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(From *Lingshu: Hanre Bing Pian*, *Suwen: Gukong Lun*, *Chang Cijie Lun*)

The Five Zang organs have five critical areas on the body surface.
(*Lingshu: Hanre Bing Pian* states: The Five Zang organs are located internally, but their critical points connect externally; there are five such areas, as described below.) The first is Futu (ST32) (located six cun above the knee in the bulging muscle, a critical point of the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian); the second is the calf (i.e., the belly of the gastrocnemius muscle, where the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian, Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, and the lower part of the Sanjiao Meridian are connected. "Fei" sounds like "fei", "Shuan" sounds like "zhuan"); the third is the back (the midline is the Du Meridian, and the four rows on either side are the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian, all being critical areas connected to Zang Qi); the fourth is the Back-Shu points of the Five Zang organs (Feishu, Xinshu, Ganshu, Pishu, Shenshu, where the Qi of the Five Zang organs connects); the fifth is the neck. If carbuncles and sores (purulent infections) occur in these five areas, death may result. (The neck is the intersection of the Du Meridian and the Yangwei Meridian, commanding all Yang meridians. The aforementioned five areas are all critical intersections; they are contraindicated for carbuncles and sores, which often prove fatal.)

If the disease begins in the arm, first select points from the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian and Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian to induce sweating; if it begins in the head, first select points in the neck from the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian to induce sweating; if it begins in the lower leg or foot, first select points from the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian to induce sweating. (The method for acupuncture treatment of carbuncles and sores should aim at inducing sweating, so that pathogenic factors disperse with sweat and the carbuncle heals itself; however, one must examine the meridian where the disease initially started to determine the sequence of needling. The meaning of this section should be cross-referenced with *Cire Re Pian*; see Disease Category 44 for details.) Sweating can be induced by treating the Arm-Taiyin Meridian and the Foot-Yangming Meridian. (Arm-Taiyin refers to the Lung Meridian; Foot-Yangming refers to the Stomach Meridian. According to *Re Bing Pian*: For pulse patterns suitable for diaphoresis, select Yuji (LU10), Taiyuan (LU9), Dadu (SP2), and Taibai (SP3). Reducing method clears heat; tonifying method induces sweating. These four points are Ying-Spring and Shu-Stream points of the Hand and Foot Taiyin meridians. Here, "Arm-Taiyin" refers specifically to Yuji (LU10) and Taiyuan (LU9). Similarly, for the Foot-Yangming Meridian, one should select its Ying-Spring and Shu-Stream points, namely Neiting (ST44) and Xangu (ST43). See detailed meaning in previous section 40 of this category.) Therefore, if excessive sweating occurs after selecting Yin meridian points, stop it by treating Yang meridians; if excessive sweating occurs after selecting Yang meridian points, stop it by treating Yin meridians. (If tonifying Taiyin causes excessive sweating, it indicates an excess of Yin; tonifying Yangming can arrest it. If reducing Taiyin causes excessive sweating, it indicates an excess of Yang; reducing Yangming can arrest it. This is because sweating stops naturally when Yin and Yang are balanced. The method for arresting excessive sweating from Yang meridian selection is similar.)

The harm of acupuncture lies in this: if the needle hits the target but is not withdrawn, essence will leak; if the needle misses the target and is withdrawn, pathogenic qi will accumulate. Essence leakage leads to worsening disease and emaciation; accumulation of pathogenic qi generates carbuncles and sores. (Once the needle hits the target, it should be removed; if retained after hitting the target, essence leaks, causing the disease to worsen and the body to become emaciated. If the needle does not hit the target, it should be retained; if removed without hitting the target, the pathogen remains while healthy qi attracts further pathology, leading to condensation and formation of carbuncles and sores. These are the harms of needling. This section is identical to *Jiu Zhen Er Shi Er Yuan Pian*; see later section 60. "Kuang" sounds like "kuang".)

For shu luo (scrofula/lymph node tuberculosis accompanied by chills and fever), also needle the Hanfu (Cold Palace) point. Hanfu is located at the Jieying point outside the knee joint.
(From *Suwen: Gukong Lun*. Shu luo refers to luo li (scrofula). Hanfu is located in the bone gap outside the lower lateral femoral condyle. Whenever cold qi moves upward from below, it gathers at the knee; thus the knee patella is coldest, hence named Hanfu. "Ying" means cavity. This likely refers to Yangguan (GB33) of the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian. Since shu luo occurs in the neck and axilla, originating from Liver and Gallbladder disorders, this point should be selected for treatment. "Lou" sounds like "lou".) When selecting points on the upper knee, ask the patient to bow; when selecting points on the sole of the foot, ask the patient to kneel. (Bowing exposes the joints, facilitating access to knee points. Kneeling reveals deep crevices, facilitating access to sole points.)

To treat fu zhong (internal rotting with external swelling), puncture the necrotic tissue. Observe the size and depth of the abscess to determine needle insertion depth.
(From *Suwen: Chang Cijie Lun*. Fu zhong refers to internal necrosis with external swelling. Large lesions indicate Yang toxicity with shallow involvement; small lesions indicate Yin toxicity with deep involvement. Thus, observe size to determine depth.) For large abscesses, bleed heavily; for small abscesses, insert the needle deeply. Insert the needle upright and stop once the intended effect is achieved. (Large abscesses are shallow; draining blood removes the toxin. Small abscesses are deep; the needle must be inserted vertically and deeply. "Stop upon achieving the goal" means using this as the standard, thereby mastering the technique for needling carbuncles and sores.)