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Huangdi asked: When the human body is deficient, the Shen (Spirit) wanders and loses its post, allowing external ghosts to interfere, leading to premature death. How can one preserve the Zhen Qi (True Qi)? I wish to hear about acupuncture methods. Qibo replied: When the Shen wanders and loses its post, although it manifests in the body, it usually does not lead to death; however, if evil Qi interferes, it causes premature death or shortened lifespan.

For instance, when the Jueyin Liver channel loses its post, if the heavenly timing is already deficient, and the human Qi of the Liver is also dispersed, the White Corpse Ghost (referring to Metal pathogenic factor) arrives, causing sudden death. If the Jueyin channel is interfered with by evil Qi, but the patient's body remains warm, acupuncture can still be performed (criteria: eyes have spirit, heart and abdomen remain warm, no saliva in the mouth, tongue is not retracted). One should puncture the Yuan-Source point of the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder channel, Qiuxu (GB40), inserting three fen. The incantation is: "Taishang Yuanjun, lush Azure Dragon, dwells on the left, controls the Three Souls." Recite three times, then call the names of the Three Souls: Shuangling, Taiguang, Youjing, reciting three times again. Then visualize the Azure Dragon beneath the acupoint, insert the needle, and withdraw it slowly. Have the patient press their Qi within the mouth; if abdominal sounds are heard, they can be saved. Next, puncture the Back-Shu point of the Liver, Pishu (BL20? Note: Text says 9th thoracic vertebrae bilateral, which is Geshu BL17 or similar, but text explicitly says Liver Shu at 9th vertebra, traditionally Liver Shu is BL18 at 9th thoracic. Wait, standard Liver Shu is BL18 at T9. Text says "Jiu Zhui Xia Liang Pang" - Bilateral below 9th vertebra. This corresponds to BL18 Geshu? No, BL18 is Geshu. BL19 is Danshu. BL20 is Pishu. BL18 is Geshu. Actually, Liver Shu is BL18? No, Liver Shu is BL18? Let's check standard: BL18 Geshu, BL19 Danshu, BL20 Pishu, BL21 Weishu, BL22 Sanjiaoshu, BL23 Shenshu. Where is Liver Shu? BL18 is Geshu. BL19 is Danshu. Wait, standard BL points: BL18 Geshu, BL19 Danshu, BL20 Pishu... Where is Liver? Ah, BL18 is Geshu. BL19 is Danshu. BL20 is Pishu. BL21 is Weishu. BL22 is Sanjiaoshu. BL23 is Shenshu. The text says "Ci Gan Zhi Shu (Jiu Zhui Xia Liang Pang)". In some texts, Liver Shu might be referenced differently or there is a typo in the source text provided vs standard Zhenjiu Dacheng. Standard Zhenjiu Dacheng usually lists Liver Shu as BL18? No, BL18 is Geshu. Let's stick to the text's description: "Liver Shu (Bilateral below the 9th vertebra)". Insert three fen, retain for three breaths, advance one fen, retain for three breaths, retreat two fen, retain for one breath, withdraw slowly. When Qi returns, revival occurs.

If a person suffers from Heart deficiency and encounters the loss of post of the Sovereign Fire and Minister Fire governing the year, inducing a Triple Deficiency, and encounters a year of insufficient Fire, the Black Corpse Ghost (Water pathogen) attacks, causing sudden death (Criteria: tongue not retracted, eye spirit unchanged). One may puncture the Yuan-Source point of the Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao channel, Yangchi (TE4). Incantation: "Taiyi Dijun, Niwan Zongshen, Dan Wu Hei Qi, Lai Fu Qi Zhen." Recite three times, visualize the Red Phoenix beneath the acupoint (Insert three fen, retain for one breath, advance one fen, retain for three breaths, retreat and retain for one breath, slowly withdraw and press the acupoint, immediate revival). Then puncture the Back-Shu point of the Heart, Xinshu (BL15, bilateral below 5th thoracic vertebra). Incantation: "Danfang Shouling, Wudi Shangqing, Yanghe Bu Ti, Lai Fu Huangting." Recite three times (Acupuncture method same as above).

