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The technique of "Green Dragon Swinging Tail" ensures the smooth flow of Qi, causing Blood and Qi to surge and circulate throughout the body. Whether it is pain or various diseases, after inserting the needle for a moment, myriad ailments can be resolved.

It moves like steering a boat in downstream currents, and resembles the "Red Phoenix Shaking Head." One must clearly distinguish between Ying-Sui (following and opposing) techniques for tonification and sedation; do not laboriously seek external methods.

The technique of "Ziwu Daobai" (Midnight-Noon Water-Mortar) is rarely mastered by experts. Nine insertions and seven withdrawals should not be altered arbitrarily. Myriad ailments naturally conform to the laws of Heaven, so the patient may smile as they recover.

Observing the Way of Needling, the most remarkable methods are those that are swift. One must understand tonification and sedation to rescue critical conditions. First, distinguish the upper and lower aspects of the disease; then determine the height and depth of the acupoints. For head points, the timing is late and position low; for lower body points, the timing is early and position high. Usage requires knowledge of timing: morning is early and Yang, afternoon is late and Yin. The division of upper and lower for men and women is based on the waist. The Six Yang Meridians of Hand and Foot: Hand meridians go to the Head, Head meridians go to the Foot. The Six Yin Meridians of Hand and Foot: Foot meridians go to the Abdomen, Chest meridians go to the Hand. Yin ascends, Yang descends; this is the mechanism of entry and exit. Opposing the meridian direction constitutes Sedation (Xie) and Ying (meeting); following the meridian direction constitutes Tonification (Bu) and Sui (following). In Spring and Summer, needling should be shallow (for thin individuals); in Autumn and Winter, needling should be deep (for fat individuals). Furthermore, observe the thickness of Yuan Qi (Original Qi); the depth of needling should be appropriate.

Regarding tonification and sedation methods, the subtlety lies in respiration and finger manipulation. For men: advancing the thumb forward and turning left during exhalation is Tonification; withdrawing the thumb backward and turning right during inhalation is Sedation. Lifting the needle generates Heat; inserting the needle generates Cold. For women: withdrawing the thumb backward and turning right during inhalation is Tonification; advancing the thumb forward and turning left during exhalation is Sedation. Inserting the needle generates Heat; lifting the needle generates Cold. There are differences between left and right hands, and between the Chest and Back. The above applies to before noon; after noon, it is reversed. Therefore, pressing with fingernails is the method for preparing to insert the needle; shaking and withdrawing is the method for removing the needle; moving and advancing is the method for urging Qi; circulating and grasping is the method for conducting Qi; rubbing the needle removes disease; flicking the needle tonifies deficiency. Rotating around the abdomen and palpating closes the acupoint. Heavy pressing equivalent to a bean's weight is called "An" (Pressing); light floating equivalent to a bean's weight is called "Ti" (Lifting). These fourteen methods constitute the essentials of needling. Tonification involves one withdrawal and three flights, causing True Qi to return naturally; Sedation involves one flight and three withdrawals, causing Evil Qi to avoid naturally. Tonification supplements insufficiency; Sedation drains excess. Excess manifests as swelling and pain, termed "Shi" (Excess); insufficiency manifests as itching and numbness, termed "Xu" (Deficiency). When Qi arrives, effect is rapid; when Qi is slow, effect is slow. Life, death, nobility, and baseness are known under the needle. Baseline constitutions feel hard; noble constitutions feel crisp. Those alive feel rough/astringent; those dying feel empty. If Qi does not arrive, death is certain.

Moreover, the method of inserting the needle first requires heavy pressing with nails, followed by having the patient cough once, inserting the needle upon the cough. For all Tonification, begin during exhalation. Initially insert to the skin layer, called "Tian Cai" (Heaven Talent); pause slightly and advance to the muscle layer, called "Ren Cai" (Human Talent); pause again and advance to the bone-tendon junction, called "Di Cai" (Earth Talent). This is the extreme depth, where Tonification should be performed. Pause for a long time, then withdraw the needle to the Ren (Human) level. Wait for the Qi sensation to become heavy and tight, invert the needle tip towards the disease, and move back and forth; the techniques of Feijing Zouqi (Flying through meridians and moving Qi) are contained herein. For all Sedation, begin during inhalation. Initially insert to Tian, pause slightly and advance directly to Di. Upon obtaining Qi, perform Sedation. Pause for a long time, then withdraw the needle to Ren. Upon obtaining Qi and feeling heavy/tight, invert the needle tip towards the disease, using the same method as before. If syncope occurs due to its cause is deficiency of Shen Qi. Apply Tonification, cover the patient with a sleeve, wait for breath to return at mouth and nose, provide hot soup, pause briefly, and apply treatment again according to previous methods.

Regarding Qi regulation: after inserting the needle to Di, withdraw to Ren. To make Qi ascend, twist the needle to the right; to make Qi descend, twist the needle to the left. For Tonification, exhale first then inhale; for Sedation, inhale first then exhale. If Qi does not arrive, use hand circulation/grasping, nail pressing, needle shaking, advancing/turning/rubbing/flicking until Qi arrives. Use the Longhu Shengteng (Dragon-Tiger Ascending-Soaring) method: press front to make Qi go back, press back to make Qi go front, guiding Qi to the painful area. Use Naqi (Receiving Qi) method: hold needle straight and insert, then push down to receive, preventing Qi from retreating. If joint obstruction prevents Qi passage, use Longhu Guifeng (Dragon-Turtle-Green-Pheasant) techniques to connect meridians and Qi. These are major methods for driving and transporting Qi. Combined with circulation, grasping, and nail pressing, there is no failure. This is the wonder of Tongxian.

