Suwen · Different Methods, Each Place Its Own

The text

The Yellow Emperor asked: "When the physician treats illness, the same illness is treated in different ways, and all recover. Why is this?" Qi Bo replied: "The lay of the land makes it so. Thus the region of the east is where heaven and earth first give birth. It is a land of fish and salt, by the sea and beside the water. Its people eat fish and crave salt; they are at ease in their place and find their food beautiful. Fish makes heat in the center; salt overcomes the blood. So its people are dark of color and open of texture, and their illnesses are all boils and sores. Treatment is fitting with the bian-stone. Hence the bian-stone also came from the east. The west is a region of metal and jade, a place of sand and stone, where heaven and earth draw in and gather. Its people dwell among hills, and there is much wind; the water and soil are hard and strong. They wear little, and use coarse cloth and mats. They eat rich food and grow fat. Thus the pathogenic cannot injure the form; their illnesses are born from within. Treatment is fitting with strong medicines. Hence strong medicines also came from the west. The north is the region where heaven and earth close and store. The land is high, and people dwell among hills; wind and cold, ice and cutting frost. Its people take pleasure in the open country and live on milk. Cold stored within gives rise to illnesses of fullness. Treatment is fitting with moxa. Hence moxa also came from the north. The south is where heaven and earth nourish and grow, the place where yang is at its height. The land is low, water and soil are weak, and mist and dew gather. Its people crave the sour and eat fermented things; they are of tight texture and reddish color. Their illnesses are spasm and impediment. Treatment is fitting with the fine needle. Hence the nine needles also came from the south. The center is level and damp — it is how heaven and earth bring forth the many things. Its people eat mixed foods and do not labor; their illnesses are often wilting, reversal, cold and heat. Treatment is fitting with daoyin and pressing the limbs. Hence daoyin and pressing the limbs also came forth from the center. Thus the sage combines methods in treatment, and each finds what is fitting. So treatment differs, and the illness is healed in every case, because one has grasped the condition of the illness and knows the great pattern of treatment."

The line

Qi Bo replied: "The lay of the land makes it so.

The note

The same illness, treated in different ways, all recover. It is not that methods are casual; it is that the land differs. Salt of the east, stone of the west — first know the ground, then know the method.