What is meant by the term "calamity and anomaly" in illness? It refers to situations where a patient should experience cold but instead experiences heat, should experience heat but instead experiences cold, should vomit but does not, should have diarrhea but does not, should sweat but does not, should speak but does not, should sleep but suffers from insomnia, should drink water but does not, all of which are considered calamity and anomaly.

This is due to the qi of the five zang organs not following their proper course. Cases of "four reversals" are incurable. "Four reversals" refers to situations where both the dominant and subordinate qi fail to operate in their proper seasons.