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Methods of salvation. The subtle application lies in acupuncture. Observe the heavenly way to ascertain the seasons and years. Determine the constitution and qi within one's own mind. In spring and summer, when the body is lean, needling should be shallow. In autumn and winter, when the body is fat, needling should be deep.

If one does not exhaustively investigate the yin and yang of the meridians, one will often encounter needle prohibitions. Having discussed the deficiency and excess of the zang-fu organs, one must seek along the meridians. Originally, qi originates from the middle jiao (middle burner), flowing down like water leaking from a vessel. It begins with the Taiyin Lung Meridian and concludes with the Jueyin Liver Meridian. Acupoints emerge from Yunmen (LU-2) and reach their end at Qimen (LR-14). There are twelve regular meridians and over three hundred collateral branches. Depending on upright, supine, prone, or lateral positions, there are over six hundred qi observation points. The hand-yang meridians travel from the hands to the head, and from the head to the feet. The foot-yin meridians travel from the feet to the abdomen, and from the chest to the hands. To understand Ying-Sui (following and opposing) techniques, one must clarify reverse and forward directions.

Moreover, the abundance and scarcity of yin and yang qi and blood are paramount. The Jueyin and Taiyang meridians have little qi and much blood. The Taiyin and Shaoyin meridians have little blood and much qi. As for those with much qi and little blood, this is the domain of the Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian. Those with abundant qi and blood belong to the Yangming Stomach Meridian. First, carefully examine the appropriateness of qi and blood amounts; next, observe the arriving pulse qi. When qi has not yet arrived, the pulse feels light, slippery, and slow. When qi has arrived, it feels deep, choppy, and tight. Once qi arrives, treat the disease according to cold or heat patterns. If qi has not arrived, await the qi based on deficiency or excess conditions. The arrival of qi feels like fish swallowing bait, rising and sinking. The absence of qi feels like swallows dwelling in a deep, secluded hall. Rapid arrival of qi yields rapid effect; delayed arrival implies difficult treatment.

Observing the method of the Nine Needles, the Filiform Needle (Hao Zhen) is the most subtle. It corresponds to the Seven Stars above and governs numerous acupoints. Its form is Metal, possessing the way to dispel evil and support righteousness. Its length and shortness correspond to Water, having the mechanism to resolve stagnation and unblock obstructions. The fixed direction of insertion resembles Wood, either oblique or straight. The mouth holding the needle compares to Fire, advancing yang and tonifying weakness. Following mechanisms and palpating to seal resemble Earth. Thus, corresponding to the Five Elements, its principles can be known. However, this one-cun-six-fen needle contains profound principles. Though fine as a hair, it connects multiple pathways. It can balance the cold and heat of the five zang organs and regulate the deficiency and excess of the six fu organs. For spasms and blockages, dispatch the Eight Evils to remove them. For cold, heat, pain, and bi-syndrome, open the Four Passes (Si Guan) to cure it.

In all needling, ensure the patient's Shen (Spirit) is gathered before insertion. After needling, ensure the Shen is settled so that Qi follows the Spirit. If the Shen is not gathered, do not needle. If the Shen is settled, treatment may proceed. Where the foot is planted, take regulating Qi and Blood as the main intent. Where the hand strikes, take regulating Water and Wood (Liver and Kidney) as the foundation. This represents the Three Realities of Heaven, Earth, and Man. Yongquan (KI-1) corresponds to Xuanji (Polaris), and Baihui (DU-20) corresponds to Tianji (Big Dipper), representing the Upper, Middle, and Lower regions. Dabao (SP-21), Tianshu (ST-25), and Dijia (SP-8), along with the Yang Qiao Mai, Yang Wei Mai, and Du Mai, govern diseases of the shoulders, waist, and legs located in the exterior. The Yin Qiao Mai, Yin Wei Mai, Ren Mai, and Chong Mai address doubts regarding the heart, abdomen, flanks, and ribs located in the interior. Er Ling (Xiguan LI-7 and Quchi LI-11? Note: Text likely refers to specific pairs like Xi-Guan and Qu-Chi or similar mnemonic pairings, but standard interpretation often links 'Er Ling' to Knee Joint and Elbow Joint areas or specific points like Xi-Guan GB-34 and Qu-Chi LI-11 depending on context, here generalized as pairs), Er Qiao (Zhaohai KI-6 and Shenmai BL-62), and Er Jiao (Waiguan TE-5 and Zhigou TE-6) seem to continue and intersect at the five major joints. Liang Jian, Liang Shang, and Liang Jing refer to specific point pairs, relying on each other but dividing into two branches.

