脑户囟会及神庭，玉枕络 到承灵；颅囟角孙承泣穴，神道灵台膻中明。水分神阙会阴上，横骨气冲针莫
行；箕门承筋手五里，三阳络穴到青灵。孕妇不宜针合谷，三阴交内亦通称；石门针灸应须忌，女子终身孕不
成。外有云门并鸠尾，缺盆主客深晕生；肩井深时亦晕倒，急补三里人还平。刺中五脏胆皆死，冲阳血出投
幽冥；海泉颧 乳头上，脊间中髓伛偻形。手鱼腹陷阴股内，膝膑筋会及肾经；腋股之下各三寸，目眶关节皆
通评。
昔黄帝制九针各不同形∶一曰 针，应天，长一寸六分，头大末锐，以泻阳气；二曰员针，应地，长一寸
六分，锋如卵形揩磨，不伤肌肉，以泻分气；三曰 针，应人，长三寸半，锋如黍粟之状，主脉勿陷，以致其
气；四曰锋针，应四时，长一寸六分，刃三隅以发痼疾；五曰铍针，应五音，长四寸，广二分半，末如剑峰以
取大脓；六曰员利针，应六律，长一寸六分，大如厘，且员且锐，中身微大，以取暴气；七曰毫针，应七星，
长三寸六分，尖如蚊虻喙，静以徐往，微以九留之而痒，以取痛痹；八曰长针，应八气，长七寸，锋利身薄，
所取远痹；九曰大针，应九野，长四寸，其锋微尖如挺，以泻机关之水，九针毕矣。此言九针之妙。毫针最精，
能应七星，又为三百六十穴之针。
脑户、囟会以及神庭穴，玉枕穴络脉延伸至承灵穴；颅囟、角孙、承泣穴，神道穴、灵台穴和膻中穴（位于胸部前正中线，两乳头连线中点）是明确的禁忌或重要穴位。水分穴、神阙穴（肚脐）和会阴穴上方，横骨穴和气冲穴严禁针刺；箕门穴、承筋穴和手五里穴，三阳络穴直至青灵穴也是禁针之处。孕妇不宜针刺合谷穴，三阴交穴内部也普遍被认为需要谨慎；石门穴针灸应当忌讳，否则女子终身无法怀孕。此外还有云门穴和鸠尾穴，缺盆穴若深刺会导致主客经气严重晕厥；肩井穴深刺时也会引起晕倒，此时急需补益足三里穴患者才能恢复平静。误刺中五脏或胆腑都会导致死亡，冲阳穴出血则难以救治甚至危及生命；海泉穴、颧部及乳头上部，脊间损伤脊髓会导致伛偻畸形。手鱼际部位、陷谷穴、股内侧、膝髌骨、筋会穴以及肾经相关部位，腋窝和大腿根部下方各三寸处，眼眶周围及关节部位都需通盘评估避免误伤。
从前黄帝制定了九种不同的针具：第一种是镵针，对应天，长一寸六分，头部大末端锐利，用于泻除阳气；第二种是员针，对应地，长一寸六分，针锋像卵形一样圆润以揩磨皮肤，不损伤肌肉，用于泻除分肉间的邪气；第三种是鍉针，对应人，长三寸半，针锋像黍粟的形状，主治经脉疾病而不陷入肌肉，以引导正气；第四种是锋针，对应四季，长一寸六分，刃口有三个棱角，用来治疗顽固性疾病；第五种是铍针，对应五音，长四寸，宽二分半，末端像剑锋一样，用来切开排取大量脓液；第六种是员利针，对应六律，长一寸六分，粗细如毫毛且圆而锐利，中间略粗，用来治疗暴发性急症；第七种是毫针，对应七星，长三寸六分，尖端像蚊虻的嘴，操作时安静缓慢进针，轻微留针片刻以止痒，用来治疗疼痛和痹证；第八种是长针，对应八风之气，长七寸，锋利且针身薄，用来治疗远端的痹证；第九种是大针，对应九野，长四寸，针锋微尖像挺杖，用来泻除关节腔内的积水。九种针具至此完备。这是论述九针的精妙之处。毫针最为精良，能对应七星，又是三百六十个穴位的通用针具。
Naohu (Brain Door), Xinhui (Confluence of Brain and Hairline), and Shenting (Spirit Palace) acupoints; Yuzhen (Jade Pillow) acupoint's collateral extends to Chengling (Receiving Spirit). Lufeng (Skull Fontanelle), Jiaosun (Corner Sun), Chengqi (Below Eye Bulb), Shendao (Spirit Path), Lingtai (Spirit Platform), and Danzhong (Chest Center, located on the anterior midline of the chest at the midpoint between the nipples) are explicit contraindicated or critical acupoints. Above Shuifen (Water Separation), Shenque (God's Gate, i.e., umbilicus), and Huiyin (Meeting Yin) acupoints; Henggu (Horizontal Bone) and Qichong (Qi Rushing) acupoints must strictly avoid needling; Jimen (Gate of Basin), Chengjin (Supporting Sinew), and Shouwuli (Hand Five Li) acupoints, from Sanyangluo (Three Yang Network) to Qingling (Green Spirit) acupoints are also forbidden for needling. Pregnant women should not be needled at Hegu (Union Valley); Sanyinjiao (Three Yin Intersection) internally is also generally considered requiring caution; Shimen (Stone Gate) acupuncture and moxibustion must be avoided, otherwise women will never conceive in their lifetime. Additionally, Yunmen (Cloud Gate) and Jiutui (Turtle Tail) acupoints; if Quepen (Collar Pit) is needled deeply, it causes severe dizziness affecting both primary and secondary meridians; deep needling of Jianjing (Shoulder Well) can