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The full text of the "Five Prohibitions" chapter from Ling Shu (Spiritual Pivot)

Yellow Emperor asked Qibo: I have heard that there are five prohibitions in acupuncture. What are these five prohibitions? Qibo replied: These refer to prohibiting needling when it is inadvisable. Yellow Emperor said: I have heard that there are five "depletions" (conditions where vital qi is severely exhausted) in acupuncture. Qibo replied: One should not apply reducing methods to conditions where depletion should not occur. Yellow Emperor said: I have heard that there are five errors in acupuncture. Qibo replied: The tonifying and reducing methods must not exceed appropriate limits. Yellow Emperor said: I have heard that there are five counter-indications (reverse patterns) in acupuncture. Qibo replied: When the disease presentation contradicts the pulse, it is called a reverse pattern. Yellow Emperor said: I have heard that there are nine适宜 (appropriate indications) in acupuncture. Qibo replied: To clearly understand the theory of the Nine Needles constitutes the nine appropriate indications. (Excessive tonification aids pathogenic qi; excessive reduction exhausts healthy qi; this constitutes the five errors. The meaning of the nine appropriate indications is found in Part 4 of this category earlier; the rest follows below.)

Yellow Emperor asked: What are the five prohibitions? I wish to hear about the times when needling is inadvisable. Qibo replied: On Jia and Yi days (days where the Heavenly Stem repeats itself), do not needle the head, and do not perform "Fa Meng" (a technique for treating sensory disorders of the eyes and ears) inside the ear. On Bing and Ding days, do not perform "Zhen Ai" (a technique for clearing turbid qi from the head and face) on the shoulders or at Lianquan (CV23). On Wu and Ji days, which correspond to the transitions of the four seasons, do not needle the abdomen to drain fluid or treat the nails. On Geng and Xin days, do not needle the joints of the thighs and knees. On Ren and Gui days, do not needle the lower legs (shins). This is called the five prohibitions. (The ten Heavenly Stems correspond to body parts: Jia and Yi correspond to the head; Bing and Ding to the shoulders and throat; Wu, Ji, and the four seasons to the abdomen and limbs; Geng and Xin to the joints, thighs, and knees; Ren and Gui to the feet and shins. "Day self-multiplying" refers to the day's dominant Heavenly Stem. All these situations are contraindications for needling, hence the term five prohibitions. The meanings of Fa Meng and Zhen Ai are found in Part 32 of this category earlier.)

Yellow Emperor asked: What are the five depletions? Qibo replied: When the form and flesh are already severely wasted, this is the first depletion; after massive blood loss, this is the second depletion; after profuse sweating, this is the third depletion; after severe diarrhea, this is the fourth depletion; after childbirth and massive bleeding, this is the fifth depletion. None of these should be treated with reducing methods. (These five depletions represent extreme deficiency of Yuan Qi (Original Qi). If reducing methods are applied again, danger will ensue. This applies not only to acupuncture but also to herbal medicine.)

Yellow Emperor asked: What are the five reverse patterns? Qibo replied: In febrile diseases, if the pulse is quiet, but becomes rapid and restless after sweating, this is the first reverse pattern; if the patient has diarrhea but the pulse is洪大 (surging and large), this is the second reverse pattern; in Zhuo Bi (Damp-Bi syndrome with fixed pain), if muscles ulcerate, the body is hot, and the pulse is absent on one side, this is the third reverse pattern; if due to sexual excess the form is wasted, the body is hot, the complexion is dull and pale, and subsequently there is hematochezia with dark, heavy blood, this is the fourth reverse pattern; if alternating chills and fever lead to wasting of the form and the pulse is firm and bounding, this is the fifth reverse pattern. (A quiet pulse in a febrile disease indicates Yin pulse appearing in a Yang condition. A rapid and restless pulse after sweating indicates exhaustion of True Yin. A surging and large pulse in diarrhea indicates lone Yang and pathogenic excess. Fixed pain in Bi syndrome with muscle ulceration, fever, and unilateral pulse absence indicates loss of Yuan Qi. Sexual excess leading to wasting, fever, and bloody stool indicates loss of essence and blood with Yin collapse and heat. Alternating chills and fever with wasting and a firm, bounding pulse indicates severe injury to Spleen Yin and manifestation of the Zang organ pulse. All these five reverse patterns are diseases of Yin deficiency. Therefore, the "Ben Shen" chapter states: Yin deficiency leads to lack of Qi; lack of Qi leads to death. All these are contraindications for needling.)