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The *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) states: For patients who are emaciated and where the pathogenic factor is fixed and unyielding, one should puncture according to the meridians and acupoints. In this way, the qi and blood of the twelve meridians will not be obstructed. If it is observed that the qi and blood in a specific meridian of the twelve meridians are not flowing smoothly, one should puncture the blocked meridian to clear the stagnation and allow the qi to pass through the acupoint segments. Regardless of the disease, as long as the qi and blood are balanced, recovery can be expected on schedule. If all meridians are deficient, apply the tonifying method; if all meridians are excess, apply the reducing method. The tonifying method should follow the direction of the meridian qi flow to assist the healthy qi (*Sui Er Ji Zhi*, "Following to Assist"). The reducing method should oppose the direction of the meridian qi flow to drain the pathogenic qi (*Ying Er Duo Zhi*, "Meeting to Deprive"). Furthermore, tonifying the Mother meridian is also called "Following to Assist," and reducing the Child meridian is also called "Meeting to Deprive." Additionally, coordinating needle insertion and withdrawal with respiration is also referred to as *Ying Sui* (Meeting and Following) manipulation.

For pain in both hypochondria, select Qiuxu (GB40), the Yuan-Source point of the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian. For lower back pain, select Kunlun (BL60) and Weizhong (BL40) for bloodletting. For incessant vomiting and hiccups, select Taichong (PC7), the Yuan-Source point of the Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian. For headache, select the Yuan-Source points of the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine and Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridians. For heart pain, select Taixi (KI3), the Yuan-Source point of the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian [Note: Text likely implies Kidney or other, but strictly translating text], Yongquan (KI1), the Jing-Well point of the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. For unremitting fever that cannot be stopped, select Xangu (ST43) for bloodletting. For wheezing, chest fullness, and acute excess conditions with a sticky sensation in the mouth like glue, select Taixi (KI3), the Yuan-Source point of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. For pain in all joints and unconsciousness/disorientation, use a three-edged needle to bleed at Jiegu (GB39). For persistent epistaxis, hematochezia, hematuria, or metrorrhagia in women, puncture the Jing-Well point of the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian. For throat obstruction (Bi), puncture the Jing-Well points of the Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao and Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridians, along with Shaoshang (LU11, Jing-Well of Hand-Taiyin Lung) and the Jing-Well points of the Hand-Taiyin Lung and Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridians. For incessant irritability and heat, day and night without limit, bleed between the ten fingers, known as the "Eight Passages Great Puncture" (Ba Guan Da Ci). For unbearable pain in the glans penis, sudden hernia pain, or pain in the female genitalia, all puncture the Jing-Well point of the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. For incurable bone-steaming heat and dryness of the anterior teeth, moxa should be applied to Dazhui (GV14) on the Governor Vessel. For small intestine hernia pain, select Taichong (LR3), the Yuan-Source point of the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. For eyes protruding as if about to fall out, perform the heavy "Eight Passages Great Puncture." For severe eye pain, puncture the Jing-Well point of the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian. For mild eye pain, puncture the Jing-Well point of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian. For heart pain: if the pulse is deep, select the Kidney Yuan-Source point; if wiry, the Liver Yuan-Source point; if choppy, the Lung Yuan-Source point; if floating, the Heart Yuan-Source point; if slow, the Spleen Yuan-Source point. For lower back pain: anterior body selects the Foot-Yangming Stomach Yuan-Source point; posterior body selects the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Yuan-Source point; lateral body selects the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Yuan-Source point. This is the essence of acupuncture.

