目眩晕、口眼歪斜、左瘫右痪，叠扑损伤。遇丙丁火多无水相济，则痰喘咯血、中风不语、皮肤乾燥，内热口乾。女人主血气欠调、有孕者堕胎。小儿急慢惊风、夜啼咳嗽、面色青黯是也。
丙丁见壬癸亥子多者，内主心气疼痛、颠痫舌强、口痛咽哑、急慢惊风、语言蹇涩；外主潮热发狂、眼暗失明、小肠疝气、疮疥脓血、小便淋浊。妇女主乾血气经脉不调。小儿主痘疹、疥癣，面色红赤是也。
戊已见甲乙寅卯多者，内主脾胃不和，翻胃隔食、气噎蛊胀泄泻黄肿、择拣饮食、呕吐恶心；外主右手沉重、湿毒流注、胸腹痞塞。妇女主饮食不甘、吞酸、虚弱、呵欠困倦。小儿主五疳五软、内热好睡、面色痿黄是也。
庚辛见丙丁巳午多者，内主肠风痔漏、粪后下血、痰火咳嗽、气喘吐血、魉魉失魂、虚烦劳症；外主皮肤枯燥、肺风鼻赤、疽肿发背、脓血无力。妇女主痰嗽、血产。小儿主脓血、痢疾、面色黄白是也。
壬癸见戊已辰戌丑未多者，内主遗精盗汗夜梦鬼交、血浊虚损、寒战咬牙、耳聋眼盲、伤寒感冒；外主风虫牙痛、偏坠肾气、腰痛膝痛、淋沥、吐泻、怕冷恶寒。女人白带鬼胎、经水不调。小儿主耳中生疮、小肠疼痛、夜间作炒、面色黧里是也。
赋云：筋骨疼痛，盍因木被金伤；眼目暗昏，必是火遭水克；土虚逢木旺之乡，脾伤定论；金弱遇火炎之地，血疾无疑。又云：木逢金克，定主腰肋之灾；火被水伤，必主眼目之疾；心肺喘满，亦干金火相刑；脾胃损伤，盍因土水战克。支水干头有火遭，必腹病心懵；支火乾头有水遇，则内障睛盲。炎上烦焦蒸土曜，头秃眼昏；润下纯湿无土制，肾虚耳闭；荧惑乘旺临离巽，中风失音；太白坚利合兑坤，兵前落魄。又云：心受病，口不能言；肝受病，目不能视；脾受病，口不能食；肺受病，鼻不能嗅；肾受病，耳不能听，各从所主，以证虚实。
噫！人病百端，理无二焉，望问闻切，乃医家之妙用；生克制化，为术士之玄征，若能参究根源标本，不离斯法。论曰：康泰生于和合，疾病起于刑伤。究五行衰旺之理，推百病表里之详，内应五脏，外属四肢。且如木气休囚，两鬓消疏而不发；火临死绝，双瞳昏暗而无光；火中隐土少水制，则心神恍惚；木下藏金无水收，则腿足损伤。甲乙兑生逢壬癸，醉乡而死；丙丁坎育遇庚辛，沟港而亡。水盛木浮，多生泄痢；土重金埋，常病气高。诸风掉眩，乙木旺而辛金衰；疼痒疮疡，丁火盛而癸水弱；痞塞肿满，只因己土太过；愤郁病痿，盖为辛金不及。
甲乙能伤戊已，无救而缺唇；丙丁善克庚辛，少制而喑哑。火中有土，项生瘰癧之灾；水中有土，腹患蛊肿之病。用神受制而被刑，亡于棒杖；上下逢鬼而无救，死作悬梁。四柱重冲多凶而他乡丧体，五行衰败不足而瘟疫亡身。水败腰驼，莫用轩岐之法；金刑龟背，安施卢扁之方。庚辛气秀，西方见木而亡于兵刃；甲乙败绝，坤南无水，而骨肉飞；辛巳、丙申遇刑，臂虚而人生六指；己卯、戊寅逢敌，胃弱而常病疮疽；乙未、甲午逢金，人多鳖头；癸卯、已丑相刑，病生腰膝；甲申、乙酉，幼年多病肝经；辛卯、庚寅，晚年劳伤筋骨。丙火上炎，丈夫每忌于身心；丁火下湿，女人虚痨而血产。日时衰败，大患难疗；干支刑害，小疾不疗。气相得而安和，气相逆而灾殄。病症不离于六脉，死生难越乎五行，细究兴衰，万不失一。
古歌曰：
戊己生时气不全，月时两处见伤官；必当头面有亏损，脓血之疮苦少年。
又曰：
丙丁日乾五行衰，七煞加临三合来，升合日求衣食缺，耳聋残疾面尘埃。
又：
壬癸重重叠叠排，时辰设若见天财；纵然头面无斑癞，定主其人眼目灾。
又曰：
人之生也，受气于父，成形于母。五脏和平者无疾，战克太过不及者主疾。
《内经》云：东方实西方虚，泻南方补北方。东方实者，木太过也；西方虚者，金不及也；泻南方者，火太过也；补北方者，水不及也。是以五行太过不及，皆主疾也。若水升而火降，火降而金清，金清而木平，木平而土不及克，五脏各得中和之气，疾病何自生焉？《阴阳书》：金刚火强，自刑其方，木落归本，水流趋东。所以论三刑，刑则残害，言太过而身疾也。若只取不及为疾，必有一偏之失。
