内经谓形乐志苦。病生于血脉。其治宜灸刺。特用针灸之大略。然九针本从南方来。灸
本
故其治以灸刺为宜。用刺之节。已具在前。用灸之理。凡以温之。而若病有因寒而得。或
阴证多寒。或者风寒湿痹香港脚之病。或者上虚下实厥逆之疾。与夫劳伤痈疽。及妇人血气。
婴孺疳疾之属。并可用灸。亦有不可灸者。近髓之穴。阳证之病。不可灸也。凡有灸 。自
有补泻。以火补者。无吹其火。须其自灭。以火泻者。急吹其火。而令其灭。此灸之补泻也
在用灸者。以意消息。
黄帝问岐伯曰。余闻九针之名。上应天地四时阴阳。愿闻其方。传于后代。岐伯对曰。
九针者。一曰 针。二曰圆针。三曰 针。四曰锋针。五曰铍针。六曰员利针。七曰毫针。八曰
长针。九曰大针。此是九针之名。九针所应。一天、二地、三人、四时、五音、六律、七星
、八风、九野。人之身形。亦应之也。针各有所宜。人皮应天。人肉应地。人脉应人。人筋
应四时。人声应五音。人阴阳合气应六律。人齿面目应星。人出入气应风。人九窍三百六十
五络应九野。故一针皮。二针肉。三针脉。四针筋。五针骨。六针调阴阳。七针益精。八针
除风。九针通九窍除三百六十五节气。此之谓各有所主也。黄帝问曰。人生有形。不离阴阳
天地合气。其别为九野。分为四时。月有大小。日有短长。万物并至。不可胜量。虚实
吟。敢问其方。岐伯曰。木得金而伐。火得水而灭。土得木而达。金得火而缺。水得土而绝
万物尽然。不可胜竭。故针有悬布天下者五。黔首共余食。莫知之也。一曰治神。二曰知
养身。三曰知毒药为真。四曰制砭石大小。五曰知腑脏血气之诊。五法俱立。各有所先。今
末
响。随之者若影。道无鬼神。独来独往。黄帝曰。愿闻其道。岐伯曰。凡刺之真。必
先治神。五脏已定。九候已备。后乃存针。众脉不见。众凶弗闻。外内相得。无以形先。可
玩往来。乃施于人。人有虚实。五虚勿近。五实勿远。至其当发。间不容瞬。手动若务。针
耀而匀。静意视义。观适之变。是谓冥冥。莫知其形。见其乌乌。见其稷稷。从见其飞。不
知其谁。伏如横弩。起如发机。黄帝曰。何如而虚。何如而实。岐伯曰。刺虚者须其实。
刺实者须其虚。经气以至。慎守勿失。浅深在志。远近若一。如临深渊
The *Neijing* states: When the body is at ease but the mind is distressed, diseases arise in the blood vessels. The treatment is suitable for moxibustion and acupuncture. Here, the general principles of using acupuncture and moxibustion are briefly outlined. However, the Nine Needles originally came from the South, and moxibustion originally... therefore, treatment with moxibustion and acupuncture is appropriate. The rhythm of needling has been detailed previously. The principle of moxibustion is primarily to warm the body. If a disease is caused by cold, or if it is a Yin syndrome characterized by cold, or conditions such as wind-cold-damp bi syndrome, Hong Kong foot (podagra/gout), or disorders of upper deficiency and lower excess leading to jue-ni (reversal cold), as well as labor injuries, carbuncles and sores, women's blood and qi disorders, and infantile gan-ji (malnutrition/parasitic disease) types, moxibustion can be used. There are also cases where moxibustion is contraindicated. Acupoints close to the marrow and Yang syndrome diseases should not be moxaed. Whenever moxibustion is applied, there are naturally tonifying and sedating methods. For fire tonification, do not blow on the fire; let it extinguish itself. For fire sedation, blow urgently on the fire to make it extinguish quickly. This constitutes the tonification and sedation of moxibustion. When applying moxibustion, one must carefully consider and adjust according to the situation.
