黄帝问于少师曰。余闻人之生也。有刚有柔。有弱有强。有短有长。有阴有阳。愿闻其
方。
少师答曰。阴中有阴。阳中有阳。审之阴阳。刺之有方。得病所始。刺之有理。谨度病端。
与时相应。内合于五脏六腑。外合于筋骨皮肤。是故内有阴阳。在内者五脏为阴。六腑为阳
在外者筋骨为阴。皮肤为阳。
故曰。病在阴之阴者。刺阴之荣 。（阴之阴者。言五脏也）。荣者、火也。流者、荣也
一
穴中有三说。火者、气分也。浅也。阳分也。府之出入也。荣者、阴也。血也。肉也。藏也
当除刺此。 者。土也。注也。 也。亦一穴中三义三法。土者、气分也。浅者、阳分
也
腑之出入也。此天地气血交变之大要也。一言可以通千通万也。 者、阴也。血也。肉也
有形质也。谨当刺此。是为阴中之阴也。（以去藏病）。
病在阳之阳者。
（言六腑也。刺阳之合。）
阳之合者。通言六腑之中。各有所入。为此一穴。乃胃与癸肾也。只合浮取中胃也。用
药补以甘温。泻以苦寒。假令阳气下陷。入阴中，当推而扬之。
病在阳之阴者。
（筋与骨病也。刺阴之经。）
刺阴之经。若筋骨之邪。在何部分。谁家筋骨。病于何脏。各脏穴中有经穴。经者气也
肺主诸气。散入五脏为五经。洁古云。动而不休曰经。此天元之正气。生万物者也。
病在阴之阳者。刺络脉。
（阳之阳者。皮肤中见络脉是也。）
络脉者、奇邪也。在五脏部分者、为阴络。在六腑部分者、为阳络。缪刺论中说。交经
刺之。宜三棱针出血。是其法也。
病在阳者、命曰风。
此病在阳言者。十二经受风也。以高言、气分也。故身半以上。风中之也。用针当引而
去之。又曰。散而去之。用药以辛温法散。通因通用。又曰。热因热用是也。
病在阴者命曰痹。
身半以上。温中之也。痹论曰。饮食自倍。肠胃乃伤。得之饮食劳倦。脾胃气虚而下溜
运气营气不能升降经营心肺也。
阴阳俱病。命曰风痹（言阴阳气血俱病也）。病有形而痛者。阳之类也。无形
者阴之类也。其阳完而阴伤。急治其阴。无攻其阳。有形而痛者。阴完而阳伤。急治其阳。
无攻其阴。阴阳俱动。乍有形。乍无形。加以烦心。命曰阴胜其阳。此谓不表不里。其形不
久 （阴阳俱动。动者、火也。是阳之贼）。
解云。风寒伤形。忧恐忿怒伤气。气伤脏乃病脏。寒伤形乃应形。风伤筋、脉乃应。此
形气内外之相应也。久痹不去于身。视其血络。尽去其血。
Huangdi asked Shaoshi: I have heard that human constitutions vary; some are rigid, some flexible; some weak, some strong; some short, some tall; some Yin-predominant, some Yang-predominant. I wish to hear the principles and methods regarding this.
Shaoshi replied: Within Yin there is Yin, and within Yang there is Yang. By carefully examining the layers of Yin and Yang, acupuncture will have its method. By identifying the origin of the disease, needling will have its rationale. One must carefully assess the onset of the illness and align it with the timing of nature. Internally, the body corresponds to the Five Zang Organs (Zang organs) and Six Fu Organs (Fu organs); externally, it corresponds to sinews, bones, skin, and flesh. Therefore, there is Yin and Yang within: internally, the Five Zang Organs are Yin, and the Six Fu Organs are Yang; externally, sinews and bones are Yin, and skin and flesh are Yang.
Thus it is said: When the disease is in "Yin within Yin" (referring to the Five Zang Organs), one should needle the Ying-Spring points of the Yin meridians. (The term "Yin within Yin" refers to the Zang organs). The Ying-Spring point belongs to Fire, also pertains to the Qi level, is located superficially, belongs to the Yang level, and represents the entry and exit of Fu organ Qi. Regarding the Ying-Spring point, there are three interpretations within the acupoint theory: First, Ying-Spring belongs to Fire, governs the Qi level, is superficial, belongs to the Yang level, and is the entry/exit of Fu organs. Second, Ying-Spring belongs to Yin, governs Blood and Flesh, belongs to the Zang organs, and this location should be removed and needled. Third, Ying-Spring belongs to Earth, governs transmission, representing three meanings and methods within one acupoint. Earth governs the Qi level, is superficial, belongs to the Yang level, and is the entry/exit of Fu organs. This is a major principle of the interaction between Heaven and Earth's Qi and Blood; one statement can penetrate thousands of variations. Ying-Spring belongs to Yin, governs Blood and Flesh, has tangible substance, and should be carefully needled. This is what is called "Yin within Yin" (used to eliminate diseases of the Zang organs).