凡五行有死绝而成疾者：水死绝，多肾气腰足攻注，滑泄便溺不利之疾；火死绝，主肠气结塞、惊悸健忘，精神不安之疾；木死绝虚风目涩眩晕，筋急、爪甲桔悴、喜怒颠倒，择饮择食之疾；金死绝，主气虚喘急、咳嗽、皮毛焦燥乾啬、骨节疼痛、涕泪、大肠泄痢、便血之疾；土死绝，主面黄、减食、隔塞吐逆、肢体怠惰、喜卧嗜睡、多思足虑、耳聋、神浊健忘、少喜动作之疾。有相克而成疾者：金火相克，生旺则疡疮瘫肿，死绝则痨瘵呕血；土木相克，生旺主疲闷昏眩、风麻、小肠疾痛肿，死绝主吐食症块，疽癖积滞之疾，或主中风；金木相克，生旺主肢足骨节不完、眼目之疾，死绝主气虚精脱、痨疾瘫痪之疾；水土相克，主脾湿泄泻、中满痰嗽不利之疾。有相生而生疾者：火木相生，生旺则上盛隔壅，目赤头风；死绝则伤寒作狂、闷乱疾。火土相生，生旺则胃实；死绝则唇焦红气、热结大便不利。金水相生，生旺则气滞，死绝则晴滑；水木相生，生旺则呕吐胃虚；死绝则精败、伤寒粘疟。金土相生，生旺则多虚无肌肉死绝肠鸣茧作。凡水土木相逢于无气之处，主蛊气肠胀、吐逆之疾；凡金水火相逢于无气之地，主痢疾，金主大肠，水火守之，阴阳不和也。凡水逢土，多主翻胃疾；土多而无水气疏之，主聋聩疾。盖肾水不流则翻胃，气不能则为聩也。
又曰：凡论残疾病症，先论日乾，次详月令，然后通年时看之，伤官主残疾，煞重亦然。乾卦在亥，亥为天门，六辛生人得此日此时，多主盲聋。亥属肾，肾通耳，丙火遭水克也；子位坎宫，伤官煞重相刑，主下部疾；寅宫艮土，主脾胃，面色痿黄之疾；辰属震；此月带伤官，少年主多惊疾，盖震者动也。轻则主惊脾胃疾，重则主足疾。巳为巽，伤官煞重，主妇女血气不调，劳疾；午为离为目，伤官煞重，主失明头风之症；申属坤。为众阴，伤官煞重，主腰脚筋骨之疾；伤官伤尽者不在此论；酉为兑，属口齿不完之疾。戌为火库，主下血痔漏之疾。丑未伤官，亦主脾胃。伤官煞旺者，年年病瘟，主用上下战克、五行无救助，主身体不完，头面残伤。
又曰：凡一切诸煞亦有主疾者：劫煞主小肠，又主耳聋、咽喉疾；官符主腰脚疾；咸池主酒色、劳瘵、脓血、便溺疾；赘耗主暗昧，或赘疣疾；飞廉名天瞽，支乾无气，主无目。凡禄因食致疾，须带煞克身方是。凡命见真冲气散，或真刑气散，多是废疾之人。甲辰、甲戊、乙丑、乙未，土木交加，主瘫痪之疾；丙申、丁酉，金火交加，主血筋所伤；戊子、己亥，水土交加，主脾胃之疾；庚寅、辛卯，金木交加，主筋骨劳嗽之疾。凡欲推疾病灾厄，先看禄命身三等，大小运如何？若三命无气，禄马败绝，但得禄财、命财、旺相，亦不至死。若父病推其子命，如子命遇孤辰、寡宿、丧门、吊客及白衣煞临命，其父必有不可救之疾。夫妻亦准此推。
Interpretation
Songs and rhymes:
Jia corresponds to the gallbladder, Yi to the liver, Bing to the small intestine, Ding to the heart, Wu to the stomach, and Ji to the spleen. Geng represents the large intestine, Xin the lungs, Ren the bladder, and Gui the kidneys. The triple burner is also associated with Ren, and the pericardium is classified under Gui.
