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It is best to use iron from a long-used horse bit to make needles (from *Jingyao*).

To boil the needles, take one liang of Aconitum carmichaelii Radix (Wutou, 乌头) and Datura metel Seed (Badou, 巴豆) flesh, five qian of Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang, 麻黄), ten seeds of Momordica cochinchinensis (Mubiezi, 木鳖子) flesh, and five dried fruits of Phyllanthus emblica (Wumei, 乌梅). Place the needle and herbs together in a silver or ceramic vessel, boil in water for one day, then remove and wash. Next, use half a liang each of Myrrha (Moyao, 没药), Boswellia carterii Gum Resin (Ruxiang, 乳香), Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui, 当归), and Porphyroclastis (Huaruishi, 花蕊石) as pain-relieving agents. Boil again in water for one day as before. Remove, wash with Gleditsia sinensis Fruit juice (Zaojiao, 皂角) water, then boil in dog meat for one day. Finally, polish clean with tile dust until the needle tip is straight and true, coat with Brassica campestris var. oleifera seed oil (Songziyou, 菘子油), and it is ideal to keep it close to human body heat regularly (from *Defxiao*).

In spring, Qi resides in the meridians; in summer, in the collateral vessels (Sunluo, 孙络); in late summer, in the muscles; in autumn, in the skin; and in winter, in the bone marrow. Therefore, pathogenic factors often enter the body following the seasonal Qi and blood flow, invading along the meridian Qi. Expelling the pathogen prevents chaotic Qi generation; conversely, chaotic Qi arises and mixes turbidly (from *Neijing*).

Diseases manifest as superficial or deep, so acupuncture depth must be shallow or deep accordingly. One must reach the proper tissue layer without exceeding the correct pathway. Exceeding it causes internal injury; failing to reach it results in external stagnation, allowing pathogens to invade. Incorrect depth becomes a major harm, disturbing the internal Zang organs and leading to severe illness later (from *Neijing*).

Acupuncture should be shallow in spring and summer, and deep in autumn and winter. This is because Yang Qi is superior in spring and summer, and human Qi also rises upward, so shallow needling is appropriate. In autumn and winter, Yang Qi sinks downward, and human Qi also descends, so deep needling is required (from *Nanjing*).

For the Foot-Yangming Meridian, insert to a depth of six fen and retain for ten breaths; for the Foot-Taiyang Meridian, insert to five fen and retain for seven breaths; for the Foot-Shaoyang Meridian, insert to four fen and retain for five breaths; for the Foot-Taiyin Meridian, insert to three fen and retain for three breaths; for the Foot-Jueyin Meridian, insert to two fen and retain for two breaths; for the Foot-Shaoyin Meridian, insert to one fen and retain for one breath. For the Hand Yin and Yang meridians, the pathways for receiving Qi are proximate, and Qi moves rapidly; thus, insertion depth should not exceed two fen, and retention time should not exceed one breath (from *Lingshu*).

For points on the upper body and near bones, insert needles shallowly and apply less moxibustion. For points on the lower body and in thick muscle areas, deeper needle insertion and more moxibustion are harmless (from *Rumen*).

For those who fear moxibustion, fire needles may be used. Place the needle in fire until hot, then prick; this is called a fire needle (from *Zisheng*).

For acupoints where moxibustion is contraindicated, place the needle in fire until red-hot and perform Miu Ci (counter-point needling), which yields effective results. Thus, it is known that fire needles do not fail the patient (from *Zisheng*). The "Fan Zhen" (burning needle) method mentioned in the *Neijing* is the fire needle (from *Neijing*).