Huangdi asked Qibo: I have heard that the names of the Nine Needles correspond to Heaven, Earth, the Four Seasons, and Yin-Yang. I wish to hear their methods so they may be transmitted to future generations. Qibo replied: The Nine Needles are: first, Chan needle (Chanzhen); second, Yuan needle (Yuánzhēn, Round Needle); third, Di needle (Dīzhēn, Tip Needle); fourth, Feng needle (Fēngzhēn, Sharp-Edge Needle); fifth, Pi needle (Pīzhēn, Sword Needle); sixth, Yuanli needle (Yuánlìzhēn, Smooth-Sharp Needle); seventh, Hao needle (Háozhēn, Filiform Needle); eighth, Chang needle (Chángzhēn, Long Needle); ninth, Da needle (Dàzhēn, Large Needle). These are the names of the Nine Needles. The Nine Needles correspond to: One Heaven, Two Earth, Three Human, Four Seasons, Five Tones, Six Pitch-pipes, Seven Stars, Eight Winds, Nine Fields. The human body also corresponds to these. Each needle has its specific indications. Human skin corresponds to Heaven, flesh to Earth, vessels to Humans, tendons to the Four Seasons, voice to the Five Tones, the harmony of Yin and Qi to the Six Pitch-pipes, teeth and facial features to the Stars, respiration to Wind, and the nine orifices and 365 collaterals to the Nine Fields. Therefore, the first needle treats the skin, the second the flesh, the third the vessels, the fourth the tendons, the fifth the bones, the sixth regulates Yin and Yang, the seventh benefits Jing and Shen (Essence and Spirit), the eighth dispels wind, and the ninth opens the nine orifices and eliminates pathogenic factors from the 365 joints/qi pathways. This is called having specific dominions. Huangdi asked: Humans have form, inseparable from Yin and Yang. Heaven and Earth combine Qi, dividing into Nine Fields and Four Seasons. The moon has waxing and waning, days have short and long lengths. All things arrive together, incalculable. The changes of deficiency and excess cause sighs; I dare ask for the method. Qibo said: Wood is felled by Metal, Fire is extinguished by Water, Earth is penetrated by Wood, Metal is diminished by Fire, Water is blocked by Earth. All things are thus, inexhaustible. Therefore, there are five aspects of acupuncture that can be proclaimed to the world: Common people share food but do not know this truth. First is Zhi Shen (Regulating Spirit); second is knowing how to nourish the body; third is knowing the authenticity of drugs/poisons; fourth is making stone lancets (Bianshi) of various sizes; fifth is diagnosing the Zang-Fu organs and Blood-Qi. Once these five methods are established, each has its priority. Now... echo. Those who follow the Dao are like shadows following bodies. The Dao has no ghosts or gods; it comes and goes alone. Huangdi said: I wish to hear this Dao. Qibo said: The true essence of all needling requires first regulating the Spirit. After the state of the Five Zang organs is determined and the Nine Pulses are prepared, then one focuses on the needle. When abnormal pulses are not seen and ominous signs are not heard, when internal and external are harmonious, and before relying on physical forms, one can study the flow of Qi and then apply it to the person. People have deficiency and excess; avoid approaching Wu Xu (Five Deficiencies) and do not stay away from Wu Shi (Five Excesses). When the time to puncture arrives, not even a blink can be wasted. Hand movements should be focused, needles bright and steady. Quietly observe the meaning, watch for adaptive changes. This is called "Mingming" (Obscure/Subtle), where the form is unknown. You see it gathering, you see it abundant, like seeing birds fly, yet not knowing who they are. It lies still like a drawn crossbow, and rises like releasing the trigger. Huangdi asked: How is it deficiency? How is it excess? Qibo said: To needle deficiency, one must make it full; to needle excess, one must make it empty. When Jing Qi arrives, guard it carefully and do not lose it. Depth and distance depend on intent, unified as one. Like facing an abyss.