It is also said:
Ask about the head related to Jia, the top of the head to Yi, and the shoulder to Bing. The heart corresponds to Ding, the ribs to Wu, and the abdomen to Ji. The umbilical region belongs to Geng, the thighs to Xin. The shins are related to Ren, and the feet to Gui, which govern the whole body.
It is also said:
The hours under the sign of Zi correspond to the bladder and the water passages. The hours of Chou are related to the uterus and the spleen. For the hours of Yin, it pertains to the gallbladder, the arteries and the two hands. During the hours of Mao, it is associated with the ten fingers and the liver. The hours of Chen are linked to the skin, shoulders and chest. The hours of Si are related to the face, throat, teeth and the anus. In the hours of Wu, the spirit and the eyes are in charge. For the hours of Wei, it involves the stomach, the diaphragm and the spine. The hours of Shen are connected to the large intestine, the meridians and the lungs. During the hours of You, the essence and blood and the small intestine are stored. The hours of Xu are related to the vital gate, the legs, ankles and feet. The hours of Hai are associated with the head and the scrotum. If one diagnoses diseases according to this method, even Qibo and Leigong would praise it.
It is also said:
At noon, the areas from the end of the third to the fourth double - hour are evenly distributed on the two shoulders. The left and right upper arms correspond to the third and ninth double - hours. The flanks match the fourth and tenth double - hours, and the legs are related to the first and eleventh double - hours. The feet are associated with the second and twelfth double - hours, and the genitals are related to the midnight double - hour.
It is also said:
Qian represents the head, Kun the abdomen, and Kan the ears; Zhen stands for the feet, Xun the thighs, and Gen the hands; Dui represents the mouth, and Li the eyes. These are the associations of the eight trigrams. When diagnosing diseases, one can make inferences based on these.
All diseases are caused by the disharmony of the Five Elements, which means the disharmony of the five internal organs in the human body. In fact, the Five Elements are connected to the five internal organs, and the six hollow organs are connected to the nine orifices. Generally, diseases caused by the ten Heavenly Stems belong to the six hollow organs, and diseases caused by the twelve Earthly Branches belong to the five internal organs. The Fire Trigram of Bing, Ding, Ji, Wu, and the Fire Element in the south (associated with the trigram Li) mainly cause diseases in the upper part of the body; the Water Trigram of Ren, Gui, Hai, and Zi, and the Water Element in the north (associated with the trigram Kan) mainly cause diseases in the lower part of the body; Jia, Yi, Yin, and Mao belong to the trigram Zhen and mainly cause diseases on the left side of the body; Geng, Xin, Shen, and You belong to the trigram Dui and mainly cause diseases on the right side of the body; Wu, Ji, Chen, Xu, Chou, and Wei belong to the trigrams Kun and Gen and mainly cause diseases in the spleen, stomach, and the middle part of the abdomen. Various symptoms such as dizziness, blurred vision, poor blood circulation, early hair loss, and bluish and shrivelled tendons are mainly caused by the deficiency of the Wood Element of Jia, Yi, Yin, and Mao in the liver; various symptoms such as purulent sores, bitter taste in the mouth, and hoarseness are mainly caused by the deficiency of the Fire Element of Bing, Ding, Si, and Wu in the heart; symptoms such as swelling, beriberi, jaundice, bad breath, vomiting, and cold in the spleen with heat in the diaphragm are mainly caused by the deficiency of the Earth Element of Wu, Ji, Chen, Xu, Chou, and Wei in the spleen; symptoms such as nasal congestion, rhinitis, stuttering, shortness of breath, coughing, and shouting are mainly caused by the deficiency of the Metal Element of Geng, Xin, Shen, and You in the lungs; symptoms such as leukorrhea, cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, hernia, and diseases of the small intestine are mainly caused by the deficiency of the Water Element of Ren, Gui, Hai, and Zi in the kidneys.
