Question: Why is it said that when the pulse disappears and enters the viscera, death occurs, but when it enters the bowels, recovery follows? The Master said: This is not just for one disease, but applies to all diseases. For example, yellow-water sore (impetigo), if it starts from the mouth and spreads to the limbs, it can be treated; if it starts from the limbs and flows back to the mouth, it cannot be treated. Diseases that are external can be treated, but if they penetrate internally, death ensues.

bubble_chart Note

This elaborates on the meaning of entering the viscera leading to death and entering the bowels leading to recovery. Sudden collapse diseases often involve the disappearance of the pulse, and if the pulse disappears and does not return, it indicates that the healthy qi does not return; if the pulse disappears and then reappears, it indicates that the pathogenic qi was blocked and then reopened. This is not only true for collapse diseases but for all diseases that enter the viscera or bowels. For example, leprosy sores that start from the mouth and spread to the limbs can be treated; those that start from the limbs and flow back to the mouth cannot be treated. Generally, diseases that move outward can be treated; those that move inward are difficult to cure, which is the same principle.

bubble_chart Collected Annotations

• Zhao Liang said: Disappearance means departure, Jingmai is the pathway of the viscera and bowels, and when pressured by pathogenic qi, the qi collapses and the pulse disappears, entering internally. The five viscera are yin, and the six bowels are yang; yin governs death and yang governs life, hence entering the viscera leads to death, and entering the bowels leads to recovery and treatment. This is not only due to the yin-yang of the viscera and bowels but also applies to all internal and external yin-yang pathogenic toxins that move between the exterior and interior.
• Xu Bin said: Any disease where the pathogenic factor can exit to the yang is shallow, hence life; if it is confined to yin and does not exit, it is deep, hence death. This is not limited to one disease but applies to all diseases. Again, using yellow-water sore (impetigo) as an example, if it starts from the mouth and spreads to the limbs, it means the pathogen is emitted from the inside to the outside, discharging and not advancing, hence it can be treated; if it starts from the limbs and flows back to the mouth, it means the pathogen is entering from the outside to the inside, advancing and not discharging, which damages the visceral qi, hence it cannot be treated.