予问脉之理。果是气邪。果是血邪。答曰。气血之波澜。身体之 龠。此说特未契理。
脉者
、陌也。魂魄之生气。血之府也。天地之主。万物之宗。此说极有气味。吾尝拟此予问。经
之理果何意邪。答曰。气血经历之路也。故曰经。予问身寸之寸。拟何寸。答曰。以中指大
指相屈如环。内侧文两角为寸。各随大小取之。手太阴经起自肺何处邪。答曰。食入于胃。
输精于脾。播气于肺。此之谓也。问曰。周身之穴。各有两如补泻时。只刺病所。两
穴俱刺邪。答曰。
不然。随病左右而补泻之。左则左补泻。右则右补泻。问曰。何为络。答曰。
横者为络。络穴一十有五门。针经云。灸几壮。针讫而复灸。何也。答曰
针则针。灸则灸。若针而弗灸。若灸而弗针。问曰。荣卫之理。果何为也。答曰。难经云
血为荣。气为卫。荣行脉中。卫行脉外。问捻针之法。有左有右。何谓之有左。何谓之有
右。答曰。以大指次指相合。大指往上进。谓之左。大指往下退。谓之右。如内针时。须索
一左一右。
针。平半寸。长一寸六分。头大末锐。其病热在头身者宜此。圆针。其身圆。锋如卵
形。
长一寸六分。肉气满宜此。 针。其锋如黍粟之锐。长三寸五分。脉气虚眇宜此。锋针。
其刃三隅。长一寸六分。泻热出血。发泄痼病宜此。铍针。一名破针。末如剑锋。广二寸半
长四寸。破痈肿出脓血。员利针。尖如 。且员且利。中身微大。长一寸六分。调阴阳
去暴痹。毫针。法象毫。尖如蚊虻喙。长三寸六分。调经络。去疾病。长针。锋如利。长
七寸。痹深居骨解腰脊节腠之间者。宜此。燔针。一名淬针。长四寸。风虚舍于骨解皮肤之
间者。宜此。
I asked about the principles of pulse diagnosis. Is it truly an evil qi (vital energy) or an evil blood? The reply was: The undulations of qi and blood, and the body as a bellows (yue). This statement is particularly inconsistent with medical principles.
The pulse (mai) implies "fullness" and "path". It is the gathering place of the vital energy of the soul and spirit, the mansion of blood, the master of heaven and earth, and the ancestor of all things. This statement carries profound meaning. I once pondered my question: What is the true meaning of the principles of the meridians? The reply was: They are the pathways through which qi and blood travel; hence they are called meridians (jing).
I asked: Regarding the "cun" (inch) measurement on the human body, what does it correspond to? The reply was: By bending the middle joint of the middle finger and the tip of the thumb into a ring, the distance between the two inner corners of the skin creases constitutes one cun. This should be taken according to the individual's size. Where does the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin originate in the lungs? The reply was: Food enters the stomach, essence is transported to the Spleen, and dispersed qi reaches the Lungs. This refers to that process.
Question: The acupoints throughout the body exist in pairs on both sides. When performing tonification and sedation techniques, do we only needle the affected side, or do we needle both acupoints? The reply was: Not so. One must perform tonification and sedation according to the location of the disease. If the disease is on the left, perform tonification and sedation on the left; if on the right, perform them on the right.
Question: What is a collateral vessel (luo)? The reply was: Those that run horizontally are collaterals. There are fifteen collateral acupoints. The Classic of Acupuncture states: "How many moxibustion cones? Why needle first and then moxa?" The reply was: Needle when appropriate, moxa when appropriate. To needle without moxa, or to moxa without needle, is incomplete.
Question: What is the principle of Ying (Nutrient) and Wei (Defensive) qi? The reply was: The Classic of Difficult Issues states: Blood is Ying, Qi is Wei. Ying circulates within the vessels, while Wei circulates outside the vessels.
Question: Regarding the technique of rotating the needle, there are left and right rotations. What is meant by left rotation? What is meant by right rotation? The reply was: By joining the thumb and index finger, pushing the thumb upward is called left rotation; withdrawing the thumb downward is called right rotation. When inserting the needle, one must alternate between left and right rotations.
Among the Nine Needles, the Di Needle (Di Zhen) has a flat head, is half-cun thick, and one cun six fen long, with a large head and sharp tip. It is suitable for heat conditions in the head and body. The Yuan Needle (Yuan Zhen) has a round body and a blunt, egg-shaped tip, one cun six fen long. It is suitable for areas full of flesh and qi. The Chan Needle (Chan Zhen) has a tip as sharp as millet grains, three cun five fen long. It is suitable for conditions where meridian qi is weak and faint. The Feng Needle (Feng Zhen) has a blade with three edges, one cun six fen long. It is used to drain heat and release blood, and to expel entrenched diseases. The Pi Needle (Pi Zhen), also known as the Po Needle, has a tip like a sword edge, two cun five fen wide and four cun long. It is used to lance abscesses and discharge pus and blood. The Yuanli Needle (Yuanli Zhen) has a tip like an arrowhead, being both round and sharp, with a slightly thicker middle section, one cun six fen long. It is used to harmonize Yin and Yang and remove acute bi-syndrome. The Hao Needle (Hao Zhen) is modeled after fine hairs, with a tip as sharp as a mosquito or midge proboscis, three cun six fen long. It is used to regulate meridians and eliminate diseases. The Chang Needle (Chang Zhen) has a sharp tip and is seven cun long. It is suitable for deep-seated bi-syndrome located between bone joints, lumbar spine, and interstices. The Fan Needle (Fan Zhen), also known as the Cui Needle, is four cun long. It is suitable for wind deficiency lodged between bone joints and skin.