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The Five Phases and Six Qi each have their own patterns of overcoming (Sheng) and retaliating (Fu). Therefore, when Wood Qi is about to exert its overcoming power, pale green dust will first appear in the trees, the trees will make sounds, and the stars' radiance will flicker; these are omens. Furthermore, when Wood Qi is about to overcome, the Gong tone will be disordered, insects will cease to multiply, and rain and humidity will lose their seasonal characteristics. In the twelfth month (Chou month), one should first select its source of transformation (Hua Yuan). This is called "Ying Er Qu Zhi" (Meeting and Taking). "Ying" means intervening before the pathogenic qi arises. "Qu" refers to using the reducing method. Needling is used to reduce its source. That is, when Wood Qi is about to overcome, one first reduces the source of the Liver. This source emerges from Taichong (LR3) (located three cun posterior to the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe on the left foot, in the depression where the Liver meridian passes, known as the source). First, press the source acupoint with the left hand until a pulsating sensation (Dong Qi) is felt, then insert the needle. Insert the needle three fen deep, which is the position of Yang. Once the Heaven Qi is obtained, stop advancing the needle and retain it for three breaths, corresponding to the generating number of Wood, which is three. Then, tap the needle handle from all four directions with your hand to guide the Qi to the needle tip. Advance the needle to five fen deep and retain it for eight breaths, corresponding to the completing number of Wood, which is eight. This is guiding Heaven Qi to obtain Earth Qi. The needle head seems to connect with the moving Qi. Then, rapidly withdraw the needle and cover the puncture site with your hand. This is preemptively knowing Wood's overcoming and reducing the Liver's source, preventing Wood from overacting on Earth. For those using medication, use Pungent (Xin) flavor to penalize/reduce Wood's overcoming, use Sweet (Gan) flavor to preserve Earth's decline, and avoid eating Sour (Suan) foods that assist Wood's overcoming.

When Fire Qi is about to overcome, looking far into the sky reveals red brilliance; mountains, rivers, grass, and trees first become scorched and dry; chitinous insects develop dry scabs all over their bodies; and the Shang tone becomes disordered first. In the third month (Chen month), meet and take the source of transformation. Before the Wang phase of Fire and Wood, first select the source of the Heart. The source of the Heart emerges from Tailing (PC7) (located in the depression between the two bones behind the palm, where the Pericardium meridian passes, known as the source). First, press the source acupoint with the left hand until a pulsating sensation is felt, then insert the needle. Insert the needle three fen deep, which is the position of Yang. Once Heaven Qi is obtained, stop advancing the needle and retain it for two breaths, corresponding to the generating number of Fire, which is two. Then, tap the needle handle from all four directions to guide the Qi to the needle tip. Advance the needle to five fen deep and retain it for seven breaths, corresponding to the completing number of Fire, which is seven. This is guiding Heaven Qi to obtain Earth Qi. The needle head seems to connect with the moving Qi. Rapidly withdraw the needle to drain excess Qi. This reduces the source of the Pericardium and the "Small Heart" (San Jiao/Triple Burner or Mingmen depending on interpretation, here referring to Ministerial Fire), responding to the overcoming of Ministerial Fire. As for the source of Sovereign Fire, it is therefore called the source of Shaoyin. The source of Shaoyin emerges from Duigu (HT7/Shenmen) (this is the true Heart's source, located in the depression at the end of the Duigu bone behind the palm, also named Shenmen or Zhongdu). The needling method is the same as above. For those using medication, use Salty (Xian) flavor to penalize/reduce Fire's overcoming, use Pungent flavor to tonify Metal's decline, and avoid eating Bitter (Ku) foods that assist Fire's overcoming.

When Earth Qi is about to overcome, mountain rocks first become moist, yellow dust rises in all directions, humid heat forms, clouds disturb, and mist spreads; the Yu tone first weakens; this is the omen. In the fifth month (Wu month), meet and take the source of transformation. First select and reduce the source of the Spleen. The source of the Spleen emerges from Taibai (SP3) (located in the depression posterior to the medial malleolus/metatarsal bone on the medial side of the foot, where the Foot Taiyin Spleen meridian passes, known as the source). First, press the source acupoint with the left hand until a pulsating sensation is felt, then insert the needle. Insert the needle three fen deep, which is the position of Yang. Retain it for five breaths, corresponding to the number of Earth, which is five. Tap with the hand to guide the Qi to the needle tip, then advance the needle to five fen deep and retain it for five breaths, also corresponding to the number of Earth. This is called guiding Heaven Qi to obtain Earth Qi. The needle head seems to move; rapidly withdraw the needle to drain excess Qi, preventing Spleen Qi from becoming excessive and injuring Kidney Qi. For those using medication, use Sour flavor to penalize/reduce Earth's overcoming, use Salty flavor to tonify Kidney's decline, and avoid eating Sweet foods that assist Earth's overcoming.

