夫用针刺者，先明其孔穴，补虚泻实，送坚付濡，以急随缓，荣卫常行，勿失其理。夫
为针者，不离乎心，口如衔索，目欲内视，消息气血，不得妄行。针入一分，知天地之气。
针入二分，知呼吸出入，上下水火之气。针入三分，知四时五行、五脏六腑、顺逆之气。针
皮毛腠理者，勿伤肌肉。针肌肉者，勿伤筋脉。针筋脉者，勿伤骨髓。针骨髓者，勿伤诸络。
东方甲乙木，主人肝、胆、筋膜、魂。南方丙丁火，主人心、小肠、血脉、神。西方庚
辛金，主人肺、大肠、皮毛、魄。 北方壬癸水，主人肾、膀胱、骨髓、精、志。中央戊己
土，主人脾、胃、肌肉、意智。 针伤筋膜者，令人愕视失魂。 伤血脉者，令人烦乱失神。
伤皮毛者，令人上气失魄。
伤骨髓者，令人呻吟失志。 伤肌肉者，令人四肢不收失智。 此为五乱，因针所生。
若更失度者，有死之忧也。所谓针能杀生人，不能起死人，谓愚人妄针必死，不能起生人也。
又须审候与死人同状者，不可为医。与亡国同政者，不可为谋，虽圣智神人，不能活死人，
存亡国也。故曰∶危邦不入，乱邦不居。凡愚人贪利，不晓于治乱存亡，危身灭族，彼此俱
丧，亡国破家，亦医之道也。
凡用针之法，以补泻为先，呼吸应江汉，补泻校升斗，经纬有法则，阴阳不相干，震为
阳气始（火生于寅，）兑为阴气终（戊为土墓，）坎为太玄华（冬至之日夜半，一阳爻生。）
离为
太阳精（为中女之象，）欲补从卯南（补不足地户至巽为地虚，）欲泻从酉北（天门在干。）
针入
因日明（向寅至午，）针出随月光（从申向午，午为日月光之位，）如此思五行，气以调营卫，
用以将息之，是曰∶随身宝。 凡用锋针针者，除疾速也，先补五呼，刺入五分留十呼，刺
入一寸留二十呼，随师而将息之。刺急者，深纳而久留之。刺缓者，浅纳而疾发针。刺大者，
微出其血。刺滑者，疾发针浅纳而久留之。刺涩者，必得其脉，随其顺逆久留之，疾出之，
压其穴，勿出其血。诸小弱者，勿用大针，然气不足宜调以百药。余三针者，正中破痈坚、
瘤结、息肉也，亦治久疾也。火针亦用锋针，以油火烧之，务在猛热，不热即有损于人也。
隔日一报，三报之后，当脓水大出为佳。 巨阙、太仓、上下脘，此之一行有六穴，忌火针
也。大 块当停针转动须臾为佳。每针常须看脉，脉好乃下针，脉恶勿乱下针也。下针一宿
发热
When using acupuncture, one must first clarify the acupoints. Apply tonification (Bu, 补) for deficiency and sedation (Xie, 泻) for excess. Transform hardness into softness, and follow urgency with slowness. Ensure the flow of Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi) and Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) proceeds normally without violating its principles.
The practitioner must keep their mind focused on the needle and the point. Their mouth should be like holding a rope (speaking little), and their eyes should look inward to observe internal changes. They must adjust according to the fluctuations of Qi and Blood, never acting recklessly.
When the needle penetrates one fen (a unit of length), the practitioner should understand the influence of Heaven and Earth Qi.
When it penetrates two fen, they should understand the inhalation and exhalation of breath, as well as the ascending and descending Qi of Water and Fire.
When it penetrates three fen, they should understand the Four Seasons, Five Elements, Zang-Fu organs (Viscera and Bowels), and the smooth or adverse flow of Qi.
When needling the skin and interstices (Cou Li), do not damage the muscles.
When needling the muscles, do not damage the sinews and vessels.
When needling the sinews and vessels, do not damage the bone marrow.
When needling the bone marrow, do not damage the collateral vessels (Luo Mai).
The East corresponds to Jia and Yi Wood, governing the Liver, Gallbladder, sinews, and Hun (Ethereal Soul).
The South corresponds to Bing and Ding Fire, governing the Heart, Small Intestine, blood vessels, and Shen (Spirit).
