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[Li Dongyuan said] The *Zhen Jing* (Classic of Acupuncture) states: When the pulse is sunken and depressed, moxibustion should be applied. There is nothing else in heaven and earth except Yin Qi and Yang Qi. Yang Qi is external and superior; Yin Qi is internal and inferior. What is now referred to as "sunken and depressed" means that Yang Qi has sunk and fallen into the Yin blood. This indicates that Yin has reversedly occupied the upper position and covered the Yang, with both pulse and symptoms manifesting. If cold pathogen is at the exterior, moxibustion should be applied. The *Su Wen: Yi Fa Fang Yi Lun* (Treatise on Different Methods and Regions) states: People in the North are suitable for moxibustion because winter cold is dominant. Yang Qi is latent within, and all such cases are suitable for moxibustion. Theoretically speaking, the Kidney governs storage, keeping Yang Qi inside; the three months of winter govern closure and storage, which is this principle. If there is excess, it leads to disease, and moxibustion is indeed indicated; this is when Yang fire falls into Yin water. The *Nan Jing* (Classic of Difficult Issues) states: For heat diseases located internally, select the Qi-acupoints of the Eight Hui points; because Yang has fallen into Yin, select acupoints that connect Yang Qi to Heaven, using fire to guide fire and direct it; this is also suitable for moxibustion. However, if one applies moxibustion indiscriminately to all conditions of excess, would this not be a mistake? Zhang Zhongjing stated: With a faint and rapid pulse, moxibustion must strictly be avoided. Because fire becomes a pathogen, it causes irritability and rebellion. Pursuing deficiency and chasing excess scatters blood within the vessels; although the fire energy is slight, its internal attack is powerful, scorching bones and injuring sinews, making blood difficult to restore. He further stated: When the pulse is floating, sweating should be used to resolve the exterior. If moxibustion is applied with fire, the pathogen has no way to exit, and due to fire, the condition intensifies. From the waist down, the body will become heavy and numb, named Fire Reversal (Huo Ni). If the pulse is floating with severe heat, but moxibustion is counterproductively applied, this constitutes an Excess pattern. Treating excess as deficiency, driven by fire, will inevitably cause dry throat and hemoptysis. He also stated: There are 365 acupoints on the body; thirty-six are harmful if moxibusted, and seventy-nine are disastrous if needled, as they may penetrate the Marrow. (From *Shanghan Li*, Chapter 30)

According to the *Ming Tang* and *Zhen Jing*, the contraindications listed under each item are clear. The *Nei Jing* states: Where the pulse manifests, there lies the pathogen. A sunken pulse indicates pathogen inside; a floating pulse indicates pathogen at the exterior. Physicians of the world only know the theory of pulses but ignore the contraindications of symptoms. If exterior Cold patterns appear, with sweating, frequent feeling of coldness, frequent shivering and chills, no thirst, desire to cover with thick clothing, constant aversion to cold, cold limbs, and dry/withered skin, the pulse will necessarily be deep, fine, and slow. If even one or two of these symptoms are present, moxibustion is suitable, because Yang Qi has sunk. Conversely, if there is body heat, aversion to heat, occasional restlessness, red or yellow complexion, dry throat/pharynx, dry mouth, yellow-red tongue coating, occasional thirst, and sore throat, these are Heat pathogens at the exterior. If even one or two of these symptoms are present, moxibustion is unsuitable. The pulse will necessarily be floating and rapid, or merely rapid without floating; moxibustion must not be applied, as disaster will arise immediately. If there is anosmia, runny nose, itchy eyelids, yawning or sneezing, and aversion to cold, the pulse will necessarily be deep, indicating correspondence between pulse and symptoms. Or if a wiry-tight