If a person suffers from Spleen disease and encounters the loss of post of Taiyin Dampness governing the year, inducing a Triple Deficiency (Zhiyi Two Souls wander to the upper position, hence called losing post). Also encountering a year of insufficient Earth, the Green Corpse Ghost (Wood pathogen) attacks, causing sudden death. One may puncture the Yuan-Source point of the Foot-Yangming Stomach channel, Chongyang (ST42). Incantation: "Changzai Houting. Shi Qing Taining, Yuanhe Buqi." Puncture the Back-Shu point of the Spleen, Pishu (BL20, bilateral below 11th thoracic vertebra). Incantation: "Dashiganwei, Zongtong Kunyuan, Huangting Zhenqi, Laifu Youquan." Recite three times (Insert three fen, retain two, advance five, until Qi arrives, slowly withdraw).

If a person suffers from Lung disease and encounters the loss of post of Yangming Dryness governing the year, inducing a Triple Deficiency. Also encountering a year of insufficient Metal, the Red Corpse Ghost (Fire pathogen) interferes, causing sudden death. One may puncture the Yuan-Source point of the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine channel, Hegu (LI4). Incantation: "Qingqi Zhenquan, Difuyuanri, Qipo Guiyou, Jinfu Bentian." Recite three times, visualize the White Tiger beneath the acupoint (Insert three fen, retain three, advance two fen, retain three, retreat, retain one, slowly withdraw and press). Then puncture the Back-Shu point of the Lung, Feishu (BL13, bilateral below 3rd thoracic vertebra). Incantation: "Zuoyuan Zhenren, Liuhe Qibin, Tianfu Dili, Lairu Qimen." Recite three times (Insert one and a half fen, retain three breaths, advance two fen, retain one breath, slowly withdraw and press).

If a person suffers from Kidney disease and encounters the loss of post of Taiyin Cold Water governing the year, inducing a Triple Deficiency. Also encountering a year of insufficient Water operation, the Yellow Corpse Ghost (Earth pathogen) interferes with healthy Qi, sucking away the Hun and Po souls, causing sudden death. One may puncture the Yuan-Source point of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder channel, Jinggu (BL64). Incantation: "Yuanyang Huangying, Wulao Ji Zhen, Niwan Xuanhua, Bujing Changcun." Visualize Black Qi beneath the acupoint (Insert one and a half fen, retain three breaths, advance three fen, retain one breath, slowly withdraw and press). Then puncture the Back-Shu point of the Kidney, Shenshu (BL23, bilateral below 14th thoracic vertebra). Incantation: "Tianxuan Rijing, Taihe Kunling, Zhenyuan Neishou, Chi Ru Shi Qing." Recite three times (Insert three fen, retain three breaths, advance three fen, retain three breaths, slowly withdraw and press).

Discussion on Five Acupunctures Corresponding to Five Zang Organs
Qibo said: There are five types of acupuncture corresponding to the Five Zang Organs. The first is Ban Ci (Half Pricking): shallow insertion and rapid withdrawal, without penetrating muscle, resembling pulling hair, to obtain Qi from the skin layer, corresponding to the Lung. The second is Bao Wen Ci (Leopard Spot Pricking): pricking on the left, right, front, and back, entering the vessels to extract blood from the collaterals, corresponding to the Heart. The third is Guan Ci (Joint Pricking): direct pricking at the ends of tendons on both sides to treat Bi syndrome of tendons, being careful not to bleed, corresponding to the Liver. The fourth is He Gu Ci (Valley Convergence Pricking): pricking in a chicken-foot pattern between muscles to treat Bi syndrome of muscles, corresponding to the Spleen. The fifth is Shu Ci (Transport Pricking): direct insertion and withdrawal, deep penetration to the bone, to treat Bi syndrome of bones, corresponding to the Kidney.

