王节斋曰。近有为温针者。乃楚人之法。其法针于穴。以香白芷作圆饼。套针上。以艾
蒸温
山野贫贱之人。经络受风寒致病者。或有效。只是温针通气而已。于血宜衍。于疾无与也。
古针法最妙。但今无传。恐不得精高之人。误用之。则危拙出于顷刻。唯灸得穴。有益无害
。日后宜行之。
本草云。医工针人。而针折在肉中不出。杵牡鼠肝及脑涂之。又象牙主诸针及杂物入肉
。刮取屑。细研入水和。敷上立出。肘后方。针折肉中。象牙屑水和敷上立出。
宝鉴涌针膏。取针刺入肉并箭头。鼠粪头十个、蝼蛄四十九个、土消虫十个、芫青、马
肉中
石脑油三两。蒿柴灰汁三升。上将灰汁、石脑油以文武火熬成膏。次下诸药令匀。瓷器内收
贮。临用时。看创大小点药。良久自然涌出。
万圣神应丹。出针并箭头。莨菪根今天仙子苗是也。于端午前一日。寻上项科取酌中一
科。
下取出。用净水洗了。于静室中石臼中捣如泥。丸如弹子大。黄丹为衣。纸袋内封了。悬高
处阴干。针箭不出者。以绯绢袋盛一丸。放在脐下。用绵裹肚系了。先用象牙末屑于伤处贴
了。后用此药。若创口生合。用刀子微割开。以象牙末贴之。
神圣膏。取针入皮肤。车脂不拘多少。成膏子好。摊纸上。如钱大。贴之。二日一换。
三五次。针自出。大有神效。
乌翎散。取针铁入皮肤。乌翎三五枝。火炙焦为末。好醋调成膏。涂创上。纸盖。一两
次其针自出。
按素问云。针耀而匀。示人临病。当查看其针。令光耀滑泽匀直而无曲损也。能守此训
。自不致折矣。又磁石能引针出肉。古人疗折针法虽多。今备录于此。宜随轻重选用之。
Wang Jiezhai stated: Recently, some practitioners have employed warm needle therapy (Warm Needle Moxibustion), which is a method from the Chu region. The procedure involves inserting a needle into an acupoint, placing a round cake made of Bletillae Rhizoma (Xiangbaizhi) over the needle handle, and then moxibusting on top of the cake. This method may be effective for poor people in mountainous areas suffering from diseases caused by wind-cold invading the meridians, but it merely promotes the flow of Qi through warming. It offers no benefit to the blood and has no direct effect on the disease itself.
The ancient acupuncture techniques were the most exquisite, but they are no longer transmitted today. It is feared that if unskilled or incompetent persons misuse them, danger and clumsiness will arise instantly. Only moxibustion with accurate point selection is beneficial and harmless. In the future, this method should be promoted.
Bencao states: If a physician or acupuncturist's needle breaks and remains embedded in the flesh, applying liver and brain of Mus musculus domesticus (Moshu) can help. Additionally, Cornu Bubali (Shanyao/Xiangya - note: context implies Ivory, specifically Elephas maximus/Asiatic elephant ivory, often referred to as Xiangya in TCM) treats needles and foreign objects embedded in flesh. Scrape off ivory shavings, grind them finely, mix with water, and apply to the site; the needle will emerge immediately. The Emergency Prescriptions Kept Up My Sleeve (Zhouhou Beiji Fang) also records: For a broken needle in the flesh, apply ivory shavings mixed with water, and the needle will emerge immediately.
The Yongzhen Ointment (Yongzhen Gao) from Health and Treasure (Weisheng Baojian) is used to extract needles and arrowheads embedded in flesh. Ingredients include ten rat feces heads, forty-nine ground beetles (Lougu), ten ground beetle larvae (Tuxiao), Mylabris (Yuanqing), [text missing after 'Ma'], Sanqi Petroleum (Shinao) 3 liang, and three sheng of juice from mugwort ash. First, boil the ash juice and petroleum over alternating mild and strong heat until it forms an ointment. Then add the other medicines to make it uniform. Store in a porcelain vessel. When using, apply the ointment according to the size of the wound; after a while, it will naturally erupt/push out the object.
Wansheng Shenyin Dan (Ten Thousand Holy Efficacious Pill) is used to extract needles and arrowheads. The ingredient is the root of Datura metel (Liangdanggen), which is the seedling of Hyoscyamus niger (Tianxianzi) today. One day before the Dragon Boat Festival, select one of the aforementioned plants appropriately. Harvest it, wash it with clean water, pound it into a paste in a stone mortar in a quiet room, and form pills the size of marbles. Coat with red lead (Huangdan), seal in paper bags, and dry in the shade in a high place. If a needle or arrowhead does not come out, place one pill in a crimson silk bag under the umbilicus, wrap the abdomen with cotton cloth, and tie it. First, apply ivory powder to the injury site, then use this medicine. If the wound heals over, cut it open slightly with a knife and apply ivory powder.
Shensheng Gao (Divine Holy Ointment) is used to extract needles entering the skin. Take axle grease (Chezhi) in any amount, preferably made into an ointment, spread it on paper, size of a coin, and apply to the site. Change every two days. After three to five applications, the needle will emerge spontaneously, with great efficacy.
Wuling San (Crow Feather Powder) is used to extract iron needles entering the skin. Take three to five crow feathers, roast them until charred, and grind into powder. Mix with good vinegar to form an ointment, apply to the wound, cover with paper, and within one or two instances, the needle will emerge.
According to the Suwen (Basic Questions): "Needles should be bright and even." This instructs practitioners to inspect their needles before treating patients, ensuring they are bright, smooth, uniform, straight, and free of bends or damage. Adhering to this teaching prevents needle breakage. Furthermore, magnetite (Cishi) can attract needles out of the flesh. Although there are many ancient methods for treating broken needles, they are all recorded here for reference. Choose appropriate ones based on the severity of the condition.