宏纲陈氏曰∶取穴既正，左手大指掐其穴，右手置针于穴上，令患人咳嗽一声，随咳内
针至分寸，候数穴针毕，停少时，用右手大指及食指持针，细细动摇，进退搓捻其针，如手
颤之状，谓之催气。约行五六次，觉针下气紧，却用泻法如针左边，用右手大指、食指持针
，以大指向前，食指向后，以针头轻提往左转。如有数针，俱根据此法。俱转毕，仍用右手大
指、食指持针，却用食指连搓三下（谓之飞）。仍轻提往左转，略退针半分许，谓之三飞一退
。根据此法行至五六次，觉针下沉紧，是气至极矣。再轻提往左转一二次，如针右边，以左手
大指、食指持针，以大指向前，食指向后，根据前法连搓三下，轻提针头向右转，是针右边泻
法。欲出针时，令病患咳嗽一声，随咳出针，此之谓泻法也。
凡人有疾，皆邪气所凑，虽病患瘦弱，不可专行补法。经曰∶邪之所凑，其气必虚。如
患赤目等疾，明见其为邪热所致，可专行泻法。其余诸疾，只宜平补平泻，须先泻后补，谓
之先泻邪气，后补真气，此乃先师不传之秘诀也。如人有疾，根据前用手法催气取气，泻之既
毕，却行补法，令病患吸气一口，随吸转针。如针左边，捻针头转向右边，以我之右手大指
、食指持针，以食指向前，大指向后，仍捻针深入一二分，使真气深入肌肉之分。如针右
边
分。如有数穴，根据此法行之。既毕，停少时，却用手指于针头上，轻弹三下，如此三次，仍用
我左手大指、食指持针，以大指连搓三下（谓之飞）。将针深进一二分，以针头向左边，
谓之一进三飞。根据此法行至五六次，觉针下沉紧，或针下气热，
是气至足矣。令病患吸气一口，随吸出针，急以手按其穴，此谓之补法也。
凡针背腹两边穴，分阴阳经补泻。针男子背上中行，左转为补，右转为泻。腹上中行，
右转为补，左转为泻。女人背中行，右转为补，左转为泻。腹中行，左转为补，右转为泻。
盖男子背阳腹阴，女子背阴腹阳，故也。
Master Honggang Chen said: Once the acupoints are selected accurately, use the thumb of the left hand to press on the point. Place the needle on the acupoint with the right hand. Ask the patient to cough once; upon the sound of the cough, insert the needle to the specified depth. After all designated points have been needled, pause for a moment. Hold the needle with the thumb and index finger of the right hand, gently shaking, advancing, retreating, and twirling the needle, resembling the trembling of a hand. This is called "Cui Qi" (Urging the Arrival of Qi). Perform this approximately five or six times until a tight sensation of Qi is felt under the needle. Then apply the reducing method. For example, when needling the left side, hold the needle with the thumb and index finger of the right hand, push the thumb forward and pull the index finger backward, gently lifting the needle head and turning it to the left. If multiple points are involved, follow this method for all. After rotation is complete, still holding the needle with the thumb and index finger of the right hand, use the index finger to rub the needle handle three consecutive times (this is called "Fei" or Flying). Then gently lift the needle head and turn it to the left, slightly withdrawing the needle by about half a cun, which is called "San Fei Yi Tui" (Three Flies and One Withdrawal). Following this method for five or six times, if a heavy and tight sensation is felt under the needle, it indicates that Qi has reached its peak. Gently lift the needle head and turn it to the left one or two more times. When needling the right side, hold the needle with the thumb and index finger of the left hand, push the thumb forward and pull the index finger backward. Follow the previous method: rub three times consecutively, then gently lift the needle head and turn it to the right. This constitutes the reducing method for the right side. To withdraw the needle, ask the patient to cough once; withdraw the needle simultaneously with the cough. This is defined as the reducing method.
Generally, human diseases are caused by the gathering of pathogenic factors. Even if the patient is emaciated and weak, one should not exclusively apply tonifying methods. The Classics state: "Where pathogenic factors gather, Qi must be deficient." If suffering from conditions such as red eyes, where it is clearly evident that they are caused by pathogenic heat, one may exclusively apply the reducing method. For other diseases, only balanced tonification and reduction are suitable. One must reduce first and then tonify, meaning first eliminating pathogenic factors and then supplementing true Qi. This is the secret technique passed down by the ancient masters but not easily revealed. If a person is ill, after using the aforementioned manual techniques to urge and obtain Qi, and completing the reducing method, proceed with the tonifying method. Ask the patient to take a deep breath in; rotate the needle during inhalation. When needling the left side, turn the needle head to the right. Hold the needle with the thumb and index finger of the right hand, index finger forward, thumb backward. Continue twirling the needle to deepen insertion by one or two fen, allowing True Qi to penetrate deeply into the muscle layers. [Text gap in original source] If multiple points are needled, follow this method. Upon completion, pause briefly. Then, lightly tap the needle head three times with a finger, repeating this three times. Still holding the needle with the thumb and index finger of the left hand, rub the needle handle three consecutive times with the thumb (called "Fei"). Advance the needle deeper by one or two fen, directing the needle head to the left. This is called "Yi Jin San Fei" (One Advance and Three Flies). Following this method for five or six times, if a heavy, tight sensation or warmth under the needle is felt, it indicates that Qi arrival is sufficient. Ask the patient to inhale, and withdraw the needle during inhalation. Immediately press the acupoint with the hand. This is defined as the tonifying method.
When needling acupoints on both sides of the back and abdomen, distinguish between Yin and Yang meridians for tonification and reduction. For men, needling the midline of the back: left rotation is tonification, right rotation is reduction. On the midline of the abdomen: right rotation is tonification, left rotation is reduction. For women, needling the midline of the back: right rotation is tonification, left rotation is reduction. On the midline of the abdomen: left rotation is tonification, right rotation is reduction. This is because, for men, the back is Yang and the abdomen is Yin, whereas for women, the back is Yin and the abdomen is Yang.