春夏刺者。皆先深而后浅。秋冬刺者。皆先浅而后深。凡补泻皆然。
凡补泻之法。皆如前也。若病入患热者。觉针气至病所。即退针三二分。令病患口中吸气。鼻
中出气。根据本
经生成数足。觉针下阴。气隆至。根据前法出针。若病患患寒者。觉针气至病所即进针至二三分。令
病患鼻中吸气。口中出气。根据本经生成数足。觉针下阳气隆至。根据前法出针。
黄帝针经云云。气盛则泻之。气虚则补之。以火补者。毋吹其火。须待自灭也。以火泻者。疾
吹其火。催其艾火灭也。
丁德用注难经云。其升、斗、秤、尺、四者。先正其尺。然后造其升斗秤两。皆以同身寸。为
以尺造斗。面阔一尺。庭阔七寸。高四寸。俱后三分可容十升。凡以木之脂脉全者。方一寸为两。
十六方为一斤。此制同身寸。尺升斗之度。为人之肠胃轻重长短之法也。洁古老人云。丁公注当。
黄帝明堂灸经有云。岐伯明堂经云。以八寸为尺。以五分为一寸。人缘有长短肥瘦不同。取穴不准
。秦时扁鹊明堂云。取男左女右。手中指第一节为一寸。为缘人有身长手短、手长身短。取穴不准
。唐时孙思邈明堂经云。取病患男左女右。大拇指节横纹为一寸。以意消详。巧拙在人。亦有差身。
今取男左女右手中指第二节内。度两横纹相去为一寸。自取此寸法。与人着灸疗病已来。多得获愈
。此法有准。今已为定矣。素问要旨论云。取灸之法。以从男左女右。以中指与大指相接。如环无
端。度中指上侧两横纹之际为一
寸也。
When performing acupuncture in spring and summer, one should first insert the needle deeply and then shallowly. When performing acupuncture in autumn and winter, one should first insert the needle shallowly and then deeply. This applies to both tonification (Bu, 补) and sedation (Xie, 泻) techniques.
The methods for tonification and sedation are as described above. If the patient suffers from a heat syndrome (Re Zheng, 热证), upon sensing that the needle Qi (Zhen Qi, 针气) has reached the affected area, withdraw the needle by two or three fen (fen, 分). Instruct the patient to inhale through the mouth and exhale through the nose. After completing the requisite number of manipulations based on the generating numbers of the meridian (Ben Jing Sheng Cheng Shu, 本经生成数), when a sensation of abundant Yin Qi (Yin Qi, 阴气) is felt under the needle, remove the needle according to the previously stated method. If the patient suffers from a cold syndrome (Han Zheng, 寒证), upon sensing that the needle Qi has reached the affected area, advance the needle by two or three fen. Instruct the patient to inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth. After completing the requisite number of manipulations based on the generating numbers of the meridian, when a sensation of abundant Yang Qi (Yang Qi, 阳气) is felt under the needle, remove the needle according to the previously stated method.
The *Huangdi Zhenjing* (Yellow Emperor's Classic of Acupuncture) states: "If Qi is excessive, use sedation; if Qi is deficient, use tonification." For fire tonification, do not blow on the moxa; wait for it to extinguish naturally. For fire sedation, blow rapidly on the moxa to hasten its extinction.
Ding Deyong, in his commentary on the *Nan Jing* (Classic of Difficult Issues), states: Regarding the four measuring instruments—the sheng (sheng, 升), dou (dou, 斗), cheng (cheng, 秤), and chi (chi, 尺)—one must first calibrate the chi. Then, the sheng, dou, cheng, and liang (liang, 两) can be manufactured. All measurements utilize the Tong Shen Cun (Tongshenchun, 同身寸 - body-inch). To construct a dou using the chi: the width at the top is one chi, the width at the bottom is seven cun, the height is four cun, and subtracting three fen from the rear allows it to hold exactly ten sheng. For wooden blocks with complete grain patterns, one square cun equals one liang, and sixteen square cun equal one jin (jin, 斤). This system of creating Tong Shen Cun, chi, sheng, and dou serves as a standard for the weight, lightness, length, and shortness of human intestines and stomachs. Jiegou Laoren (Zhang Yuansu, 张元素) stated: "Master Ding's commentary is correct."
The *Huangdi Mingtang Jiujing* (Yellow Emperor's Bright Hall Moxibustion Classic) cites the *Qibo Mingtang Jing*: "Use eight cun as one chi, and five fen as one cun." However, due to variations in people's height and build, acupoint selection may be inaccurate. Bian Que's *Mingtang Jing* from the Qin Dynasty stated: "For men, use the left hand; for women, use the right hand. The first segment of the middle finger constitutes one cun." Yet, because some individuals have long bodies with short hands, or short bodies with long hands, acupoint selection remains inaccurate. Sun Simiao's *Mingtang Jing* from the Tang Dynasty stated: "For patients, take the man's left hand or woman's right hand. The transverse crease of the thumb joint constitutes one cun." This requires careful deliberation; accuracy depends on the practitioner, and errors may occur. Currently, we take the distance between the two transverse creases on the inner side of the second segment of the middle finger of the man's left hand or woman's right hand as one cun. Since adopting this method of measuring cun for moxibustion treatment, most patients have recovered. This method provides precision and is now established as the standard. The *Suwen Yaozhi Lun* (Essential Principles of the Plain Questions) states: "For the moxibustion measurement method, join the middle finger and thumb of the man's left hand or woman's right hand into a ring without beginning or end. Measure the distance between the two transverse creases on the dorsal side of the middle finger as one cun."