Understanding Seasonal Energies and Acupuncture Treatment in TCM

The Yellow Emperor said: “All diseases occur due to the invasion of external pathogenic factors such as dryness, dampness, cold, heat, wind, and rain, as well as internal factors like excessive labor, emotional disturbances from joy, anger, and other unregulated feelings, or improper habits of diet and lifestyle. After the invasion of pathogenic energy, when it clashes with the body’s vital energy, various pathological conditions emerge. Each organ, when affected by pathogenic factors, has its specific disease name, and I am already aware of these conditions. Many patients experience relief in the morning, feeling mentally clear and more stable during the day. However, as evening approaches, their symptoms worsen, and by night, the disease reaches its peak. What is the reason behind this?”

Qi Bo replied: “This is caused by the seasonal changes in the weather throughout the year.”

The Yellow Emperor said: “I would like to hear your explanation of the seasonal energies.”

Qi Bo explained: “In spring, the Yang energy begins to rise; in summer, it reaches its peak; in autumn, it begins to contract; and in winter, it withdraws and stores. This is the general rule of the seasonal energy changes, and the Yang energy in the body follows this same pattern. If we divide the day into four parts, morning corresponds to spring, noon to summer, evening to autumn, and midnight to winter. In the morning, the Yang energy of the body begins to rise, and the pathogenic factors begin to recede, making the patient feel mentally refreshed. At noon, the Yang energy increases, and the body’s vital energy overcomes the pathogenic factors, resulting in a calmer state. In the evening, as the Yang energy starts to contract, the pathogenic factors begin to intensify, leading to a worsening of symptoms. At midnight, the Yang energy is deeply stored within, leaving the body vulnerable to the pathogenic factors, which is when the disease reaches its most severe stage.”

The Yellow Emperor asked: “Why does the pattern of morning improvement, daytime stability, evening worsening, and night peak sometimes not occur?”

Qi Bo replied: “This happens when the disease does not follow the natural rhythm of the four seasonal energies but is instead determined by the internal organs’ specific impact on the disease. Such diseases will worsen when the affected organ is overpowered by time, while they will improve if the organ can control the disease over time.”

The Yellow Emperor asked: “How should treatment be applied in such cases?”

Qi Bo replied: “In treatment, we should consider the seasonal time and the relationship between the affected organ and the five elements. By tonifying or dispersing energies according to these principles, we can prevent the organ from being excessively overpowered by the seasonal energy. This approach will lead to a predictable recovery. A skilled doctor will follow these principles, while a careless doctor will fail to do so.”

The Yellow Emperor said: “I have heard that acupuncture techniques are based on the five transformations, which determine the choice of the Jing, Ying, Shu, Jing, and He points. Please explain the principles behind this.”

Qi Bo replied: “The human body has five internal organs, each corresponding to five colors, times, days, sounds, and tastes. Each of these transformations is associated with one of the five acupoint categories: Jing, Ying, Shu, Jing, and He. These transformations multiply, leading to a total of twenty-five acupoints, which are further associated with the five seasons.”

The Yellow Emperor asked: “Could you explain what the ‘Five Transformations’ are?”

Qi Bo replied: “The liver belongs to wood and is the minor Yang within the Yin, so it is called the male organ. Its color is green, its time is spring, its day is Jia and Yi, its sound is Jiao, and its taste is sour. The heart belongs to fire and is the major Yang within the Yang, so it is called the male organ. Its color is red, its time is summer, its day is Bing and Ding, its sound is Zhi, and its taste is bitter. The spleen belongs to earth and is the extreme Yin within the Yin, so it is called the female organ. Its color is yellow, its time is late summer, its day is Wu and Ji, its sound is Gong, and its taste is sweet. The lungs belong to metal and are the minor Yin within the Yang, so they are called the female organ. Their color is white, their time is autumn, their day is Geng and Xin, their sound is Shang, and their taste is pungent. The kidneys belong to water and are the extreme Yin within the Yin, so they are called the female organ. Their color is black, their time is winter, their day is Ren and Gui, their sound is Yu, and their taste is salty. This is the Five Transformations.”

The Yellow Emperor asked: “How are the Five Transformations related to the Five Shu points?”

Qi Bo replied: “The five organs dominate the winter, and the winter season corresponds to the Jing point. The five colors dominate spring, and the spring season corresponds to the Ying point. The five times dominate summer, and the summer season corresponds to the Shu point. The five sounds dominate late summer, and the late summer corresponds to the Jing point. The five tastes dominate autumn, and the autumn corresponds to the He point. This is how the Five Transformations correspond to the Five Shu points.”

The Yellow Emperor asked: “How do the original points of the six fu organs correspond to the six Shu points?”

Qi Bo replied: “Only the original points do not correspond directly with the five seasons; they are classified as Jing points instead, so that we can fit the five seasonal energies and the six Shu points, which gives us a total of thirty-six acupoints.”

The Yellow Emperor asked: “What does it mean that the organs dominate winter, the times dominate summer, the sounds dominate late summer, the tastes dominate autumn, and the colors dominate spring? I want to understand the reasoning behind this.”

Qi Bo replied: “When the pathogenic energy invades the organ deeply, the treatment should focus on the Jing point. When the disease manifests as a change in complexion, the Ying point should be used for treatment. When the disease fluctuates between light and severe, the Shu point should be used. If the disease affects the voice, the Jing point should be used. If the disease causes blood stasis in the Yangming stomach or is caused by dietary indiscretions, the He point should be used. This is how the Five Transformations manifest, and the corresponding acupuncture treatment follows these patterns.”