pulse is felt lightly, this indicates Yin suppressing Yang blood; even with a red face, moxibustion is suitable, and one must not rigidly forbid it based solely on facial redness. Furthermore, for headache with aversion to cold, even with a red face, Fengfu (DU16) is suitable for moxibustion. If it is unilateral headache with greater aversion to wind, the pathogen is in the Shaoyang channel; Fengchi (GB20) is suitable, but Fengfu (DU16) should not be used. However, the moxa cone should not be large; size like a wheat grain, seven moxibustions, is sufficient. Too much moxibustion or large cones risks damaging the eyes. The *Nan Jing, Difficulty 45* asks: What are the Eight Hui Points? The answer is: Fu-Hui is Taicang (Zhongwan, CV12), Zang-Hui is Jixie, Jin-Hui is Yanglingquan (GB34), Sui-Hui is Juegu (Xuanzhong, GB39), Xue-Hui is Geshu (BL17), Gu-Hui is Dazhu (BL11), Mai-Hui is Taiyuan (LU9), Qi-Hui is outside the Sanjiao, one tendon between the two breasts (Shanzhong, CV17). For heat diseases internally, select the Qi-acupoints of the Hui points; Li Dongyuan has analyzed this. The *Nei Jing* states that for heat diseases internally, selecting Hui Qi-acupoints applies to all sunken cases, where moxibustion draws Yang from Yin via the back. Fu-Hui Taicanger refers to Zhongwan (CV12), the general term for Six Fu organs and Six Yang channels. Zang-Hui Jixie refers to the Front-Mu point of the Spleen, located between the lumbar/dorsal/abdominal Mu points, level with the umbilicus, representing the space between the Two Powers. For sinking of Yang in Zang-Fu, one selects the Spleen and Stomach, as all surplus in the ten thousand things originates from Earth. The Spleen is the general term for the Five Zang organs; the Dai Mai (Girdle Vessel) is the attached meridian of Spleen blood, also known by another name. Xue-Hui Geshu is on the upper back. Gu-Hui Dazhu is on the back. Sui-Hui Juegu (Juegu/Xuanzhong) is a bone name above the lateral malleolus, belonging to the Shaoyang division. Jin-Hui Yanglingquan is on the lateral side below the knee of the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder channel. Mai-Hui Taiyuan is the Cun-kou pulse of both wrists. Qi-Hui Shanzhong is between the two breasts. For heat diseases internally, taking the Hui Qi-acupoint means that since heat has sunk internally, one takes Baihui (DU20) to moxa and extend it. This is "moxa for sunken conditions," neither excessive nor insufficient. For diseases arising from the meridian itself or other pathogens, one treats according to the meridian. Fearing doubt among later learners, I clarify the principle again to prove it. Sunken means the skin and hair cannot withstand Wind-Cold, indicating Yang Qi sinking. The pulse will be fine, wiry, tight, small, or deep and choppy covering the surface, indicating Fire-Heat sinking. Even if the pulse is very rapid (8-9 beats per breath), if Yin pulse covers it from above, moxibustion can be applied. Yin pulse refers to fine, wiry, tight, small, deep, and choppy as described above. Touwei (ST8) is forbidden for moxibustion. Chengguang (EX-HN6) is forbidden. Naohu (DU17) is forbidden. Fengfu (DU16) is forbidden. (Unfortunate moxibustion causes aphonia.) Yimen (EX-HN7) is forbidden. (Moxibustion causes aphonia.) Ermen (TE21): If there is pus in the ear, do not moxa. Xiaguan (ST7): If there is dry cerumen in the ear, do not moxa. Renying (ST9) is forbidden. Sizhukong (SJ23) is forbidden. (Unfortunate moxibustion causes microphthalmia and blindness.) Chengqi (ST1) is forbidden. Jizhong (DU9) is forbidden. Bairian Shu (BL42) is forbidden. Ruzhong (RN17) is forbidden. Shimen (CV5) is forbidden for women. Qichong (ST30): Moxibustion prevents breathing. Yuanli (SI12) is forbidden. Jiutui (CV15) is forbidden. Yinshi (ST33) is forbidden. Yangguan (EX-B7) is forbidden. Tianfu (LU3) is forbidden. (Causes rebellious Qi.) Futu (ST32) is forbidden. Dihui Wu (Five Di-hui points) are forbidden. (Causes emaciation.) Maixin (Pulse prohibition point) is forbidden. Jingqu (LU8) is forbidden. (Damages Shen/Spirit).