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Abdominal pain at the navel, drain the Water point of Foot-Shaoyin (Kidney Meridian). Pain in the interspinous region and behind the heart, needle Zhongzhu (TE3) for immediate recovery; pain under the ribs and along the costal margin, needle Yanglingquan (GB34) to stop it immediately. Head and neck pain, select Houxi (SI3) for peace; waist and leg pain, treat with Weizhong (BL40). For practitioners using acupuncture, if they understand these principles, the ability to achieve the effect of expelling evil depends on the skill of finger manipulation.

[Hai Zang] Pain in both hypochondriac regions, Qiuxu (GB40), the Yuan-Source point of Foot-Shaoyang (Gallbladder Meridian). Heart pain, Taixi (KI3) and Yongquan (KI1) of Foot-Shaoyin (Kidney Meridian), and the Yuan-Source point of Foot-Jueyin (Liver Meridian). Lower back pain, Kunlun (BL60) and bleeding from Weizhong (BL40). Panting, chest fullness, phlegm-solidity, feeling of glue in the mouth, Taixi (KI3) of Foot-Shaoyin (Kidney Meridian). Vomiting and hiccups without phlegm, Daling (PC7) of Hand-Jueyin (Pericardium Meridian). Uncontrollable high fever, bleeding from Xangu (GB41). Bone and joint pain with unknown cause, use a three-edged needle to bleed Juegu (GB39). Intestinal hernia, Taichong (LR3) of Foot-Jueyin (Liver Meridian). Persistent epistaxis, hematochezia, hematuria, and blood deficiency in women, prick the Jing-Well point of Foot-Taiyin (Spleen Meridian). Throat obstruction (Bi syndrome), Jing-Well points of Hand and Foot Shaoyang (Sanjiao and Gallbladder Meridians), Shaoshang (LU11), and Jing-Well points of Hand and Foot Taiyin (Lung and Spleen Meridians). Extreme restlessness and heat unceasing day and night, bleed between the ten fingers, known as "Ba Guan Da Ci" (Eight Passages Major Pricking). Intractable pain in the glans penis, sudden hernia pain, and pain in the female vagina, all treated by pricking the Jing-Well point of Foot-Jueyin (Liver Meridian). Severe eye pain, prick the Jing-Well point of Hand-Taiyang (Small Intestine Meridian). Ear pain, prick the Jing-Well point of Foot-Shaoyin (Kidney Meridian). Incurable bone heat with dry teeth, moxa the Hui-Meeting point of Bones, Dazhui (GV14).

Connecting Meridians (Hand and Foot meridians are the same): The Classic says: "If emaciation is fixed and unchanging, puncture according to the solar terms, ensuring the Twelve Meridians do not have interruptions." If any meridian among the Twelve Meridians is blocked, one should needle the stagnated areas, ensuring qi passes through the acupoints, regardless of the number of times, until balance is achieved. If all meridians are deficient, tonify the Twelve Meridians. If all meridians are excess, sedate the Twelve Meridians. Tonification follows the direction of qi flow to assist it; sedation opposes the direction of qi flow to deprive it. (Additionally, tonifying the Mother meridian also follows the flow to assist; sedating the Child meridian is called opposing the flow to deprive. Also, based on inhalation and exhalation, this is also called Ying-Sui.)

(The above Great Connecting Meridian method draws Yin from Yang and Yang from Yin, selecting the Jing-Well points of the Twelve Meridians. See also Acupuncture entries in the Stroke section.)

When the pulse is deep and invisible, this is the subtlety of needling: insert the needle and retain it for a long time to guide the pulse qi. If the pulse is superficial, do not needle directly; first block the pulse qi, then needle, ensuring essence does not leak out, only expelling the evil qi.

Painful conditions belong to Yin; pain where pressing with the hand finds no specific tender spot belongs to Yin, requiring deep needling. Itching belongs to Yang, requiring shallow needling. Diseases starting in the upper part belong to Yang; those in the lower part belong to Yin. If a disease originates in Yin first, treat Yin first, then Yang. If a disease originates in Yang first, treat Yang first, then Yin. Spring qi is in the hair and skin, Summer qi is in the skin, Autumn qi is in the muscle intervals, Winter qi is in the sinews and bones. These diseases determine needling depth according to the season. Therefore, for fat people, use the depth standard of Autumn/Winter; for thin people, use the depth standard of Spring/Summer.

