法苑珠林 95.7

95.7

As stated in the Medical Sūtra Spoken by the Buddha: 'In the human body there are originally four diseases: first, earth; second, water; third, fire; fourth, wind. When wind increases, qi arises; when fire increases, heat arises; when water increases, cold arises; when earth increases, strength flourishes. Originally, four hundred and four diseases arise from these four diseases. Thus earth belongs to the body, water belongs to the mouth, fire belongs to the eyes, and wind belongs to the ears. When fire is scarce and cold is excessive, the eyes become dim. In the first, second, and third months of spring, cold is excessive. In the fourth, fifth, and sixth months of summer, wind is excessive (in the Western regions, summer has much wind and milder heat, slightly different from the Han lands). In the seventh, eighth, and ninth months of autumn, heat is excessive (in the Western regions, during this autumn time heat just begins to flourish, which is also different from the Han lands). In the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth months of winter, there are both wind and cold. Why is it that cold is excessive in spring? Because all things are born and emerge through cold, cold is excessive. Why is it that wind is excessive in summer? Because all things flourish and yin and yang harmonize and gather, wind is excessive. Why is it that heat is excessive in autumn? Because all things ripen, heat is excessive. Why is it that there are both wind and cold in winter? Because all things end and perish, and heat departs, there are wind and cold. In the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh months, one may lie down to sleep. Why? Because wind is excessive, the body is relaxed. In the eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, first, and second months, outside the proper time one should not lie down. Why? Because cold is excessive, the body contracts. Because there is cold in the three months of spring, one must not eat barley or beans; one should eat coarse rice, ghee, and various warm foods (for in the Western regions barley is cold, while coarse rice and the like are warm). Because there is wind in the three months of summer, one must not eat taro, beans, or barley; one should eat coarse rice and curd. Because there is heat in the three months of autumn, one must not eat coarse rice or ghee; one should eat fine rice, roasted flour, honey, nonglutinous rice, and millet. Because there are wind and cold in the three months of winter, when yang rises and yin conjoins, one should eat coarse rice, broad bean soup, and ghee. Sometimes upon lying down wind arises, and sometimes it subsides; sometimes upon lying down fire arises, and sometimes it subsides; sometimes cold arises, and sometimes it subsides. There are ten conditions under which a person contracts illness: first, sitting long without lying down; second, eating without moderation; third, grief and worry; fourth, extreme fatigue; fifth, licentiousness; sixth, anger and hatred; seventh, holding back defecation; eighth, holding back urination; ninth, suppressing upward wind; tenth, suppressing downward wind. From these ten conditions, illness arises. There are nine conditions under which one who is not yet destined to end his life meets with untimely death.'