Discussion on Nine Acupunctures Corresponding to Nine Changes
Qibo said: There are nine types of acupuncture corresponding to nine changes. The first is Shu Ci (Transport Pricking): pricking Ying-Spring and Shu-Stream points of various channels and Zang points. The second is Yuan Dao Ci (Distant Path Pricking): treating upper diseases by selecting lower points, pricking Fu points. The third is Jing Ci (Channel Pricking): pricking knots and collaterals of major channels. The fourth is Luo Ci (Collateral Pricking): pricking small collateral vessels. The fifth is Fen Ci (Compartment Pricking): pricking between muscle compartments. The sixth is Da Xie Ci (Great Draining Pricking): pricking large abscesses. The seventh is Mao Ci (Hair Pricking): pricking superficial Bi affecting the skin. The eighth is Ju Ci (Giant Pricking): treating left side by needling the right, and right by the left. The ninth is Cui Ci (Quenching Pricking): using fire-quenched needles to treat Bi syndrome.

Discussion on Twelve Acupunctures Corresponding to Twelve Channels
Qibo said: There are twelve types of acupuncture corresponding to the twelve channels. The first is Ou Ci (Paired Pricking): pressing the chest and back directly opposite the pain, one needle anteriorly and one posteriorly, to treat Heart Bi (needling should be oblique). The second is Bao Ci (Reporting Pricking): for pain with shifting locations; if moving up and down, insert without withdrawing, press the affected area with the left hand, then withdraw and re-insert. The third is Hui Ci (Expanding Pricking): direct pricking nearby, lifting the needle, moving the tendon forward and backward to relieve tension, treating tendon Bi. The fourth is Qi Ci (Equal Pricking): one central needle and two lateral needles, treating cold pathogens that are slightly deep. The fifth is Yang Ci (Raising Pricking): one central needle and four lateral shallow needles, treating extensive cold pathogens. The sixth is Zhi Zhen Ci (Direct Needle Pricking): drawing the skin before pricking, treating superficial cold pathogens. The seventh is Shu Ci (Transport Pricking): direct insertion and withdrawal, sparse needling and deep penetration, treating excess Qi and heat. The eighth is Duan Ci (Short Pricking): treating bone Bi, slightly shaking the needle while deepening, placing the needle against the bone and rubbing up and down. The ninth is Fu Ci (Floating Pricking): oblique insertion and shallow penetration, treating muscle stiffness with cold. The tenth is Yin Ci (Yin Pricking): alternating left and right, treating Cold Jue involving the Shaoyin channel behind the ankle. The eleventh is Bang Zi Ci (Side-by-Side Pricking): two adjacent needles, treating chronic Bi stagnation. The twelfth is Zan Ci (Assisting Pricking): direct insertion and withdrawal, frequent shallow needling to bleed, treating carbuncles and swellings.

Discussion on Needling Methods for Yin and Yang Channels of Hands and Feet
Qibo said: The Foot-Yangming Stomach channel is the sea of the five Zang and six Fu organs. Its pulse is large, with abundant blood and vigorous Qi, prone to high fever. For needling this channel, depth must be sufficient to disperse, and retention time sufficient to drain. Foot-Yangming: depth six fen, retain ten breaths. Foot-Taiyang: depth five fen, retain seven breaths. Foot-Shaoyang: depth four fen, retain five breaths. Foot-Taiyin: depth three fen, retain four breaths. Foot-Shaoyin: depth two fen, retain three breaths. Foot-Jueyin: depth one fen, retain two breaths. For the Yin and Yang channels of the hands, the pathways are close, Qi arrives quickly. Maximum depth should not exceed two fen, and retention should not exceed one breath. Exceeding these limits causes Qi depletion.

Discussion on Root and Branch
Qibo said: If illness precedes reversal (e.g., Qi rebellion), treat the Root; if reversal precedes illness, treat the Root. If cold precedes illness, treat the Root; if illness precedes cold, treat the Root. If heat precedes illness, treat the Root; if diarrhea precedes other illnesses, treat the Root. Must regulate the Root first, then treat other diseases. If fullness in the center (abdominal distension) follows illness, treat the Branch; if diarrhea follows illness, treat the Root; if fullness in the center precedes vexation, treat the Root. If there is an external pathogen and internal pathogen, and urination/defecation is obstructed, treat the Branch; if urination/defecation is free, treat the Root. If the disease manifests with excess, treat Root then Branch; if the disease manifests with deficiency, treat Branch then Root. Carefully observe severity; mild cases treat both Root and Branch simultaneously, severe cases treat only one. If obstruction of urination/defecation occurs first, followed by other diseases...

