素问·水热穴论 Treatise on Water, Heat, and the Acupuncture Points

Huangdi asked: Why does the lesser yin govern the kidney, and why does the kidney govern water? Qibo replied: The kidney is the utmost yin; the utmost yin is that which abounds in water. The lung is the greater yin, and the lesser yin is the vessel of winter; thus its root lies in the kidney and its branch lies in the lung, both being places where water accumulates. Huangdi asked: How is it that the kidney can gather water and thereby give rise to disease? Qibo replied: The kidney is the gate of the stomach. When the gate fails to open properly, water gathers and follows its own kind, overflowing above and below into the skin, thus producing swelling. Swelling is disease born of gathered water.

Huangdi asked: Do all forms of water disease arise from the kidney? Qibo replied: The kidney is a yin viscus; the qi of earth that rises upward belongs to the kidney and gives rise to water and fluid, hence it is called the utmost yin. When one exerts great force and labors to excess, the kidney sweats. If this kidney sweat encounters wind, the wind can neither enter inward into the viscera and bowels nor pass outward beyond the skin; it lodges instead in the mysterious gateways, travels within the skin, and is transmitted into swelling. Since it is rooted in the kidney, this is called wind water. What are called the mysterious gateways are the pores through which sweat passes.

Huangdi asked: What do the fifty-seven points for treating water disease govern? Qibo replied: The fifty-seven kidney points are where accumulated yin gathers, the places through which water passes in and out. The five rows of five points above the sacrum are the kidney transport points. In water disease, below there is swelling and abdominal distension, and above there is panting and gasping with inability to lie down; this is disease of both branch and root together, for the lung produces the panting and gasping, the kidney produces the water swelling, and the lung's rebellious qi prevents reclining. Where the two are distinguished yet mutually transmit and both are affected, this is where the water qi lodges. The two rows of five points above the crouching-rabbit point are the kidney's thoroughfare, where the three yin channels of the leg meet and knot. The single rows of six points above the ankle are where the kidney vessel descends; this is called the greater surge. In all, these fifty-seven points are the yin network vessels of the viscera, the places where water lodges as a guest.

Huangdi asked: Why in spring does one needle the network vessels and the interstices between the flesh? Qibo replied: In spring, wood begins to govern and the liver qi begins to be generated; the liver qi is urgent and its wind swift, while the channels and vessels remain deep and their qi scant, unable to penetrate deeply—hence one needles the network vessels and the spaces between the flesh. Huangdi asked: Why in summer does one needle the abundant channels and the interstices of the skin? Qibo replied: In summer, fire begins to govern and the heart qi begins to grow; the vessels are slender and the qi weak, while yang qi lingers and overflows, its heat steaming the interstices and penetrating inward to the channels—hence one needles the abundant channels and the skin interstices, cutting through the skin so that the disease departs, for the pathogen dwells only shallowly. What is called the abundant channel is the yang vessel. Huangdi asked: Why in autumn does one needle the transport and connecting points of the channels? Qibo replied: In autumn, metal begins to govern; the lung is about to gather in and bring things to a close, metal is about to overcome fire, yang qi resides at the uniting points, and yin qi has just begun to prevail. Dampness reaches the body, but since yin qi is not yet abundant it cannot penetrate deeply—hence one selects the transport points to drain yin pathogens, and the uniting points to deplete yang pathogens; as yang qi begins to decline, one therefore selects the uniting points. Huangdi asked: Why in winter does one needle the well and spring points? Qibo replied: In winter, water begins to govern, the kidney is closing up, yang qi is diminished and weak, yin qi is firm and abundant, the great yang lies hidden and sunken, and the yang vessels have departed—hence one selects the well points to bring down rebellious yin, and the spring points to fortify yang qi. Thus it is said: needle the well and spring points in winter so that in spring there will be no nosebleed—this is what is meant.

Huangdi asked: Master, you have spoken of the fifty-nine points for treating heat disease; I have considered their meaning but have not yet been able to distinguish their locations. I wish to hear of their locations, and through that to hear their meaning. Qibo replied: The five rows of five points atop the head serve to disperse the rebellious heat of the various yang channels. The eight points of the great shuttle, the chest transport points, the empty basin, and the back transport points serve to drain the heat within the chest. The eight points of the qi thoroughfare, the leg three li, and the upper and lower great hollows serve to drain the heat within the stomach. The eight points of the cloud gate, the shoulder bone, the bend-middle, and the marrow hollow serve to drain the heat of the four limbs. The ten points flanking the five transport points of the five viscera serve to drain the heat of the five viscera. In all, these fifty-nine points are the points to either side that govern heat. Huangdi asked: When a person is injured by cold, and it is transmitted and transformed into heat, why is this? Qibo replied: When cold is abundant, it gives rise to heat.