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Tianling Jierong, wishing to preserve longevity, is the One of Tai Xuan. Guard its true form. The five viscera spirit lords, each maintain peace and tranquility. Once the divine needle is inserted, ten thousand poisons hide their forms. Swiftly as law commands, seize [the evil].

Whenever needling, silently recite the spell once, blow breath onto the needle, visualize the needle like a fire dragon emerging from the patient's heart and abdomen; the illness will heal rapidly.

Ben Cao states: Ma Xian Tie (horse bit iron) is non-toxic. Ri Hua Zi says: Old ones are good, or used by medical practitioners ○ Rou Tie (soft iron/ wrought iron) is toxic. Therefore, using Ma Xian Tie avoids this issue; such materials are all suitable. If Gold Needle is used, it is even better.

First, heat the iron wire in fire until red-hot, then cut it. Lengths can be two cun, three cun, or five cun, with no restriction on length. Then apply Chan Su (Toad Venom) to the needle, place it back into the fire for slight heating, ensuring it does not become red-hot. Take it out and apply Chan Su again as before, repeating three times. On the third occasion, while hot, insert the needle into the skin side of cured meat, penetrating into the flesh surface. Boil these herbs in two bowls of water first, then put the needle-meat mixture inside, boil until the water dries up, pour out and wait for cooling. Remove the needle, insert it into yellow earth over a hundred times to remove fire toxicity; a bright color indicates it is good. Then wrap copper wire around the needle body. The needle tip must be ground round, do not use sharp edges.

She Xiang (Moschus, 5 fen), Dan Fan (Chalcanthite, 1 qian each), Shi Hu (Dendrobii Caulis, 1 qian each), Chuan Shan Jia (Manis Squama, 3 qian each), Dang Gui Wei (Angelicae Sinensis Radix, 3 qian each), Zhu Sha (Cinnabaris, 3 qian each), Mo Yao (Myrrha, 3 qian each), Chuan Xiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma, 3 qian each), Guang Yu Jin (Curcumae Longae Radix, 3 qian each), Xi Xin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma, 3 qian each), Chen Xiang (Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum, 5 qian each), Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, 5 qian each), Ci Shi (Magnetitum, 1 liang, capable of guiding other herbs into the iron).
Place the above herbs and needle together in water, boil in a porcelain jar for half a day, wash and select.

Another prescription:
Ba Dou (Crotonis Fructus, husked, 1 liang each), Wu Tou (Aconiti Radix, 1 liang each), Ma Huang (Ephedrae Herba, 5 qian), Mu Bie Zi (Strychni Semen, sliced), Wu Mei (Mume Fructus, 10 each).
Stone drugs and needle placed in water, boiled as before (Original formula contains Liu Huang/Sulfur 5 qian, but removed because Sulfur damages iron).

Nine Needles Diagram 1
One is Di Zhen (Pointing Needle). Head large, tip sharp. Modeled after Jin Zhen (cloth pin). Tapering sharply at the end, one cun and five fen long, total length one cun and six fen. Used for heat in head and body. Yi Zong Jin Jian says: Di means sharp. Intends shallow insertion without deep penetration.

Two is Yuan Zhen (Round Needle). Body oval, tip rounded. Modeled after Xu Zhen (cotton needle). Length one cun and six fen. Mainly treats Qi fullness between muscles.

Three is Bi Zhen (Bi Needle). Body thick, tip blunt. Modeled after the sharpness of millet grains. Length three cun and half. Mainly treats pressing meridians to extract Qi, causing pathogenic factors to exit.

Four is Feng Zhen (Sharp Needle). Body has edge, tip sharp. Modeled after Xu Zhen. Length one cun and six fen. Used for treating abscesses, heat, and bleeding. Yi Zong Jin Jian says: Blade has three corners. Upper part retains eight fen, lower part retains eight fen.

Five is Pi Zhen (Pi Needle). Tip like sword blade, width two fen and half, length four cun. Mainly treats draining large abscess pus. Also called Lian Zhen. Pi sounds like 'pi', same as 'Pi'.

Nine Needles Diagram 2
Six is Yuan Li Zhen (Round-Sharp Needle). Point like ox hair, both round and sharp. End slightly larger but reverses to smaller. Body modeled after ox hair needle. Length one cun and six fen. Mainly treats treating abscess bi-syndrome.

Seven is Hao Zhen (Hair Needle). Point like mosquito or horsefly proboscis. Modeled after fine hair. Length one cun and six fen. Mainly treats cold-heat pain-bi in collaterals.

Eight is Chang Zhen (Long Needle). Elongated body, sharp tip. Modeled after Qi Zhen. Length seven cun. Mainly treats deep pathogenic factors and distant bi-syndrome. Zhen Jiu Da Cheng says: The modern name for this is Tiao Zhen (Jumping Needle).

Nine is Da Zhen (Large Needle). Tip slightly blunt. Modeled after Feng Zhen. Length four cun. Mainly treats extracting large Qi stuck in joints, resolving muscle layer and detoxifying. Yi Zong Jin Jian says: Shape like a bar, joined and large.

According to Lei Jing commentary: Jin Zhen, Xu Zhen, Qi Zhen etc. styles must be ancient needle names. Zhen Jiu Da Cheng First Needle commentary says: Arrowhead needle. Fourth Feng Zhen commentary says: Three-edged needle. Their styles differ from Ling Shu but are also compatible. Ninth Da Zhen needle commentary says: Also called Fan Zhen (Burning Needle). Tiao Jing Lun commentary says: Fan Zhen refers to inserting the needle then warming it with fire. Cui Zhen refers to heating the needle red with fire before puncturing.