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(Manual Techniques Song, Needle Repair, Measurement of Cun, Holding the Needle, Stabilizing Shen, Tonification and Drainage Methods, Needle Withdrawal, Combination Method, Syncope during Needling)

The Qi and Blood distribution among the Three Yin and Three Yang meridians; their stagnation is entirely regulated by the use of gold needles. The left hand points to the acupoint to know the true location, while the right hand holds the needle with a calm mind. For tonification (Tonification), long retention is required; the secret between deficiency and non-deficiency is profound. If one sincerely exerts mental and physical effort in learning, one will inevitably become clearer and wiser through deeper inquiry. It is like building a carriage behind closed doors; upon exiting, the wheel tracks perfectly align with the standard path, worth a thousand pieces of gold. I hope those with ambition carefully ponder this, so that the secrets of millennia may find understanding.

In ancient times, there were nine types of needles. Initially, repeated attempts at crafting them did not meet the standards. Later, receiving oral instruction from my master, I used a large steel sewing needle, two cun in length, or one and a half cun. Three manual techniques are listed below: The triangular needle (Sanzhen) is inserted and immediately withdrawn to bleed, involving no complex manipulation; this is called the draining needle (Draining method), capable of treating hundred diseases. The filiform needle (Maozhen) has its sharp tip removed; when encountering tendons, the tendon yields; when meeting bone, the bone resists, thus not injuring the muscle tissue. The triangular needle does not have its tip removed, allowing for immediate bleeding. Needles made of metal are even better. (Another type involves needle-acupoint pairing, using long needles five to six cun in length.)
If a needle breaks accidentally, another needle can be inserted adjacent to the original acupoint to supplement and then immediately withdrawn. Alternatively, a lodestone (Cishi, magnetite) can be used to extract the broken needle. (Lodestone is also known as a magnet.)

People vary in height, so the measurement of "cun" varies accordingly. Take the middle segment of the patient's middle finger; when flexed, the distance between the two transverse creases constitutes one cun. This is used for horizontal measurements on the hands, feet, and back. From the wrist crease to the elbow crease, subtracting one cun leaves eight cun, used for vertical measurements on the abdomen. Between the patient's two nipples, measured with straw, divided into eight cun, used for horizontal measurements on the abdomen. From the glabella (Yintang) to the Dazhui point (GV14), divided into one chi and eight cun, used for measurements on the head and face. From the inner canthus to the outer canthus constitutes one cun, used for horizontal measurements on the head.

Confirm the acupoints carefully. The physician uses the thumbnail of the left thumb or index finger to press firmly into the acupoint. The patient should feel numbness and the sensation of Qi moving, or the arterial pulse should respond under pressure. After needling several people, one becomes a skilled practitioner; warming the needle is unnecessary.

When preparing to needle, the physician should speak calmly to prevent alarm. Perform a few light, superficial pricks first; once the patient is no longer afraid, proceed with the actual needling. The physician should maintain a composed demeanor, gaze fixed forward without distraction, heart free of other thoughts, hand steady as if holding a tiger, and momentum powerful as if capturing a dragon. In such a state, the application of needles will naturally be flawless.