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The Yellow Emperor asked: Why does the flesh adhere to the needle after insertion? Qibo replied: Heat qi attaches to the needle, making the needle hot; when hot, the flesh adheres to the needle, thus feeling firm. (From *Ling Shu*)

*Nei Jing* states: Do not needle during severe fatigue, severe hunger, fullness after a large meal, heavy intoxication, great fright, or extreme anger. It is also said that for those with deficiency of form and healthy qi, or those suffering from chronic illness and depletion, needling will further deplete their qi. It is also stated: When needling feels like thorns, and upon withdrawal the sensation of qi moves like a chariot axle, this is referred to as having only draining (reducing) effects without tonifying (supplementing) effects.

Generally, moxibustion should be avoided in the early morning and afternoon when grain qi is weak and insufficient; it is suitable to perform moxibustion at noon. The general principle is: if the meridians are as thin as fine lines, use the tip of a bamboo chopstick as the moxa cone, aiming directly at the meridian; this can also cure diseases. Therefore, for the four limbs, one should only dispel wind pathogens and avoid excessive moxibustion; thus, stop after seven to forty-nine moxa cones (zhuang), and do not exceed the number corresponding to the patient's age. For conditions such as chronic cold below the navel, hernia, mass formations (jia), qi lumps, Fu Liang (a type of abdominal mass), and accumulated qi, larger moxa cones should be used; hence it is said that the abdomen and back are suitable for five hundred moxa cones. Acupoints such as Juque (CV14) and Jiutui (CV15), although located on the chest and abdomen, should not exceed forty-nine moxa cones. If the moxa cones are too large or the dosage too high, it may cause permanent loss of heart strength; excessive moxibustion on head acupoints may lead to loss of spirit; excessive moxibustion on arm and leg acupoints may cause dryness of blood vessels, emaciation and weakness of the four limbs, and loss of spirit. Since acupoints vary in depth, excessive moxibustion on shallow points will inevitably damage tendons and muscles; therefore, stop after three, five, or seven moxa cones. Can one be too cautious?

Contraindicated foods: raw and cold items, chicken, pork, alcohol, wheat products, sexual excess, roasted and fried foods.

Regarding moxibustion sores: If there is no sweating, pus formation is difficult. Use a decoction of mint, peach leaves, and willow leaves to wash and rinse the area. Then, mix salt water with wheat flour to form a paste, shaped like a thick chess piece, apply it on cloth, and patch it onto the moxibustion sore. Moisten the cloth with salt water, and pus will appear, commonly known as "moxa flower."

For abnormal growths of willow branches, decoct and take orally; recovery follows.

For moxibustion sores that fail to heal for a long time and cause severe pain: Burn human feces to ash, grind finely into powder. First wash the sore with salt water, then sprinkle the powder on the affected area for immediate healing. Alternatively, crush yellow earth, mix with salt water to form a thick mud, and apply densely to the affected area; this is also effective.

Contraindicated acupoints: Shenting (GV24), Naohu (GV17), Xinhui (GV22), Yuzhen (GB9), Luoque (BL9), Chengling (BL9 - Note: Text lists Chengling here, usually BL9 is Yuzhen, Chengling is GB18, but strictly following text list), Lushi (TE19), Jiaosun (TE6), Chengqi (ST1), Shendao (GV11), Lingtai (GV10), Yunmen (LU2), Jianjing (GB21), Danzhong (CV17), Quepen (LI15), Shangguan (ST7), Jiutui (CV15), Wuli (LI13/Chong Mai), Qingling (HT8), Hegu (LI4), Shenque (CV8), Henggu (KI11), Qichong (ST30), Jimen (SP11), Chengjin (BL56), Shuifen (CV9), Huiyin (CV1), Shimen (CV5), Renying (ST9), Ruzhong (RN17/RenZhong - Note: Text says Ruzhong which is CV17/Danzhong location often contraindicated, or nipple point RN17), RanGu (KI2), Futu (ST32), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Sanyangluo (TE7).