Generally, the method of selecting acupoints must have precise measurements. First, assess your own intention; second, observe the flesh layers. Points may be obtained by extending or flexing, or by lying flat and stabilizing. In the Yang regions beside tendons and bones, depressions indicate true points. In the Yin regions, arterial pulses correspond to points. When taking five points using one, it must be accurate; when taking three meridians using one, it can be corrected. The head and shoulder must be distinguished in detail; the Du Mai and Ren Mai must be determined differently. Clarify Biao (Branch) and Ben (Root), discuss meridians for shallow and deep needling. To relieve pain and move discomfort, select paths where meridians intersect and penetrate. Have you not heard that for zang-fu diseases, one seeks the subtleties of Men (Gate), Hai (Sea), Shu (Transport), and Mu (Alarm) points? For meridian stagnation, one seeks Yuan (Source), Bie (Divergent), and Jiao-Hui (Intersection) methods. Further investigating the Four Roots and Three Collaterals, needling according to Root and Branch ensures complete recovery. Using the Eight Methods and Five Gates, distinguishing Master and Guest ensures effective needling. The Eight Extraordinary Vessels connect to the Eight Hui (Assembling) points, forming the fundamental outline. The Twelve Regular Meridians and their Twelve Yuan Source points constitute the pivot. The method of selecting sixty-six points in one day reveals profound subtleties. Selecting the Yuan Source points of the twelve meridians in one hour reveals essential mysteries.

Originally, tonification and sedation methods rely not on respiration but on finger manipulation. Rapid effects require crossing meridians and Miao-Ci (wonderful needling) while identifying the primary meridian. Crossing Meridian and Miao-Ci involve treating the right side for left-sided pathology. Sedating collaterals via distant needling involves needling the feet for head pathologies. Ju-Ci (Giant Puncture) and Miao-Ci differ, yet Micro-Needling and Wonderful Needling are interconnected. Observing specific regions reveals the deficiency and excess of meridians; viewing floating and sinking differentiates the cold and warmth of zang-fu organs.

First, inspect the needle for damage; then keep it in the mouth to warm it. Do not look around; hold the hand like grasping a tiger; do not let the mind wander inward; treat the patient like waiting for a noble person. The left hand presses heavily and frequently to disperse qi; the right hand enters lightly and slowly to avoid pain. Empty stomach causes fear and dizziness when standing or lying sideways; pressing with eyes closed while sitting or lying flat prevents fainting. Deduce from the Ten Heavenly Stems and Ten Transformations to know the opening and closing of acupoints. For delivering the placenta, treating Bi-Jue and hemiplegia, Ying-Sui restores meridian continuity. For metrorrhagia, leukorrhea, and flooding, warming and tonifying returns qi and blood to their origins. Retain the needle quietly for a long time, pausing to await qi. For certainty, use Zhaohai (KI-6) to treat throat obstruction. For precision, use Dazhong (KI-4) to treat mental dullness. Generally, pain requires sedation for excess; itching and numbness require tonification for deficiency. Sedating Gong Sun (SP-4) brings immediate relief. For chest fullness and abdominal pain, needle Neiguan (PC-6). For flank and rib pain, needle Feihu (LI-8/Extra). For tendon spasms and bone pain, tonify Hunmen (BL-47). For body heat and chronic cough, reduce Pohu (BL-48). For wind-headache, needle Shenmai (BL-62) and Jinmen (BL-63). For itchy and painful eyes, reduce Guangming (GB-37) and Diwu (GB-39). Reduce Yinxi (HT-6) to stop night sweats; needle Pianli (SI-7) to promote urination for adult ascites; needle Huantiao (GB-30) for stroke; needle Tianshu (ST-25) for deficiency exhaustion.

Before noon (Mao hour), Taiyin generates, so warm quickly. After sunset (You hour), Moon declines, so cool quickly. Circulate, palpate, flick, and distend; retain during inhalation (Mother) to make firm and long; press with nail and lift during exhalation (Child) to make rapid and short. Move back and pause; oppose and seize on the right to sedate and cool; push in and rub on the left to tonify and warm. Be cautious: for critical illnesses with discordant complexion and pulse, do not needle. Avoid needling in cases of extreme cold, heat, wind, yin-dominance, hunger, fullness, intoxication, and fatigue. Do not tonify on the first day of the lunar month (Wang); do not sedate on the last day (Hui). Do not deplete on the waxing moon (Xian); do not assist on the waning moon (Shuo). Refine your mind to exhaust the methods; do not let moxibustion burn the skin. Correct the principle to seek the origin; avoid inserting needles in wrong positions. Avoid moxa sites by adding four limbs (total 49 prohibited moxa sites); exclude the Six Shu points from prohibited needle sites (total 22 prohibited needle sites).

Furthermore, it is heard that Emperor Gaozu suffered from illness without recovery; Li Shi needled Juque (CV-14) and he revived. The Crown Prince died suddenly from Jue syndrome; Yue Ren (Bian Que) needled Weizhong (BL-40) and Huizong (EX-UE11) and he woke up. Jianjing (GB-21) and Quchi (LI-11): Zhen Quan needled arm pain and he could shoot again. Xuanguang (GB-39) and Huantiao (GB-30): Hua Tuo needled the foot and he walked immediately. Qiu Fu needled Yaoshu (DU-2) and ghosts rose from severe illness. Wang Zuan needled Jiaoshu (BL-42) and spirits vanished instantly. Needling Ganshu (BL-18) and Mingmen (DU-4) allows blind men to see the finest hairs. Needling Shaoyang and Jiaobie allows deaf men to hear summer mosquitoes. Alas, as we depart further from the Sages, this Dao gradually declines. Some abandon their studies due to lack of success; others violate prohibitions due to incompetence. My wisdom is shallow and庸 (mediocre), making it hard to grasp profound words. The supreme Dao is profound; how many attain it? I briefly record these words, daring not to show them to the enlightened, hoping only to inspire the minds of beginners.