When the disease is in "Yang within Yang" (referring to the Six Fu Organs), one should needle the He-Sea points of the Yang meridians. (The term "Yang within Yang" refers to the Fu organs). The He-Sea point of Yang generally refers to the entry points within each of the Six Fu Organs; here it specifically refers to the Stomach meridian and the Kidney meridian (Gui/Kidney Water). One should only use superficial manipulation at Zhongwan (CV12). For herbal treatment, tonification uses Sweet-Warm herbs, while purgation uses Bitter-Cold herbs. If Yang Qi sinks into the Yin level, one should employ the method of "pushing and raising" it.
When the disease is in "Yang within Yin" (referring to sinews and bones), one should needle the Jing-River points of the Yin meridians. (The term "Yang within Yin" refers to pathological conditions of sinews and bones). When needling the Jing-River points of Yin meridians, if sinews and bones are affected by pathogenic factors, which part is involved? Which family of sinews and bones? Which Zang organ is diseased? Each Zang organ has Jing-River points among its acupoints. The Jing-River point relates to Qi. The Lung governs all Qi, dispersing into the Five Zang Organs to form the Five Meridians. Jiegu (Zhang Yuansu) stated: "Moving without rest is called Jing." This is the primordial Qi of Heaven and Earth, which generates all things.
When the disease is in "Yin within Yang" (referring to collateral vessels), one should needle the Luo-Collateral vessels. (The term "Yin within Yang" refers to visible collaterals within the skin). Collateral vessels belong to strange pathogens. Collaterals in the region of the Five Zang Organs are called Yin Collaterals; those in the region of the Six Fu Organs are called Yang Collaterals. The *Miao Ci Lun* (Treatise on Mysterious Pricking) states that one should prick meridians in a crossed manner, preferably using a three-edged needle to bleed; this is the method.
Diseases in the Yang level are named Wind syndromes. (This reference to disease in the Yang level refers to the twelve meridians being affected by Wind). From a high-level perspective, it pertains to the Qi level. Thus, the upper half of the body is prone to Wind invasion. In acupuncture, one should guide the pathogen outwards. It is also said to disperse it. Herbal treatment employs Acrid-Warm methods to disperse, following the principle of "treating obstruction with unblocking agents" (Tong Yin Tong Yong). It is also referred to as "treating heat with heat" (Re Yin Re Yong).
Diseases in the Yin level are named Bi syndromes (Painful Obstruction). (The lower half of the body is often affected by Dampness). The *Bi Lun* (Treatise on Bi Syndrome) states: "If food and drink intake doubles, the intestines and stomach will be injured." This results from improper diet and overexertion, leading to deficiency of Spleen and Stomach Qi sinking downward, preventing the Ascending and Descending movement of Transporting Qi and Nutritive Qi to manage the Heart and Lungs.
When both Yin and Yang are diseased, it is named Feng-Bi (Wind-Bi), meaning both Yin and Yang, Qi and Blood are diseased. Diseases with physical form and pain belong to the Yang category; those without physical form but with pain belong to the Yin category. If Yang is intact but Yin is injured, urgently treat Yin and do not attack Yang. If there is physical form and pain, indicating Yin is intact but Yang is injured, urgently treat Yang and do not attack Yin. If both Yin and Yang are agitated, alternating between having form and lacking form, accompanied by vexation, it is named Yin prevailing over Yang. This is called neither exterior nor interior, and such a condition will not last long. (Agitation in both Yin and Yang indicates Fire, which is the thief of Yang).
Annotation explains: Cold and Wind damage the Form; Worry, Fear, Anger, and Resentment damage Qi. Damage to Qi leads to Zang organ disease; damage to Form by Cold manifests in the Form. Wind damages sinews and pulses, corresponding accordingly. This is the correspondence between Form and Qi internally and externally. For chronic Bi syndrome that does not leave the body, observe the blood collaterals and remove all the stagnant blood.