一取气上之法,补三次,即提七次,将针向上,是为循。
问曰∶何为血行、气行?
答曰∶气行者,麻。血行者,痛也。
问曰∶气上,何以气血调匀?
答曰∶上刮七次,又战七次,气血相停,不伤荣卫。不知气血相停,如无目之人也。
二取气下之法,泻四次,即按七次,将针向下循。
问曰∶血痛血行,气麻气行者,根据前一理。气下者何以气血调匀?
答曰∶下刮七次,战七次,相通。知道气下者,又不知冷热汗出者,此乃不为良医。
三取摄之法,何为摄?
答曰∶在有病,将针头再提,用七七贯穿经络,方谓之搜。补泻提按等,不使搜,病者
不能除,所以见血气上下皆行也。
四取扪者,何为扪?
答曰∶用气上、气下之法。扪,关关。开者,泻也;关者,补也。取血多用补,取气多用开。
五取弹努之法,何也?
答曰∶取血者,先弹七七,下即补三四次。若是不止,将糊针眼上三寸,医人亲手打乞三下,此血即止。
六取进退之法,何也?
答曰∶血来加进,气来加退。进者,主病患发热。退者,虚汗有冷,邪气出,正气归于
1. Method of Ascending Qi: Perform tonification three times, then lift the needle seven times, guiding the needle tip upward; this is called "Xun" (following the meridian direction).
Question: What are blood movement and qi movement?
Answer: The sensation of qi movement is numbness; the sensation of blood movement is pain.
Question: When ascending qi, how can one harmonize and balance the qi and blood?
Answer: Scrape upwards seven times, then tremble the needle seven times to achieve equilibrium between qi and blood, thereby protecting Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) Qi. Not understanding this equilibrium is like being blind.
2. Method of Descending Qi: Perform sedation four times, then press down seven times, guiding the needle downward.
Question: The principles of painful blood movement and numbing qi movement follow the previous text. When descending qi, how can one harmonize and balance the qi and blood?
Answer: Scrape downwards seven times, tremble seven times to ensure the connection of meridians. Knowing only the method of descending qi but failing to discern cold, heat, or sweating indicates one is not a competent physician.
3. Method of She (Grasping/Searching): What is She?
Answer: At the diseased site, lift the needle head again, penetrating the meridians with the intensity of 7x7 (49 times); this is called "Sou" (searching for pathogenic factors). Without employing the "Sou" technique alongside tonification and sedation lifting/pressing methods, the disease cannot be eliminated, ensuring the free flow of qi and blood up and down.
4. Method of Men (Palpating/Closing): What is Men?
Answer: Utilize the methods of ascending and descending qi. "Men" implies closing. Opening constitutes sedation; closing constitutes tonification. Tonification is used more frequently when extracting blood; opening/sedation is used more frequently when extracting qi.
5. Method of Tan Nu (Plucking/Swelling): What is this?
Answer: For bloodletting, first pluck the needle 7x7 (49 times), followed by 3-4 times of tonification. If bleeding does not stop, apply a paste to seal the area three cun above the needle hole, and the physician should strike it three times with their hand to stop the bleeding.
6. Method of Jin Tui (Advancing and Retreating): What is this?
Answer: Advance the needle when blood arrives; retreat the needle when qi arrives. Advancing treats patient fever. Retreating treats deficiency sweating accompanied by cold, expelling pathogenic factors and returning righteous qi.
(Note: Textual continuity issue in source)
If skin heat is present but qi has not arrived, do not rotate too tightly during the lifting phase of tonification. If rotated too tightly, shake the needle fourteen times. When the patient suffers from severe whole-body heat, rotating left and right to extract blood is optimal.
8. Method of Nian (Twirling): What is this?
Answer: This is indicated for patients who have lost consciousness. "Nian" involves the number three, symbolizing the Three Powers (Heaven, Earth, Human). If the patient's qi and blood do not arrive, and twirling upward yields no response, it is a fatal condition that cannot be cured.