When in the context of the Five - Elements and Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, if there are many Geng, Xin, Shen, and You (associated with metal in traditional Chinese cosmology) for people represented by Jia and Yi (associated with wood), internally, it may lead to symptoms such as palpitations in the liver and gallbladder, consumptive diseases, numbness in hands and feet, and pain in bones and muscles. Externally, it may cause symptoms like dizziness, slanting of the mouth and eyes, hemiplegia, and repeated falls and injuries. If there is an abundance of Bing and Ding (associated with fire) and no water element to counterbalance, it may result in symptoms such as phlegm - wheezing, hemoptysis, stroke with loss of speech, dry skin, internal heat, and dry mouth. For women, it may lead to irregular menstruation, and for pregnant women, it may cause miscarriage. For children, it may lead to acute or chronic infantile convulsions, night crying, cough, and a sallow complexion.
When those with the heavenly stems Bing and Ding encounter many Ren, Gui, Hai, Zi in their Bazi (the four pillars of destiny), internally, it may lead to heart - qi pain, epilepsy, stiff tongue, mouth pain, hoarse throat, acute or chronic infantile convulsions, and stuttering in speech; externally, it may cause hectic fever and madness, dim vision and blindness, inguinal hernia, scabies with purulent blood, and turbid urine. For women, it may result in dry blood and irregular menstruation. For children, it may cause smallpox and scabies, and a flushed face.
When in the Wuji (Earthly Branches) context, there are many Jiajia, Yiyi, Yinyin, and Maomao, internally, it indicates disharmony between the spleen and the stomach, such as indigestion, regurgitation, difficulty in swallowing, abdominal distension, diarrhea, jaundice - like swelling, picky eating, vomiting, and nausea. Externally, it is manifested as heaviness in the right hand, the spread of damp - toxin, and stuffiness in the chest and abdomen. For women, it leads to a lack of appetite, acid regurgitation, weakness, yawning, and drowsiness. For children, it results in five types of malnutrition and five types of flaccidity, internal heat, a tendency to sleep, and a sallow complexion.
If there are many Bing, Ding, Si, and Wu in the bazi when Geng and Xin are present, internally, it may lead to intestinal wind and hemorrhoids, bleeding after defecation, phlegm-fire cough, asthma and hematemesis, spiritlessness and restlessness, and deficiency and fatigue syndromes; externally, it may cause dry skin, red nose due to lung wind, carbuncles and boils on the back, and weakness with purulent blood. For women, it may lead to phlegm cough and bleeding during childbirth. For children, it may lead to purulent dysentery, and a yellowish - white complexion.
If there are many Wuxu (Earthly Branches corresponding to the Earth element) such as Chen, Xu, Chou, and Wei when Ren and Gui (Heavenly Stems corresponding to the Water element) are present, internally, it may lead to spermatorrhea, night sweats, sexual dreams with ghosts, turbid blood, physical weakness, shivering, teeth - grinding, deafness, blindness, typhoid fever, and colds. Externally, it may cause toothache due to wind and worms, testicular hydrocele, low - back pain, knee pain, dysuria, vomiting and diarrhea, fear of cold. For women, it may result in leucorrhea, false pregnancy, and irregular menstruation. For children, it may cause sores in the ears, pain in the small intestine, restlessness at night, and a sallow complexion.
The poem says: Muscle and bone pain is probably because wood is damaged by metal; Dim eyesight must be due to fire being overcome by water. When earth is weak and meets the prosperous wood, it's certain that the spleen is injured. When metal is weak and encounters the blazing fire, there will undoubtedly be blood - related diseases. It also says: When wood is overcome by metal, it will surely lead to disasters in the waist and ribs. When fire is damaged by water, it will definitely cause eye diseases. Panting and fullness in the heart and lungs are also related to the conflict between metal and fire. Damage to the spleen and stomach is probably due to the battle between earth and water. If there is fire above and water in the branches, it will surely cause abdominal diseases and mental confusion. If there is water above and fire in the branches, it will lead to internal eye diseases and blindness. When blazing fire scorches the earth, it causes baldness and dim eyesight. When there is pure moisture without the restraint of earth, it leads to kidney deficiency and deafness. When Mars is in a prosperous state in the positions of Li and Xun, it causes stroke and loss of voice. When Venus is strong and combines with Dui and Kun, one will be down - and - out in front of the army. It further says: When the heart is ill, one cannot speak; when the liver is ill, one cannot see; when the spleen is ill, one cannot eat; when the lungs are ill, one cannot smell; when the kidneys are ill, one cannot hear. Each corresponds to its main function to prove the deficiency or excess of the condition.