Regarding needle removal: if the disease trend has receded and needle Qi is loose, remove. If the disease remains, the needle Qi is rooted, immovable and unrotatable, because Evil Qi is sucking the needle; True Qi has not arrived, so do not remove. Removing it will cause disease recurrence; reapply Tonification/Sedation, wait until loose, then withdraw slightly, shake and pause. For Tonification, remove quickly during inhalation and immediately close the acupoint. For Sedation, remove slowly during exhalation and leave the acupoint open. To make pores dense, inhale afterwards. Thus, inserting the needle should be slow; haste injures Blood. Removing the needle should be gentle; haste injures Qi. The above summarizes the essentials.

There are eight methods for treating diseases. 1. Shaoshan Huo (Fire Mountain): treats stubborn numbness and cold bi. Start shallow, go deep. Use Nine Yang numbers with three advances and three retreats. Slow lift, firm press. When heat arrives, close tightly, insert needle. Reliable for dispelling cold. 2. Toutian Liang (Cool Sky): treats muscular heat and bone-steaming fever. Start deep, go shallow. Use Six Yin numbers with three withdrawals and three insertions. Firm lift, slow press. When cold arrives, slowly lift needle. Reliable for reducing heat. All require fine rubbing, serving as the standard for reducing heat. 3. Yang Zhong Yin Yin (Yin within Yang): starts with cold then heat, shallow to deep. Using Nine-Six method, Tonify first then Sedate. 4. Yin Zhong Yin Yang (Yang within Yin): starts with heat then cold, deep to shallow. Using Nine-Six method, Sedate first then Tonify. For Tonification, wait for heat; for Sedation, wait for cold. Like twisting thread, turn needle slowly. Method depends on shallow or deep; do not confuse them. 5. Ziwu Daobai: treats water distension and diaphragmatic qi. After entering point, regulate Qi evenly. Needle moves up and down, nine insertions six withdrawals, rotating left and right, ten times for self-leveling. 6. Jinqi Jue (Secret of Advancing Qi): treats pain in waist, back, elbows, knees, and wandering pain. Pierce 9 fen, perform nine Tonifications. Lay needle horizontally, count five to seven inhalations, wait for Qi up and down. Can also use Longhu Jiaozhan (Dragon-Tiger Battle), twist left nine times and right six times. This is also a pain-stopping needle. 7. Liuqi Jue (Secret of Retaining Qi): treats pi-jia (accumulations/masses). Pierce 7 fen, use pure Yang. Then insert straight. When Qi arrives, pierce deep, lift needle and pause. 8. Choutian Jue (Secret of Drawing and Adding): treats paralysis, sores, and scabies. Select key points, make Nine Yang obtain Qi, lift and press/search. Majorly circulate Qi thoroughly, hold needle straight and insert, then push down to receive, restore Yang and reverse Yin. Subtle under fingers, flexible in mind. If no response, repeat.

For crossing passes and joints to urge Qi, use Feijing Zouqi techniques, four methods: 1. Qinglong Baiwei (Green Dragon Swinging Tail): like holding a ship's rudder, neither advancing nor retreating, left and right, slowly拨动 (拨动 means to stir/move). 2. Baihu Yaotou (White Tiger Shaking Head): like shaking a bell, retreat square advance circle, combined with left and right, shake and vibrate. 3. Canggui Tanxue (Green Turtle Exploring Cave): like entering soil, one retreat three advances, drill and pick in four directions. 4. Chifeng Yingyuan (Red Phoenix Welcoming Source): spreading wings ritual. Insert to Di, lift to Tian, wait for needle to shake naturally, return to origin, fly around up/down/left/right. Disease in upper part: retreat during inhalation; disease in lower part: advance during exhalation.

For chronic hemiplegia, the method of connecting meridians and Qi has fixed cun measurements per breath. Hand-Foot Six Yang: upper 9, lower 14, passing meridian 4 cun. Hand-Foot Six Yin: upper 7, lower 12, passing meridian 5 cun. Rely on shaking and insertion/extraction, same breathing method, drive and circulate Blood and Qi, flowing completely in an instant, connecting up and down, making cold warm and heat cool, stopping pain and eliminating distension. Like opening a canal to drain water, effect is immediate. How could critical conditions not rise?

Although, diseases have three causes, all stemming from Blood and Qi; needles divide into eight methods, never leaving Yin and Yang. Meridians circulate day and night, respiration comes and goes without ceasing. Harmony leads to health; otherwise, diseases arise. Compare to countries and regions, mountains, seas, fields, rivers, valleys. When seasons and wind/rain are balanced, waterways are clear, people are safe, and goods abundant. If one region suffers uneven wind/rain, drought or flood, causing waterways to dry up or block, disaster follows. Human Blood and Qi, affected by three causes, is like regions affected by drought/flood. Acupuncture and moxibustion therefore unblock meridians, balance Blood and Qi, eliminate evil and support righteousness. Thus, it is said the swift method is most wondrous.