Lingshu · The Channel Sinews

The text

The sinew of foot taiyang starts at the little toe, knots above at the ankle, runs slantwise up and knots at the knee. Below, it follows the outer side of the foot, knots at the heel, follows the heel-bone upward, and knots at the hollow of the knee. Its divergence knots at the outer calf, rises along the inner edge of the hollow of the knee, joins what is in the hollow and rises to knot at the buttock, then flanks the spine and rises to the nape. Its branch diverges, enters, and knots at the root of the tongue. Its straight path knots at the occipital bone, rises over the head, descends the face, and knots at the nose. Its branch becomes the upper net of the eye and knots below at the cheekbone. Its branch, from the outer edge behind the armpit, knots at the shoulder. Its branch enters below, rises from the armpit, emerges at the empty basin, and knots above at the completed bone. Its branch emerges from the empty basin and runs slantwise up to emerge at the cheekbone. In illness: the little toe and the heel swell and ache; the hollow of the knee contracts; the spine bends backward; the nape sinews tighten; the shoulder will not lift; the armpit and the empty basin twist with pain, and one cannot sway left or right. Treat it with the fire-needle and swift piercing; take knowing as the count, and take the place of pain as the shu. It is called the mid-spring impediment. The sinew of foot shaoyang starts at the next toe after the little toe, knots above at the outer ankle, follows the outer edge of the shin, and knots at the outer edge of the knee. Its branch starts separately from the outer supporting bone and runs up the thigh. The forward path knots above the crouching rabbit; the rearward path knots at the sacrum. Its straight path rises over the lowest ribs, runs up the front edge of the armpit, ties to the breast, and knots at the empty basin. The straight path emerges above the armpit, pierces the empty basin, emerges ahead of taiyang, follows behind the ear, rises to the corner of the forehead, crosses the crown, runs down the jaw, and knots above at the cheekbone. Its branch knots at the canthus and becomes the outer stay. In illness: the next toe after the little toe cramps; it pulls the outer knee into cramp; the knee cannot bend or stretch; the sinews of the hollow of the knee tighten; in front it pulls the thigh, behind it pulls the sacrum; then rising over the lowest ribs there is pain; upward it pulls the empty basin, the breast, and the neck — the linking sinews tighten. From the left it goes to the right, and the right eye will not open. It passes over the right corner and travels with the qiao vessel; the left networks the right. Thus if the left corner is injured, the right foot is of no use. This is called the linking sinews crossing. Treat it with the fire-needle and swift piercing; take knowing as the count, and take the place of pain as the shu. It is called the early-spring impediment. The sinew of foot yangming starts at the middle three toes, knots on the instep, runs slantwise outward onto the supporting bone, knots above at the outer edge of the knee, goes straight up and knots at the pivot of the thigh, follows the flank, and belongs to the spine. Its straight path follows the shin-bone upward and knots at the knee. Its branch knots at the outer supporting bone and joins shaoyang. Its straight path follows the crouching rabbit upward, knots above at the thigh, gathers at the yin organs, rises over the abdomen and spreads to knot at the empty basin, rises the neck, flanks the mouth, joins at the cheekbone, knots below at the nose, and joins taiyang above. Taiyang is the upper net of the eye; yangming is the lower net of the eye. Its branch, from the cheek, knots in front of the ear. In illness: the middle toe and the shin cramp; the foot leaps and hardens; the crouching rabbit cramps; the front of the thigh swells; there is shan of the abdomen; the abdominal sinews tighten and pull the empty basin and the cheek; the mouth suddenly goes awry. When tight, the eyes will not close; when hot, the sinews slacken and the eyes will not open. If the cheek sinews have cold, they tighten and pull the cheek, shifting the mouth; if they have heat, the sinews slacken and cannot gather, so the mouth goes awry. Treat it with horse grease: grease the tight side; mix white liquor with cinnamon and smear the slack side; hook it with a mulberry hook; place fresh mulberry ash in a pit, high and low so that one sits level; iron the tight cheek with the