Alas! There are a hundred kinds of human illnesses, yet the underlying principles are the same. Inspection, inquiry, auscultation and olfaction, and pulse - taking are the wonderful skills of doctors; the generation, restriction, control, and transformation of the Five Elements are the mysterious signs for those versed in the art. If one can study the root causes and symptoms, one cannot deviate from these methods. It is said that good health comes from harmony, while diseases arise from disharmony. By exploring the principles of the prosperity and decline of the Five Elements, one can deduce in detail the exterior and interior aspects of all kinds of diseases. Internally, they correspond to the five internal organs, and externally, they are related to the four limbs. For example, when the Wood element is in a state of decline, the hair on the temples will be sparse and not grow well. When the Fire element is in a state of extreme weakness, the pupils will be dim and lack luster. If there is Earth hidden in Fire and insufficient Water to control it, the mind will be in a state of confusion. If there is Metal hidden under Wood and no Water to contain it, the legs and feet will be injured. When those born under the Wood (Jia and Yi) in the West encounter the Water (Ren and Gui), they may die from excessive drinking. When those born under the Fire (Bing and Ding) in the North meet the Metal (Geng and Xin), they may drown in ditches. When Water is excessive and Wood floats, diarrhea is likely to occur. When Earth is too heavy and Metal is buried, there are often problems with shortness of breath. For various wind - related dizziness and vertigo, it is because the Wood (Yi) is strong and the Metal (Xin) is weak. For itching sores and ulcers, it is because the Fire (Ding) is strong and the Water (Gui) is weak. For blockages and swellings, it is due to the excessive strength of the Earth (Ji). For depression and paralysis, it is because the Metal (Xin) is insufficient.
If Jia and Yi can overcome Wu and Ji without any counter - influence, it may lead to a split lip. When Bing and Ding can easily subdue Geng and Xin with little restraint, it may result in dumbness. If there is earth in fire, one may suffer from scrofula on the neck. When there is earth in water, abdominal diseases like swelling caused by parasites may occur. If the favorable element in the Bazi is restricted and punished, one may die from beatings with sticks. When there are inauspicious elements both above and below in the Bazi without any rescue, one may end up hanging oneself. If there are multiple clashes in the four pillars of the Bazi, it often brings many misfortunes and one may die in a foreign land. When the five elements are weak and insufficient, one may die of a plague. If water is in a state of decline, it may cause hunchback, and even the medical methods of famous doctors won't work. When metal is damaged, it may lead to a hunched back, and the prescriptions of famous doctors are of no use either. When Geng and Xin are in a state of elegant qi, if wood appears in the west direction, one may die by the blade. When Jia and Yi are in a state of decline and there is no water in the southwest, it may bring disasters to one's family. When Xin Si and Bing Shen encounter punishment, one may have a weak arm and be born with six fingers. When Ji Mao and Wu Yin meet with opposition, one may have a weak stomach and often suffer from carbuncles. When Yi Wei and Jia Wu meet with metal, many people may have a deformed head like a turtle. When Gui Mao and Ji Chou are in conflict, diseases may occur in the waist and knees. For Jia Shen and Yi You, people may often be sick in the liver channel in their childhood. For Xin Mao and Geng Yin, people may suffer from bone and muscle injuries in their later years. When Bing fire rises upwards, men should be cautious about their physical and mental health. When Ding fire is damp below, women may suffer from consumptive diseases and have problems during childbirth. If the day and hour pillars are in a state of decline, serious disasters are difficult to cure. When the heavenly stems and earthly branches are in conflict and harm, minor illnesses are also hard to heal. When the qi is in harmony, one will be peaceful and healthy; when the qi is in disharmony, disasters will occur. Diseases are always related to the six pulses, and life and death are hard to go beyond the five - element theory. By carefully studying the rise and fall of the five elements, one can make accurate predictions without fail.
An ancient song says:
When one is born in the hours related to Wu and Ji, the vital energy is not complete. If the "Hurting Officer" appears both in the month and hour columns, there must be damages on the head and face. One will suffer from suppurating sores in youth.
