本经原穴者。无经络逆从子母补泻。凡刺原穴。诊见动作来应手而纳针。吸则得气。无
令出
针。停而久留。气尽乃出。此拔原之法也。
假令针肝经病。于本经原穴针一针。如补肝经来。亦于本经原穴补一针。如泻肝经来。
亦于本经原穴泻一针。如余经有补泻。针毕仿此例。亦补泻各经原穴。
手太阴之原出于太渊。手少阴之原出于神门。手厥阴之原出于大陵。手太阳之原出于腕
骨。手
阳明之原出于合谷。手少阳之原出于阳池。足太阴之原出于太白。足少阴之原出于太溪。足
厥阴之原出于太冲。足太阳之原出于京骨。足阳明之原出于冲阳。足少阳之原出于丘墟。
凡此十二原穴。非泻子补母之法。虚实通用。故五脏六腑有病。皆取其原是也。
井主心下满。荣主身热。俞主体重节痛。经主喘嗽寒热。合主逆气而泄。
五脏六腑。各有井荣俞经合。腑为阳。脏为阴。阳主表。阴主里。故为阴阳荣卫相合。
其中
阴井乙木。阳井庚金。阴荣丁火。阳荣壬水。阴俞己土。阳俞甲木。阴经辛金。阳经丙火。
阴合癸水。阳合戊土。故阴阳俞荣而各不同。有配之法。名曰对刺。手之三阴。始于癸而终
于乙。手之三阳。始于庚而终于戊。足之三阳。始于戊而终于庚。足之三阴。始于乙而终
于癸。手之阴阳。阴逆阳顺。足之阴阳。阳逆阴顺。此阴阳逆顺。不可不知也。
The Yuan-Source points of the respective meridians do not involve the concepts of meridian reversal/compliance or the Five Shu points' mother-child tonification and sedation methods. When needling Yuan-Source points, one must palpate the pulse to detect movement; insert the needle when the sensation reaches the hand. Qi is obtained upon inhalation. Do not withdraw the needle immediately; retain it for a long time until the Qi circulation is complete before withdrawing. This is the method of "extracting from the Yuan" (Ba Yuan).
For example, when treating Liver Meridian diseases, needle the Yuan-Source point of the same meridian once. If tonifying the Liver Meridian, also use the tonification method on the Yuan-Source point of the same meridian; if sedating the Liver Meridian, also use the sedation method on the Yuan-Source point of the same meridian. If other meridians require tonification or sedation, follow this example after finishing the needling: apply tonification or sedation to the Yuan-Source points of each respective meridian.
The Yuan-Source point of the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian emerges at Taiyuan (LU-9). The Yuan-Source point of the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian emerges at Shenmen (HT-7). The Yuan-Source point of the Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian emerges at Daling (PC-7). The Yuan-Source point of the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian emerges at Wanggu (SI-4). The Yuan-Source point of the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian emerges at Hegu (LI-4). The Yuan-Source point of the Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian emerges at Yangchi (TE-4). The Yuan-Source point of the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian emerges at Taibai (SP-3). The Yuan-Source point of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian emerges at Taixi (KI-3). The Yuan-Source point of the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian emerges at Taichong (LR-3). The Yuan-Source point of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian emerges at Jinggu (BL-64). The Yuan-Source point of the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian emerges at Chongyang (ST-42). The Yuan-Source point of the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian emerges at Qiuxu (GB-40).
These twelve Yuan-Source points are not used for the method of sedating the child and tonifying the mother, but are applicable to both deficiency and excess conditions. Therefore, for diseases of the Zang and Fu organs, their respective Yuan-Source points are selected.
Jing-Well points govern fullness in the epigastrium; Ying-Spring points govern body heat; Shu-Stream points govern heaviness of the body and joint pain; Jing-River points govern asthma, cough, cold, and fever; He-Sea points govern rebellious Qi and diarrhea.
The Zang and Fu organs each have the Jing-Well, Ying-Spring, Shu-Stream, Jing-River, and He-Sea points. The Fu organs belong to Yang, and the Zang organs belong to Yin. Yang governs the exterior, and Yin governs the interior. Thus, Yin and Yang combine with Ying and Wei. Among them, Yin Jing-Well corresponds to Yi Wood, and Yang Jing-Well corresponds to Geng Metal; Yin Ying-Spring corresponds to Ding Fire, and Yang Ying-Spring corresponds to Ren Water; Yin Shu-Stream corresponds to Ji Earth, and Yang Shu-Stream corresponds to Jia Wood; Yin Jing-River corresponds to Xin Metal, and Yang Jing-River corresponds to Bing Fire; Yin He-Sea corresponds to Gui Water, and Yang He-Sea corresponds to Wu Earth. Therefore, the Shu-Stream and Ying-Spring points of Yin and Yang differ, having pairing methods known as "contrasting needling" (Dui Ci). The three Yin meridians of the hand begin with Gui and end with Yi; the three Yang meridians of the hand begin with Geng and end with Wu; the three Yang meridians of the foot begin with Wu and end with Geng; the three Yin meridians of the foot begin with Yi and end with Gui. In the hand, Yin meridians reverse and Yang meridians comply; in the foot, Yang meridians reverse and Yin meridians comply. These patterns of Yin-Yang reversal and compliance must be understood.