Whenever moxibustion is used to treat illness and yields no effect throughout the four seasons, even if the number of moxa cones is sufficient, if the sore does not suppurate and ulcerate, the disease will not heal. If the sore does not suppurate and ulcerate, the disease cannot be cured. The *Jia Yi Jing* (Classical Book of Acupuncture and Moxibustion) states: For moxa sores that do not develop, use an old shoe sole, heat it, and apply it as a hot compress to the area. After three days, suppuration will occur, and the disease will naturally heal. Currently, use three to five stalks of red-skin scallions, remove the green tops, warm them in stove ashes, crush them, and apply as a hot compress to the moxa sore for more than ten times. The sore will spontaneously suppurate within three days, and healing will follow. Wang Shi in the *Zisheng Jing* (Aid to Life) says: I have seen cases where moxa sores did not develop; frequently soaking the area in raw sesame oil caused them to develop. Others used decoctions of Gleditsia sinensis (Zao Jiao) cooled down and frequently applied to cause development. Some, fearing deficiency of qi and blood prevented development, administered Siwu Tang (Four Substance Decoction) before and after moxibustion to nourish qi and blood. Generally, one cannot generalize. I once moxified bilateral Zusanli (ST36) with seven cones each. Several days later, they still had not developed. I added two cones to each. The right foot developed, but the left did not. I added one cone to the left foot, and then it developed. This relies on human wisdom to achieve results. If left to nature, it would never develop. This is where human effort must be exerted.

The *Weisheng Baojian* (Precious Mirror of Health) records: Qin Langzhong, Vice Commissioner of State Trust, aged forty-nine, suffered from cold pain in the umbilical and abdominal region, undigested food in stool, cold and inverted limbs, insensibility of the skin, and mental fatigue and weakness. His pulse was deep, fine, and faint. He was prescribed sweet, pungent, and greatly heating herbs. One hundred-plus cones were applied to Qihai (CV6), twenty-one cones to each Zusanli (ST36), and fourteen cones to each Yangfu (GB38). Three days later, scallion compresses were applied to the moxa sores, but they still did not develop. The previous points were moxicated again. Ten days later, no pus formed, and the sore mouths were dry. Initially, in the Guichou year, I studied acupuncture with Dou Zisheng. Dou pointed out the acupoints and said: When using needles, if qi does not arrive, there is no effect; moxibustion also fails to develop. Generally, this is due to emptiness of the root qi, inability to form pus, loss of its nourishment, leading to further depletion. It does not damage the pathogen; instead, the condition worsens, and the disease will certainly not recover. Later, speaking with Professor Hu of the Acupuncture Department, he agreed. In the spring of the Wuchen year, the Vice Commissioner was appointed Judge of Yidu Prefecture. Shortly after taking office, he contracted wind-disease causing half-body numbness, spontaneous sweating, aversion to wind, excessive laughter, delirious speech, and slight slurring. Physicians used Xuming Tang (Continuing Life Decoction) to induce sweating again, depleting body fluids further, and the symptoms worsened. He requested to return home for medical care. Over time, his spirit became confused, his body emaciated, he lost appetite, and suffered urinary and fecal incontinence, requiring support to stand. Many medicines were tried without effect. He then recalled the *Neijing*: "Yang qi is like the sun in the sky. If it loses its proper nourishment, lifespan is shortened and brilliance is obscured." Now, because of this illness, I understand Dou Zisheng's words. Someone asked: "The Vice Commissioner has abundant rich foods, comfortable clothing, and ample servants. Everything goes as he wishes. You say he lacks nourishment, why?" I replied: "You speak of nourishing the mouth and body. I speak of nourishing life and spirit. Moreover, Qin achieved success in his prime but did not know the correct way to nourish himself, seeking only mental gratification. This led to dissipation of spirit and emptiness of qi and blood, causing this disease." I also recalled the *Lingshu* (Spiritual Pivot): "At age ten, the five zang organs begin to stabilize, qi and blood flow freely, and qi is located below, so one likes to run. At twenty, qi and blood become vigorous, muscles grow, so one likes to walk briskly. At thirty, the five zang organs are fully set, muscles are firm, and blood vessels are full, so one likes to stand and walk. At forty, the five zang organs, six fu organs, and twelve meridians are in peak condition and stable, pores begin to loosen, luster declines, hair turns gray, stability is reached, so one likes to sit. At fifty, Liver qi begins to decline, the liver lobes thin, bile decreases, and vision dims. At sixty, Heart qi begins to decline, sorrow and grief increase, qi and blood become sluggish, so one likes to lie down. At seventy, Spleen qi is deficient, skin becomes dry. At eighty, Lung qi declines, Po and Hun separate, so speech is often erroneous. At ninety, Kidney qi is exhausted, organs wither, meridians are empty. At one hundred, all five zang organs are deficient, spirit and qi depart, leaving only the physical form until death." Spirit is limited, while desires are infinite. Neglecting life leads to loss, which is hard to restore. This describes someone like Qin.