A Discussion on Alternative Methods

The Yellow Emperor asked, "The purpose of medicine is to treat diseases. Each disease is treated differently, but why is it that all are cured?" Qi Bo's view of the Sun: It is due to the terrain. Therefore, the Eastern realm is the origin of heaven and earth. In this land of fish and salt, by the seaside and beside the water, the people there have a fondness for fish and salty food. They all enjoy their place and relish their food. Fish can warm up the middle of the body, and salt can improve blood quality. Therefore, people with this condition all have black and smooth pores. Their diseases are all abscesses and sores. For treatment, it is advisable to use stones. Therefore, those who criticize the stone also come from the East. The West is the realm of gold and jade, the place of sand and stones, and the convergence of heaven and earth. The local people's mausoleum is often windy, and the water and soil are just right. ① The original text below has a "unique vein", which has been held for a long time (deleted by Qianjin Yifang). ② Lower: (In Tai Su, it is written as "upper and lower".) ③ Pulse: (referred to as "pulse symptoms" in the Tai Su.) ④ "Bingye" (referred to as "bingneng" in the "Tai Su"). Moreover, when a person is strong, their people wear clothes but are exposed, and they eat rich food but are fat. Therefore, pathogenic factors cannot harm their bodies. Their diseases arise from within, and their treatment should be with poison. Therefore, even poisons come from the West. The north is the territory enclosed and hidden by heaven and earth. In other high-altitude residences, the wind is cold and icy. The local people enjoy living in the wild and milk and eat, which can cause illness due to cold storage. Moxibustion is suitable for their treatment. Therefore, those who practice moxibustion also come from the north. The south is the place where heaven and earth nourish and where Yang energy thrives. Underground, the soil and water are weak, and it is where fog and dew gather. The people there have a penile for sour food and consume it, so all of them develop a rosy complexion. For their diseases such as convulsions and numbness, micro-needle therapy is recommended for treatment. Therefore, the Nine Needles also came from the south. In the center, the ground is flat and moist, which is why the universe gives birth to all things. The people there have a diverse diet but do not work hard. Therefore, their diseases are mostly controlled by cold and fever. The treatment should focus on guiding and leading the body according to the new qi. Therefore, those who guide and follow the new principles also start from the center. Therefore, the sage combines various approaches to governance, each finding its proper place. Therefore, the reason why the treatment is different and all diseases are cured is to understand the general situation of the illness.