The West corresponds to Geng and Xin Metal, governing the Lungs, Large Intestine, skin and hair, and Po (Corporeal Soul).
The North corresponds to Ren and Gui Water, governing the Kidneys, Bladder, bone marrow, Essence (Jing), and Zhi (Will).
The Center corresponds to Wu and Ji Earth, governing the Spleen, Stomach, muscles, and Yi (Intellect/Intent).
If needling damages the sinews, it causes people to stare in terror and lose their Hun.
If it damages the blood vessels, it causes restlessness and loss of Shen.
If it damages the skin, it causes upward rushing of Qi and loss of Po.
If it damages the bone marrow, it causes groaning and loss of Zhi.
If it damages the muscles, it causes flaccidity of the four limbs and loss of Yi.
These are called the "Five Disorders" caused by improper needling.
If further negligence occurs, there is the danger of death.
It is said that needles can kill living people but cannot revive the dead; this refers to fools who use needles recklessly, causing death rather than restoring life.
One must carefully examine cases presenting with symptoms identical to those of the deceased; such cases should not be treated. Similarly, just as one should not advise on governance akin to a fallen state, even a sage or divine person cannot revive the dead or restore a ruined nation.
Thus it is said: Do not enter a dangerous state; do not dwell in a chaotic state.
Fools driven by greed, unaware of the principles of order and chaos, survival and destruction, endanger themselves and their clans, leading to mutual ruin, national collapse, and family destruction. This is also a failure of medical practice.
In general, the method of needling prioritizes tonification and sedation. Respiration should correspond to the steady flow of rivers. The precision of tonification and sedation should be like measuring with sheng and dou units. Meridians have laws, and Yin and Yang Qi should not interfere with each other.
Zhen Trigram represents the beginning of Yang Qi (Fire arises in Yin month).
Dui Trigram represents the end of Yin Qi (Wu is the tomb of Earth).
Kan Trigram represents Tai Xuan Hua (At midnight on the Winter Solstice, one Yang line is born).
Li Trigram represents the essence of Great Sun (Image of the middle daughter).
For tonification, proceed from Mao South (Tonifying insufficiency from Di Hu [Earth Gate] to Xun, where Earth is deficient).
For sedation, proceed from You North (Tian Men [Heaven Gate] is in Qian).
Insert the needle during daylight hours (from Yin hour to Wu hour).
Withdraw the needle following the moonlight cycle (from Shen hour towards Wu hour; Wu hour is the position of both sun and moon light).
By contemplating the Five Elements in this manner, Qi is regulated to harmonize Ying and Wei Qi. Applying this knowledge for self-care is called: A Treasure Always at Hand.
When using Feng Zhen (Sharp Needle) to remove disease quickly: First apply tonification for five breaths. Insert to a depth of five fen and retain for ten breaths. Insert to a depth of one cun and retain for twenty breaths. Follow the master's guidance for aftercare.
For acute/tight conditions, insert deeply and retain for a long time.
For flaccid/relaxed conditions, insert shallowly and withdraw quickly.
For large/excess conditions, slightly bleed.
For slippery pulse conditions, withdraw quickly but insert shallowly and retain for a long time.
For choppy/stagnant pulse conditions, ensure you have obtained the Qi. Retain for a long time following the direction of the meridian (with or against the flow), then withdraw quickly and press the acupoint to prevent bleeding.
For small and weak pulses, do not use large needles; instead, Qi deficiency should be regulated with herbal medicines.
The other three types of needles (referring to Yuan Zhen, Di Zhen, Pi Zhen etc.) are used primarily to break open hard abscesses, tumors, nodules, and polyps, and also treat chronic diseases.
Huo Zhen (Fire Needle) also uses the Feng Zhen. It must be heated red-hot with oil fire. It must be extremely hot; if not hot enough, it will harm the patient.
Treatment should be repeated every other day. After three sessions, profuse discharge of pus and water is considered optimal.
Ju Que, Tai Cang, Shang Wan, and Xia Wan: These six acupoints in this row are contraindicated for Fire Needling.
When encountering large masses, stopping the needle and rotating it slightly for a moment is optimal.
Before every needle insertion, one must inspect the pulse. Only insert the needle if the pulse is favorable; do not insert recklessly if the pulse is unfavorable.
After inserting the needle, fever may persist for a night...