grease, and drink good wine and eat good roast meat — those who do not drink wine must force themselves. Do this with three pressings, and it is enough. Treat it with the fire-needle and swift piercing; take knowing as the count, and take the place of pain as the shu. It is called the late-spring impediment. The sinew of foot taiyin starts at the inner side of the tip of the big toe, knots above at the inner ankle. Its straight path networks the inner supporting bone of the knee, follows the inner thigh, knots at the thigh, gathers at the yin organs, rises the abdomen, knots at the navel, follows the inner abdomen, knots at the ribs, and scatters in the chest. Its inner path attaches to the spine. In illness: the big toe and the inner ankle ache; there is cramping pain; the inner supporting bone of the knee aches; the inner thigh pulls the hip and aches; the yin organs twist with pain; downward it pulls the navel and both flanks; it pulls the chest and the inner spine. Treat it with the fire-needle and swift piercing; take knowing as the count, and take the place of pain as the shu. It is called the early-autumn impediment. The sinew of foot shaoyin starts beneath the little toe, joins the sinew of foot taiyin, runs slantwise below the inner ankle, knots at the heel with the sinew of taiyang, joins and knots above below the inner supporting bone, joins the sinew of taiyin and rises, follows the inner thigh, knots at the yin organs, follows the inner spine, flanks the muscles beside the spine, rises to the nape, knots at the occipital bone, and joins the sinew of foot taiyang. In illness: the sole cramps, and wherever it passes and knots there is pain and cramp. Illness here governs epilepsy, tugging, and tetany. If it is on the outer side, one cannot bow; if on the inner side, one cannot look up. Thus when yang is ill, the waist bends backward and one cannot bow; when yin is ill, one cannot look up. Treat it with the fire-needle and swift piercing; take knowing as the count, and take the place of pain as the shu. If it is inward, iron, draw, and drink medicine. When this sinew is snapped and twisted, and the twisting is severe, it is death, and there is no treating it. It is called the mid-autumn impediment. The sinew of foot jueyin starts on the big toe, knots above in front of the inner ankle, follows the shin upward, knots above below the inner supporting bone, follows the inner thigh, knots at the yin organs, and networks all the sinews. In illness: the big toe and the front of the inner ankle ache; the inner supporting bone aches; the inner thigh aches and cramps; the yin organs are of no use. Injured within, they will not rise; injured by cold, they shrink inward; injured by heat, they slacken and stand out and will not gather. Treat it by moving the water and clearing yin-qi. If the illness is cramp, treat it with the fire-needle and swift piercing; take knowing as the count, and take the place of pain as the shu. It is called the late-autumn impediment. The sinew of hand taiyang starts on the little finger, knots at the wrist, follows the inner edge of the arm, and knots behind the sharp bone inside the elbow — tap it and the sensation answers on the little finger — then enters and knots below the armpit. Its branch runs back along the rear edge of the armpit, winds around the shoulder blade, follows the neck, emerges ahead of taiyang, and knots behind the ear at the completed bone. Its branch enters the ear. The straight path emerges above the ear, knots below at the jaw, and belongs above to the outer canthus. In illness: the little finger and the rear edge of the sharp bone inside the elbow ache; following the yin of the arm it enters below the armpit; the armpit aches; the rear edge of the armpit aches; winding around the shoulder blade it pulls the neck and aches; it answers as ringing in the ear and pain pulling the jaw; the eyes dim and only after a long while can one see; if the neck sinews tighten, there is sinew-leak and swelling of the neck. If cold and heat are in the neck, treat it with the fire-needle and swift piercing; take knowing as the count, and take the place of pain as the shu. If there is swelling, return and sharpen it. The root branch rises to the curved tooth, follows in front of the ear, belongs to the outer canthus, rises the jaw, and knots at the corner. In illness: wherever it passes there is pulling and cramp. Treat it with the fire-needle and swift piercing; take knowing as the count, and take the place of pain as the shu. It is called the mid-summer impediment. The