also cause fainting, at which point urgently tonifying Zusanli (Leg Three Miles) allows the person to recover. Accidental puncture of the five Zang organs or the Gallbladder leads to death; bleeding from Chongyang (Chongyang Pulse) is difficult to treat and may endanger life; Haiquan (Sea Spring), the cheek area, and above the nipple; damage to the spinal marrow in the interspinous region leads to kyphotic deformity. The thenar eminence (Shouyu), Xangu (Sunken Valley), inner thigh, patella, Huizong (Meeting of Sinews), and Kidney meridian related areas; three cun below the axilla and groin, around the eye sockets, and joints all require comprehensive assessment to avoid injury.
In ancient times, the Yellow Emperor created nine types of needles, each with different shapes: The first is Chan Needle (Chan Zhen), corresponding to Heaven, one inch and six fen long, with a large head and sharp tip, used to drain Yang Qi; The second is Yuan Needle (Yuan Zhen), corresponding to Earth, one inch and six fen long, with an egg-shaped rounded tip for rubbing without damaging muscles, used to drain Qi in the subcutaneous tissue; The third is Di Needle (Di Zhen), corresponding to Humanity, three inches and half long, with a tip shaped like millet grains, primarily treating vessel disorders without penetrating deeply into muscle, to guide Qi; The fourth is Feng Needle (Feng Zhen), corresponding to the Four Seasons, one inch and six fen long, with a triangular blade edge to treat chronic diseases; The fifth is Pi Needle (Pi Zhen), corresponding to the Five Tones, four inches long and two-and-a-half fen wide, with a tip like a sword edge to drain large amounts of pus; The sixth is Yuanli Needle (Yuanli Zhen), corresponding to the Six Laws, one inch and six fen long, as thick as a hair but round and sharp, slightly thicker in the middle, used to treat acute conditions; The seventh is Hao Needle (Hao Zhen / Filiform Needle), corresponding to the Seven Stars, three inches and six fen long, with a tip like a mosquito or midge proboscis; operation involves quiet and slow insertion, slight retention to alleviate itching, used to treat pain and Bi syndrome; The eighth is Chang Needle (Chang Zhen), corresponding to the Eight Winds, seven inches long, sharp and thin-bodied, used to treat distant Bi syndromes; The ninth is Da Needle (Da Zhen), corresponding to the Nine Fields, four inches long, with a slightly pointed tip like a staff, used to drain fluid from joints. Thus, the nine needles are complete. This discusses the subtleties of the nine needles. The filiform needle is the most refined, corresponding to the Seven Stars, and serves as the needle for the 360 acupoints.