明堂下经云。古来灸病。忌松柏枳 榆枣桑竹八木。切宜避之。有大珠曜日。以艾承之
得火
有此火镜曜日。亦以艾引得火。此火皆良。诸番部落。用镔铁击KT 石。得火出以艾引之。
凡人卒难备。即不如无木火青麻油点灯。灯上烧艾茎点灸是也。兼滋润灸疮至愈不疼痛。用
蜡烛更佳。良方云。凡取火者。宜敲石取火(今舟行人以铁钝刀击石。先以纸灰为火。纸在
下承之亦得火)。或用水晶镜。于日得太阳火为妙。太阴则以槐木取火。
凡下火点灸。欲令艾炷根下亦辉广三分。若不三分。孔穴不中。不合经络。缘荣卫经脉
气血通流。各有所主。灸穴不中。即火气不能远达。而病未能愈也。
凡灸头与四肢。皆不令多灸。缘人身有三百六十五络。皆归于头。头者。诸阳之会也。
若灸
多。令人头旋目眩。远视不明。缘头与四肢肌肉薄。若并灸。则气血滞绝于注下。宜歇火气
少时。令气血遂通。再使火气流行。候主数足。自然除病。宜详察之。
古来用灸病。忌八般木火。切宜避之。八木者。松木火难瘥增病。柏木火伤神多汗。竹
木火
伤筋目暗。榆木火伤骨失志。桑木火伤肉肉枯。枣木火内伤吐血。柘木火大伤气脉。橘木火
伤荣卫经络。
凡灸发际。如是患人有发际正齐。根据明堂所说。易取其穴。如是患人先因疾患。后脱落
尽发
际。或本人额项无发。难凭取穴。今定患人两眉中心直上三寸为发际。后取大椎直上三寸为
发际。以此为准。明堂上经云。如后发际亦有项脚长者。其毛直至骨头。亦有无项脚者。毛
齐至天牖穴。即无毛根。如何取穴。答曰。其毛不可辄定。大约如此。若的的定风府正相当
即测量相去各二寸。此为定穴。
The *Mingtang Xiajing* (Lower Classic of the Acupuncture Mounds) records: Since ancient times, when using moxibustion to treat diseases, it is taboo to use firewood from eight types of trees: pine (*Pinus*), cypress (*Cupressus*), zhi (*Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa*), elm (*Ulmus*), jujube (*Ziziphus jujuba*), mulberry (*Morus*), bamboo (*Bambusoideae*), and others. One must strictly avoid these. There is a tool called "Da Zhu Yang Ri" (Great Pearl Reflecting the Sun); placing mugwort (*Artemisia argyi*) beneath it can ignite fire. Similarly, using a fire mirror to reflect sunlight can also ignite mugwort. These methods are all excellent. Various ethnic tribes use bin-tie (wrought iron) to strike kong-shi (flint), producing sparks which are then used to ignite mugwort. Ordinary people find it difficult to prepare such tools; therefore, it is better not to use wood fire, but rather to light a lamp with green hemp oil, burn the stem of mugwort on the lamp flame for point-moxibustion. This method moistens the moxa sore until it heals without pain. Using candles is even better. The *Liangfang* (Good Prescriptions) records: Whenever obtaining fire, one should strike stone to get fire (today, boatmen use a dull iron knife to strike stone, first creating fire in paper ash, with paper underneath to catch the spark). Or, use a crystal mirror to obtain solar fire under the sun, which is optimal. On cloudy days, one should use locust wood (*Robinia pseudoacacia*) to generate fire by friction.
When applying moxibustion, the base of the moxa cone should spread approximately three *cun* (Chinese inches) wide. If it does not reach this width, the acupoint will be inaccurate and not align with the meridians. This is because the flow of Ying-Wei (Nutritive and Defensive) Qi and Blood through the meridians has specific governing areas. If the moxa point is inaccurate, the heat energy cannot reach far enough, and the disease will not be cured.
When treating the head and four limbs, one should not apply excessive moxibustion. This is because the human body has 365 collaterals that all converge at the head, which is the meeting place of all Yang meridians. Excessive moxibustion here can cause dizziness, vertigo, and blurred vision. Since the muscles of the head and limbs are thin, simultaneous extensive moxibustion can cause stagnation and blockage of Qi and Blood. It is advisable to pause the application of heat for a short time to allow Qi and Blood to circulate freely again, then resume until the prescribed number of cones is completed. The disease will naturally be eliminated. This requires careful observation.
Since ancient times, eight types of wood fires have been taboo for moxibustion and must be avoided. Among these eight woods: Pine fire leads to non-healing and worsening of symptoms; Cypress fire damages the Spirit (*Shen*) and causes excessive sweating; Bamboo fire damages tendons and causes dim vision; Elm fire damages bones and leads to loss of will; Mulberry fire damages flesh causing emaciation; Jujube fire causes internal injury and hematemesis (vomiting blood); Zhe wood fire severely damages Qi and vessels; Orange wood fire damages Ying-Wei (Nutritive and Defensive) systems and meridians.
When treating the hairline: If the patient has a regular hairline, acupoints can be easily selected according to the *Mingtang*. However, if the patient lost their hair due to illness or was born without hair on the forehead or neck, it is difficult to rely on the hairline for point location. Currently, it is determined that the hairline is located three *cun* vertically above the midpoint between the two eyebrows. Posteriorly, the hairline is three *cun* vertically above the Dazhui (*GV14*) acupoint. This serves as the standard. The *Mingtang Shangjing* (Upper Classic of the Acupuncture Mounds) notes: Some individuals have long napes where hair grows down to the bone, while others lack a nape entirely, with hair ending level with the Tianyou (*TE16*) acupoint, having no root. How should points be located? The answer is: Hair growth cannot be rigidly fixed as a standard. Generally, it is so. If the Fengfu (*GV16*) acupoint position is confirmed, measure two *cun* distance from it; this determines the point.