sinew of hand shaoyang starts at the tip of the next finger after the little finger, knots at the wrist, follows the arm upward, knots at the elbow, winds above around the outer edge of the upper arm, rises to the shoulder, runs to the neck, and joins hand taiyang. Its branch, at the curved cheek, enters and ties to the root of the tongue. Its branch rises to the curved tooth, follows in front of the ear, belongs to the outer canthus, rises over the jaw, and knots at the corner. In illness: wherever it passes there is pulling, cramp, and a rolled tongue. Treat it with the fire-needle and swift piercing; take knowing as the count, and take the place of pain as the shu. It is called the late-summer impediment. The sinew of hand yangming starts at the tip of the next finger after the thumb, knots at the wrist, follows the arm upward, knots above at the outer elbow, rises the upper arm, and knots at the shoulder. Its branch winds around the shoulder blade and flanks the spine. The straight path, from the shoulder, rises the neck. Its branch rises the cheek and knots at the cheekbone. The straight path emerges above, ahead of hand taiyang, rises to the left corner, networks the head, and descends the right jaw. In illness: wherever it passes there is pulling pain and cramp; the shoulder will not lift the neck; one cannot look left or right. Treat it with the fire-needle and swift piercing; take knowing as the count, and take the place of pain as the shu. It is called the early-summer impediment. The sinew of hand taiyin starts on the thumb, follows the finger upward, knots behind the thenar, travels the outer side of the inch-opening, follows the arm upward, knots in the elbow, rises the inner edge of the upper arm, enters below the armpit, emerges at the empty basin, knots at the front of the shoulder, knots above at the empty basin, knots below in the inner chest, scatters through the cardia, joins below the cardia and reaches the lowest flank. In illness: wherever it passes there is pulling and cramp; if the pain is severe it becomes rushing breath; the flanks tighten and one vomits blood. Treat it with the fire-needle and swift piercing; take knowing as the count, and take the place of pain as the shu. It is called the mid-winter impediment. The sinew of the hand heart-governor starts at the middle finger, travels with the sinew of taiyin, knots at the inner edge of the elbow, rises the yin of the arm, knots below the armpit, and scatters below, front and back, flanking the flanks. Its branch enters the armpit, scatters in the chest, and knots at the arm. In illness: wherever it passes there is pulling and cramp, and in front, chest pain and rushing breath. Treat it with the fire-needle and swift piercing; take knowing as the count, and take the place of pain as the shu. It is called the early-winter impediment. The sinew of hand shaoyin starts on the inner side of the little finger, knots at the sharp bone, knots above at the inner edge of the elbow, enters above at the armpit, crosses taiyin, flanks the inner breast, knots in the chest, follows the arm, and ties below at the navel. In illness: inward tightness, the heart bearing a hidden beam; below it becomes a net at the elbow. In illness: wherever it passes there is pulling, cramp, and sinew pain. Treat it with the fire-needle and swift piercing; take knowing as the count, and take the place of pain as the shu. If it becomes a hidden beam and one spits blood and pus, it is death, and there is no treating it. Illness of the channel sinews: cold, then backward-bending and sinews tight; heat, then sinews slacken and will not gather; the yin wilts and is of no use. When yang is tight, there is backward-bending; when yin is tight, one bows and will not stretch. Quench-needling is for cold tightness. When heat makes the sinews slacken and not gather, do not use the fire-needle. It is called the late-winter impediment. When the sinews of foot yangming and hand taiyang tighten, the mouth and eyes go awry. When the canthus is tight and one cannot look in haste, treat all as in the method above.

The line

The sinew of foot taiyang starts at the little toe, knots above at the ankle, runs slantwise up and knots at the knee. Below, it follows the outer side of the foot, knots at the heel, follows the heel-bone upward, and knots at the hollow of the knee.

The note

The sinews knot at the ankle, the knee, the heel. The channel sinews are the road that force travels — not the road the vessels travel. Cramp and backward-bending: first recognize where the sinew knots.