When Metal Qi is about to overcome, west winds blow frequently, pines and bamboos make sounds, salt appears in the soil, white Qi manifests, Earth Qi first becomes dry, mountains show white and austere killing Qi, trees wither, grass dies, and the Jue tone declines; this is the omen. In the sixth month (Wei month), meet and take the source of transformation, i.e., first reduce the source of the Lung. The source of the Lung emerges from Taiyuan (LU9) (located in the depression one cun and five fen distal to the radial styloid process, between the large tendon, where the Hand Taiyin Lung meridian passes, known as the source). First, press the source acupoint with the left hand until a pulsating sensation is felt, then insert the needle. Insert the needle three fen deep, which is the position of Yang. Retain it for four breaths, corresponding to the generating number of Metal, which is four. Tap with the hand from all four directions to guide the Qi to the needle tip, advance the needle to five fen deep, and retain it for nine breaths, corresponding to the completing number of Metal, which is nine. This is called guiding Heaven Qi to obtain Earth Qi. After obtaining Qi, rapidly withdraw the needle to drain excess Lung Qi, preventing injury to Liver Qi. For those using medication, use Bitter flavor to penalize/reduce Metal's overcoming, use Sour flavor to tonify Liver's decline, and avoid eating Pungent foods that assist Metal's overcoming.

When Water Qi is about to overcome, the sky color sinks and becomes gloomy, singing birds fall silent, the vast emptiness darkens, sunlight is not governed, cold Qi arrives first, the Zheng tone is insufficient, and Mars (Yinghuo) is not visible; this is the omen. In the ninth month (Xu month), meet and take the source of transformation, i.e., first reduce the source of the Kidney. The source of the Kidney emerges from Taixi (KI3) (located in the depression below the medial malleolus, where the Foot Shaoyin Kidney meridian passes, known as the source). First, press the source acupoint with the left hand until a pulsating sensation is felt, then insert the needle. Insert the needle three fen deep, which is the position of Yang. Retain it for one breath, corresponding to the generating number of Water, which is one. Tap with the hand from all four directions to guide the Qi to the needle tip, advance the needle to five fen deep, and retain it for six breaths, corresponding to the completing number of Water, which is six. This is called guiding Heaven Qi to obtain Earth Qi. After obtaining Qi, rapidly withdraw the needle to drain excess Kidney Qi, preventing injury to Heart Qi. For those using medication, use Sweet flavor to balance/reduce Kidney Qi's overcoming, use Bitter flavor to tonify Heart Qi's decline, and avoid eating Salty foods that assist Kidney's overcoming.

Why is it necessary to nourish its source of transformation? "Zi" (Nourish/Supplement) means tonification; "Qu" (Take/Extract) means reduction. One should reduce excess overcoming and tonify weakness. For example, if Wood Qi overcomes, Earth Qi should weaken; thus, reduce the Liver's source and tonify the Spleen's source. If Fire Qi overcomes, Metal Qi should weaken; thus, reduce the Heart's source and tonify the Lung's source. If Earth Qi overcomes, Water Qi should weaken; thus, reduce the Spleen's source and tonify the Kidney's source. If Metal Qi overcomes, Wood Qi should weaken; thus, reduce the Lung's source and tonify the Liver's source. If Water Qi overcomes, Fire Qi should weaken; thus, reduce the Kidney's source and tonify the Heart's source. Therefore, to nourish and tonify its source of transformation: first, press the source acupoint with the left hand until a pulsating sensation is felt, then insert the needle to five fen deep (Yin/Earth Qi level), and retain it according to the generating numbers of the Five Phases. Upon feeling the movement of Earth Qi, withdraw the needle to three fen deep (Yang/Heaven Qi level); this is guiding Yin to Yang. When nourishing and tonifying the source of transformation, retain it according to the completing numbers of the Five Phases. Thus, withdrawing the needle from outside to inside is called reduction; withdrawing from inside to outside is called tonification. Therefore, tonification is "Zi," and reduction is "Qu." That is, apply "Qu" (reduction) to the overcoming excess, and apply "Zi" (tonification) to the deficiency.