Library

Regarding the Sihuacupping acupoints (Four Flowers Moxibustion points). Various books record them differently. In the collated version of *Su Shen Liang Fang* (Excellent Prescriptions by Su and Shen), as stated in the preface, there are numerous textual errors (such as "Lu Yu" confusions). Now, comparing with the *Wan An Fang* (Prescriptions of Wan An), the texts in other books differ significantly. Initially, I annotated only those sentences with differences, but upon re-reading, found it rather tedious, so I deleted them all, retaining only annotations for one or two characters that differed but were easily understood in meaning. Cui's preface states that diagrams and shapes were provided, but these diagrams are not included, nor are they found in other books. Now, based on the diagrams in *Wan An Fang*, useless parts are omitted, and the text follows entirely the *Sheng Ji Zong Lu* (General Records of Benevolent Sage) and *Wan An Fang*. The introductory note on the diagram says: Moxa these six acupoints, and also moxa Zusanli (ST36, Three Mile Point) to vent fire qi is excellent. This is a matter not discussed in ancient texts.

Above: First session, mark two acupoints.
Above: Second session, mark two acupoints.
Above: Third session, mark two acupoints. The above diagrams and shapes.

According to *Zisheng Jing* (Classic of Nourishing Life): Whenever selecting the Sihuacupping acupoints, use the pith of a rice straw to measure the width of the mouth corner, cut it to that length. Cut a square piece of paper of such length, and cut a small hole in the center. Use another long rice straw, measuring from the sole of the foot forward to the big toe, and backward to the middle of the foot crease, cut it off, then place it around the Adam's apple (Jiehou), letting it hang down towards the back to see where the straw stops. Place the previously mentioned paper with the small hole in the center, dividing it into four parts, which constitutes the Four Flowers. Essentially, this refers to moxaing the four corners of the paper. Now, examining this method, it is what the secular world calls "Lue Sihuacupping" (Brief Four Flowers). *Zhenjiu Juying* (Gathering of Acupuncture and Moxibustation Brilliance) says: Initially suspecting the Sihuacupping acupoints, perhaps the ancients feared people would not know how to locate them, so they established this convenient method; it must correspond to the Five Zang Shu acupoints. Now, locating acupoints according to this method indeed corresponds to the Ge Shu (BL17, Diaphragm-Shu) and Dan Shu (BL19, Gallbladder-Shu) acupoints in the second row of the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang running along the back. *Nan Jing* (Classic of Difficult Issues) states: Blood converges at Ge Shu. It also says: For blood diseases, treat this acupoint. This is likely for cases of bone-steaming consumption fever and blood deficiency with hyperactive fire, so this acupoint is taken to tonify. The Gallbladder is the interior-exterior partner of the Liver, stores blood, so this Shu point is also selected. Cui only mentions Sihuacupping without specifying Ge Shu and Dan Shu because he was instructing crude practitioners. Now, relying only on palpation and estimation, Ge Shu and Dan Shu adjacent to the spine are correct. However, since people's mouths vary in size and width, the Sihuacupping method is inaccurate. Further research shows Gao Wu criticized Cui for having the name Sihuacupping but not following its method, arbitrarily calling it Ge and Dan Shu; students should ponder this. Also, *Zisheng Jing* says: A doctor transmitted a method: first measure horizontally across the mouth corners to get the length, take that measured straw, place it under the third thoracic vertebra on the back, measure vertically until the straw ends, mark both ends with a pen. Then measure the length of the middle finger as a standard, take that straw, measure horizontally and vertically from the two marked ends, circle the four corners with a pen; the circled spots are the acupoints. This is another simplified method and should not be followed.

Jing Men Sihuacupping: The introduction says: These are Cui's Sihuacupping acupoints. Do not moxa the two acupoints on the back; instead, open them to both sides, totaling six acupoints. The upper two acupoints are together one cun wide; the lower four flowers are equal. All are compared using hanging lines, transforming Li Gua (Fire Trigram) into Kun Gua (Earth Trigram), intending to descend Heart Fire and generate Spleen Earth. However, these are suitable only for Yang deficiency. Hua Tuo said: For wind, deficiency, cold, and heat, only deficiency patterns are unsuitable for moxa. But medical formularies also state: For deficiency damage and tuberculosis, early moxa of Gaohuang (BL43, Gallbladder-Huang) and Sihuacupping is appropriate, when deficiency damage has not yet fully formed. If thin and weak with accompanying fire, even if moxa is used, only Neiguan (PC6, Inner Pass) and Zusanli (ST36) should be moxaed to dissipate phlegm-fire. In my early years, I intended to write a treatise on why Yin Fire should not be moxaed, but did not complete it.

Riding Bamboo Horse Moxibustion Method: Use a thin bamboo strip, measure from the transverse crease of the Chize acupoint (LU5, Pool at the Crossroads) on the patient's hand, following the flesh to the tip of the middle finger, and cut it off. Take a bamboo pole externally, place the two ends of the pole on stools, have the patient disrobe and ride the bamboo pole, with feet slightly touching the ground. First, place the measured bamboo strip on the pole, stand the strip vertically along the back, go straight up to the end of the strip, and mark with ink. This merely finds the midpoint, not an acupoint. Then, use a thin bamboo strip to measure two transverse creases of the middle finger joint as one cun. Place this strip on the marked ink point, measure one cun to each side; these are the acupoints. Moxa five or seven moxa cones at each, do not exceed this amount. This method, when moxaed, results in no case that is not cured. Generally, these two acupoints are where the Heart Meridian passes. Any disease of carbuncles and sores is due to stagnation of Heart Qi, thus generating this toxicity. Moxaing here unblocks the Heart Meridian, leading to immediate peace and recovery, capable of bringing the dead back to life, with extraordinary efficacy. (From *Shen Ying*)

According to *Lei Jing* (Classified Classic): One version reads "open two cun each." *Zhenjiu Juying* says: According to this method, the located acupoints are between Zhizhong (DU9, Middle of Vertebrae) and Jinshu (DU12, Muscle Binding) on the Du Meridian in the midline of the spine, inside the second row of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian on the back (Ge Shu BL17 and Gan Shu BL18), not the proper acupoints. It is suspected that later generations transmitted errors, writing two cun instead of three cun. How could one fail to obtain the correct acupoint, merely damaging good flesh, yet cure the disease? This cannot be doubted. Ashi acupoints say: This acupoint appears in various books, but its origin is unknown.