[Na Jing] Why does it say to needle shallowly in Spring/Summer and deeply in Autumn/Winter? Answer: In Spring/Summer, Yang qi is superior, and human qi is also superior, so shallow extraction is appropriate. In Autumn/Winter, Yang qi is inferior, and human qi is also inferior, so deep extraction is appropriate. What does "Spring/Summer each achieves one Yin, Autumn/Winter each achieves one Yang" mean? Answer: In warm Spring/Summer, one must introduce one Yin: upon initial insertion, sink the needle to the Kidney/Liver level, obtain Deqi, hold it to draw Yin up. In cold Autumn/Winter, one must introduce one Yang: upon initial insertion, float the needle shallowly to the Heart/Lung level, obtain Deqi, push it inward to bring out Yang. This is called achieving one Yin in Spring/Summer and one Yang in Autumn/Winter. (Chapter 70)

[Li Dongyuan] When Yin disease appears in Yang, it refers to external wind-cold evil entering from outside due to internal deficiency, settling in the Back-Shu points of the Fu and Zang organs on the back. There are two theories regarding how humans receive external cold evil. Evil striking Yang flows into the meridians; this disease starts with external cold and ends with external heat. Thus, treating wind-cold evil involves treating the Back-Shu points of respective organs, not just wind-cold. Dampness, summerheat, dryness, and fire (Six Excesses) are evils received by the Five Zang organs, affecting sinews, bones, blood, and vessels, each cleared by their corresponding Back-Shu points on the back. Following Zhang Zhongjing's theory on Cold Damage, treatment for Eight Winds involves wind theory, for Summerheat it is the Small Intestine Shu on the back, for Dampness it is the Stomach Shu, for Dryness it is the Large Intestine Shu. These are all excess diseases of Six Excesses guest evils, treated by sedating the Back-Fu Shu points. If the disease persists and transforms, becoming deficient or excess, follow the transformation; if tonification/sedation is insufficient, only treat the Back-Fu Shu points.

Yang disease appearing in Yin implies drawing Yang from Yin; this is caused by cold/heat from food and drink harming the Six Fu organs. Furthermore, irregular diet and overwork cause Yin Fire to attack Kun Earth (Spleen/Stomach), preventing Grain Qi, Ying Qi, Clear Qi, Stomach Qi, and Yuan Qi from ascending to nourish the Yang Qi of the Six Fu organs. This results in the five Yang Qi being cut off externally first; external relates to Heaven, while qi sinks and lies dormant in Kun Earth Yin Fire. This stems from emotional injuries (joy, anger, sorrow, fear, worry) damaging the Five Thieves, followed by Stomach Qi stagnation, overwork, and dietary irregularities, injuring Yuan Qi. One should promote and elevate Yuan Qi from the He-Sea point of the Stomach, Zusanli (ST36). Hence, "Draw Yang from Yin." If Yuan Qi is severely deficient, treat the Front-Mu points of the Fu organs on the abdomen. If transmitted to the Five Zang organs causing obstruction of the Nine Orifices, treat the Front-Mu points of respective Zang organs on the abdomen according to the orifice symptoms. Hence, "Imbalance of Five Zang arises from closure of Yuan Qi in Six Fu organs." Also, "Disorder of Five Zang and obstruction of Nine Orifices arise from Qi deficiency and Yin excess." Hence, "Yang cannot overcome Yin." All treatments of abdominal Front-Mu points are for Yuan Qi deficiency, drawing Yang from Yin; do not err. Incorrectly tonifying or sedating the Shu points of the four extremities is wrong; incorrect sedation is even worse. According to Qibo, one should only select points on "Tian Shang" (Heaven Above), which refers to the back, the Back-Shu points of Five Zang and Six Fu organs. If one sedates when one should not, how can life be preserved? Reflecting on this chills the bone. If Six Excesses guest evils or upper heat/lower cold, or diseases of sinews, bones, skin, flesh, and blood vessels are incorrectly treated by selecting the He-Sea point of the Stomach or abdominal Front-Mu points, danger is certain. This is what Qibo calls a "lower-grade practitioner"; one must be cautious.