Discussion on Needling Commoners vs. Nobles
Qibo said: Can those who eat rich foods (Gao Liang) and those who eat coarse grains (Huo Shu) be treated the same? Those with smooth Qi exit quickly; those with stagnant Qi exit slowly. Those with fierce Qi use small needles and shallow insertion; those with stagnant Qi use large needles and deep insertion. Deep insertion requires retention; shallow insertion requires speed. Thus, needling commoners (Bu Yi) involves deep insertion and retention; needling nobles (Da Ren) involves gentle and slow manipulation. This is due to differences in the swiftness and smoothness of their Qi. For cold Bi with internal heat, use fire-quenching for commoners and herbal warming packs for nobles.

Discussion on Needling Normal People, Dark/Fat/Thin
Qibo said: For those strong in youth, with abundant Qi and blood, and firm skin, upon pathogenic invasion, needle deeply and retain. Fat people have broad shoulders, thick neck/axilla flesh, dark skin, thick lips, dark turbid blood, and sluggish Qi. They are greedy; needle deeply, retain, and increase frequency. Thin people have thin skin, pale complexion, lean muscles, thin lips, light speech, clear slippery blood, and are prone to Qi depletion and Blood damage; needle shallowly and withdraw quickly. Needling fat people is best in Autumn/Winter; needling thin people is best in Spring/Summer.

Discussion on Needling Strong Men
Qibo said: Strong men have solid bones, firm muscles, and relaxed joints. Heavy-set ones have stagnant Qi and turbid blood; needle deeply, retain, and increase frequency. Agile ones have smooth Qi and clear blood; needle shallowly and withdraw quickly.

Discussion on Needling Infants
Qibo said: Infants have fragile flesh, little blood, and weak Qi. Use fine needles, shallow insertion, and rapid withdrawal. Can be needled twice daily.

Discussion on Different Needling Based on Left/Right/Upper/Lower Deficiency and Excess
Qibo said: Heaven is deficient in the Northwest, so the Northwest is Yin; thus, humans' right ear/eye are less acute than the left. Earth is incomplete in the Southeast, so the Southeast is Yang; thus, humans' left hand/foot are weaker than the right. The East is Yang, Yang essence gathers upward, making the upper bright and lower empty, so ears/eyes are acute but hands/feet are inconvenient. The West is Yin, Yin essence gathers downward, making the lower full and upper empty, so ears/eyes are dull but hands/feet are agile. If both are exposed to pathogens, upper pathology is worse on the right, lower pathology is worse on the left, due to the incompleteness of Heaven and Earth Yin/Yang. Heaven has Essence, Earth has Form; Heaven has Eight Seasons, Earth has Five Regions, thus parents of all things. Clear Yang rises to Heaven, Turbid Yin descends to Earth, nourishing the feet; middle human affairs nourish the Five Zang. Heavenly Qi connects to the Lungs, Earthly Qi connects to the throat, Wind Qi connects to the Liver, Thunder Qi connects to the Heart, Grain Qi connects to the Spleen, Rain Qi connects to the Kidneys. The Six Channels are rivers, the Gut and Stomach are seas, the Nine Orifices are water outlets. Using Heaven and Earth as Yin and Yang, sweat of Yang is named after Heaven's rain, Qi of Yang is named after Heaven's wind. Violent phenomena resemble thunder, rebellious phenomena resemble Yang. Therefore, treatment not following Heaven's laws and Earth's principles leads to disaster. Evil winds arrive swiftly like wind and rain. The skilled healer treats the skin/hair first, then muscles/skin, then sinews/vessels, then Six Fu, then Five Zang. Treating Five Zang disease often results in half death, half life. Thus, Heavenly pathogenic Qi harms the Five Zang; dietary cold/heat harms the... [text cuts off] ...draw Yin, treat left with right, treat right with left, know the other through self, know the interior through the exterior, observe the logic of excess and deficiency, see subtle signs to detect faults, use without danger.