It is also said:
On the days of Bing and Ding, the Five - Elements of Qian are in decline. When the Seven Fiends combine with the Three Combinations. Seeking food and clothing on the days of rising and combination will end up in shortage. One may suffer from deafness, disability and have a dusty face.
Moreover:
If the Heavenly Stems Ren and Gui appear repeatedly, and if the Heavenly Wealth Star is seen in the Hour Pillar; even if there are no sores or scabs on the face, it is certain that the person will suffer from eye disasters.
It is also said:
When a person is born, they receive qi from their father and take shape in their mother's womb. Those with well - balanced five internal organs are free from diseases, while those with excessive or insufficient conflict and restraint among the five elements in the body are prone to diseases.
The "Inner Canon" states: When there is excess in the East and deficiency in the West, purge the South and tonify the North. Excess in the East means an over - abundance of Wood; deficiency in the West means an insufficiency of Metal; purging the South means an over - abundance of Fire; tonifying the North means an insufficiency of Water. Therefore, both excess and deficiency in the Five Elements can lead to diseases. If Water rises and Fire descends, when Fire descends, Metal becomes pure. When Metal is pure, Wood is balanced. When Wood is balanced, Earth is not overly restricted. When the five internal organs each obtain the harmonious qi, where can diseases come from? The "Book of Yin and Yang" says: When Metal is strong and Fire is fierce, they will harm their own domains. When Wood withers, it returns to its root, and Water flows towards the East. This is the theory of the three punishments. Punishment means harm, indicating that excess can lead to personal illness. If one only considers deficiency as the cause of illness, there will surely be a one - sided mistake.
In general, when the Five Elements are in a state of death or exhaustion and cause diseases: When water is in a state of death or exhaustion, it often leads to diseases such as kidney - qi deficiency, pain in the lower back and feet, involuntary discharge, and difficult urination and defecation. When fire is in a state of death or exhaustion, it mainly causes diseases like intestinal blockage, palpitations, forgetfulness, and mental restlessness. When wood is in a state of death or exhaustion, it causes diseases such as empty - wind syndrome, dry eyes, dizziness, tense tendons, withered nails, mood swings, and picky eating. When metal is in a state of death or exhaustion, it mainly leads to diseases such as shortness of breath due to qi deficiency, coughing, dry and rough skin, joint pain, runny nose and tears, diarrhea in the large intestine, and bloody stools. When earth is in a state of death or exhaustion, it mainly causes diseases such as sallow complexion, loss of appetite, blockage in the diaphragm, vomiting, physical lethargy, drowsiness, excessive thinking, deafness, mental confusion, forgetfulness, and lack of interest in movement. When diseases are caused by the mutual restraint of the Five Elements: When metal restrains fire, in a prosperous state, it causes sores and abscesses; in a state of death or exhaustion, it leads to consumption diseases and hematemesis. When earth restrains wood, in a prosperous state, it causes fatigue, dizziness, numbness due to wind, and pain and swelling in the small intestine; in a state of death or exhaustion, it causes vomiting, abdominal masses, carbuncles, and stagnant accumulations, or may lead to stroke. When metal restrains wood, in a prosperous state, it causes incomplete limb and joint development and eye diseases; in a state of death or exhaustion, it leads to qi deficiency, spermatorrhea, consumption diseases, and paralysis. When water restrains earth, it mainly causes diseases such as diarrhea due to spleen dampness and difficult expectoration due to fullness in the middle - jiao. When diseases are caused by the mutual generation of the Five Elements: When fire generates wood, in a prosperous state, it causes excessive qi in the upper part of the body, blockage in the diaphragm, red eyes, and headache due to wind; in a state of death or exhaustion, it leads to typhoid fever with mania and confusion. When fire generates earth, in a prosperous state, it causes fullness in the stomach; in a state of death or exhaustion, it leads to dry and red lips, heat accumulation, and difficult defecation. When metal generates water, in a prosperous state, it causes qi stagnation; in a state of death or exhaustion, it leads to slippery eyes. When water generates wood, in a prosperous state, it causes vomiting due to stomach deficiency; in a state of death or exhaustion, it leads to spermatorrhea and typhoid fever with malaria - like symptoms. When metal generates earth, in a prosperous state, it causes qi deficiency and lack of muscle mass; in a state of death or exhaustion, it causes borborygmus. When water, earth, and wood meet in a place with no vital qi, it mainly causes diseases such as abdominal distension due to parasitic qi and vomiting. When metal, fire, and water meet in a place with no vital qi, it mainly causes dysentery. Metal corresponds to the large intestine, and when water and fire act on it, it leads to disharmony between yin and yang. When water meets earth, it often causes stomach - upset diseases. When there is too much earth without the regulation of water qi, it causes deafness. This is because when kidney water fails to flow, it causes stomach - upset, and when qi fails to circulate, it causes deafness.
