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(From *Bencao Gangmu* / Compendium of Materia Medica)

[Names] Fan Zhen (Burning Needle, from *Suwen*), Cui Zhen (Quenching Needle, from *Suwen*), Shao Zhen (Scorching Needle, from *Shanghan Lun*), Wei Zhen (Simmering Needle).

Li Shizhen stated: Huozhen (Fire Needle) refers to the Fan Zhen and Cui Zhen mentioned in *Suwen*. Zhang Zhongjing called it Shao Zhen, and people in the Sichuan-Shu region call it Wei Zhen. The method is as follows: Fill a lamp with sesame oil, light seven strands of rush wick, frequently coat the needle with sesame oil, and burn it over the lamp flame until it becomes red-hot before use. If it is not red-hot or has cooled down, it will harm the person and fail to cure the disease. The needle should preferably be made of iron used for fire tongs. The ink marks for acupoint location must be clear; if inaccurate, there will be no therapeutic effect.

[Indications] For wind-cold causing tendon spasm, traction-type Bi pain, or paralysis with numbness, withdraw the needle rapidly after insertion, and immediately press the puncture site to stop pain; otherwise, the pain will intensify. For masses, accumulations, and cold diseases, withdraw the needle slowly while rotating it to expel turbid matter. For carbuncles and back sores with pus but no head, puncture to allow pus drainage without pressing the puncture site. When using Huozhen, inserting too deeply damages the meridians, while inserting too shallowly fails to remove the disease; the key lies in achieving the proper depth. Fever and aversion to cold after needling indicate that the treatment has reached the target (Zhongbing). Huozhen should not be used on the face, nor during summer months when damp-heat accumulates in the feet (Li Shizhen).

[Elucidation] Li Shizhen stated: *Suwen* records: "When the disease is in the tendons, regulate the tendons; use Fan Zhen to perform Jie Ci below the affected area and where tendons are spasmodic." "When the disease is in the bones, regulate the bones; use Cui Zhen combined with herbal hot compresses." Furthermore, *Lingshu Jing* describes various Bi pains arising from the twelve tendon systems, stating that treatment lies in Fan Zhen Jie Ci, taking efficacy as the limit, and treating the painful point as the Shu point. It also states: "Diseases of the tendon system, when exposed to cold, result in reverse bending and tendon spasm; when exposed to heat, they become flaccid and uncontrolled, leading to impotence and inability to function." Cui Ci is intended to treat cold-induced tendon spasm. For cases of flaccidity and lack of control, Fan Zhen should not be used. From this, it is evident that Fan Zhen is designed for conditions where tendons are cold and spasmodic, employing heat to treat cold, which is the orthodox method. Later generations used needles to treat accumulations, borrowing the fire's energy to disperse cold stagnation and expel turbid matter. Others used it to treat carbuncles, employing the contrarian method to drain toxic vapors. However, those who are ignorant using it to treat Shanghan febrile diseases are mistaken. Zhang Zhongjing said: "In Taiyang Shanghan, adding Warm Needling will surely cause palpitations/fright." "In individuals with deficient Ying Qi, adding Scorching Needling causes blood flow to stagnate, resulting in increased fever and irritability." "In Taiyang disease, after purgation, if there is epigastric fullness-stuffiness, with both exterior and interior deficiency, and exhaustion of Yin and Yang, adding Scorching Needling leads to chest vexation, bluish-yellow complexion, and moist skin, making it difficult to treat." These are all cases where practitioners, unaware of the principles behind the ancient sages' creation of needling, misuse it, causing harm. Additionally, for liver deficiency causing dim vision and excessive tearing, wind-induced redness, formation of dense pterygium-like membranes, blindness due to white membranes post-illness, or wind-heat from five-zang deficiency-labor rushing upward to the eyes causing opacities, Moxibustion/Locking methods are suitable. This is because Qi and Blood flow freely when warmed and stagnate when chilled. The method involves using a flat-headed needle, sized according to the opacity, heating it until red-hot, and gently cauterizing the center of the opacity. After cauterization ruptures the opacity, apply depurative eye medications immediately.