It is also said that when discussing disabilities and diseases, first consider the Heavenly Stem of the day, then examine the month in the lunar calendar in detail, and finally take into account the year and the hour. An Officer - Slaying God (Shangguan) indicates disabilities, and so does a strong Seven - Killings (Sha). When the Qian trigram corresponds to the Hai position, and Hai is the Heavenly Gate. For those born in the year of the Six Xin and on this day and at this hour, they are mostly likely to be blind or deaf. Hai belongs to the kidney, and the kidney is related to the ear, which is because the Bing Fire is damaged by water. The Zi position is in the Kan trigram. When there is a strong Officer - Slaying God and Seven - Killings with mutual punishment, it indicates diseases of the lower body. The Yin position is in the Gen trigram related to the Earth, which indicates diseases of the spleen and stomach and a sallow complexion. The Chen position belongs to the Zhen trigram. If there is an Officer - Slaying God in this month, it indicates that a young person will often have frightening diseases. This is because Zhen represents movement. Mild cases indicate frightening diseases of the spleen and stomach, and severe cases indicate foot diseases. The Si position is in the Xun trigram. When there is a strong Officer - Slaying God and Seven - Killings, it indicates that women will have irregular menstruation and chronic diseases. The Wu position is in the Li trigram related to the eyes. When there is a strong Officer - Slaying God and Seven - Killings, it indicates blindness and migraines. The Shen position belongs to the Kun trigram, which represents many Yin elements. When there is a strong Officer - Slaying God and Seven - Killings, it indicates diseases of the waist, feet, and bones. Those with a completely exhausted Officer - Slaying God are not included in this discussion. The You position is in the Dui trigram, which indicates incomplete teeth. The Xu position is the Fire Treasury, which indicates hemorrhoids and anal fistulas. When there is an Officer - Slaying God in the Chou and Wei positions, it also indicates diseases of the spleen and stomach. Those with a strong Officer - Slaying God and Seven - Killings will suffer from diseases every year. If there is a conflict between the upper and lower elements and no assistance from the Five Elements, it indicates an incomplete body and injuries to the head and face.
It is also said that all kinds of evil stars are also related to certain diseases: The Robbery Evil Star is related to the small intestine, and also to deafness and throat diseases; the Official Talisman Evil Star is related to waist and foot diseases; the Dissolute Pool Evil Star is related to excessive drinking and sexual indulgence, consumptive diseases, purulent blood, and urinary diseases; the Redundant Consumption Evil Star is related to obscure ailments or warts; the Flying Wind Evil Star, also known as the Heavenly Blindness, when the heavenly stems and earthly branches lack qi, is related to blindness. If one's good fortune (lu) leads to illness due to food, it must be accompanied by an evil star that restrains the self. If there is a true clash or true punishment that disperses the qi in one's fate, such a person is often disabled. For those born in the years of Jiachen, Jiawu, Yichou, and Yivei, where earth and wood interact, it is likely to lead to paralysis; for those born in the years of Bingshen and Dingyou, where metal and fire interact, it is likely to cause damage to blood vessels and tendons; for those born in the years of Wuzhi and Jihai, where water and earth interact, it is likely to lead to spleen and stomach diseases; for those born in the years of Gengyin and Xinmao, where metal and wood interact, it is likely to lead to diseases of the bones and muscles and chronic coughs. When trying to predict diseases and disasters, one should first look at the three aspects of good fortune (lu), fate, and the self, as well as the major and minor fortune cycles. If the three aspects of fate lack qi and the good fortune and the auspicious stars are in a state of decline, but if there is wealth associated with good fortune and fate and they are in a prosperous state, the person will not necessarily die. When predicting a father's illness by looking at his son's fate, if the son's fate is affected by the Lonely Star, the Widowed Star, the Mourning Gate, the Mourning Guest, and the White-Clothed Evil Star, the father will surely have an incurable illness. The same principle applies to predicting a spouse's illness.