医之治病用灸，如煮菜需薪，今人不能治大病，良由不知针艾故也。世有百余种大病，不用灸艾、丹药，
如何救得性命，劫得病回？如伤寒、疽疮、劳瘵、中风、肿胀、泄泻、久痢、喉痹、小儿急慢惊风、痘疹黑陷
等证。若灸迟，真气已脱，虽灸亦无用矣；若能早灸，自然阳气不绝，性命坚牢。又世俗用灸，不过三五十壮，
殊不知去小疾则愈，驻命根则难。故《铜人针灸图经》云∶凡大病宜灸脐下五百壮。补接真气，即此法也。
若去风邪四肢小疾，不过三、五、七壮而已。仲景毁灸法云∶火气虽微，内攻有力，焦骨伤筋，血难复也。余
观亘古迄今，何尝有灸伤筋骨而死者！彼
盖不知灸法之妙故尔。（《灵枢》论虚而至陷下，温补无功，借冰台以起陷下之阳耳。若仲景所言微数之脉，
慎不可灸。脉而至于微矣，似有似无，则真阳已漓，又至于数矣，则真阴已竭，阴阳漓竭，灸亦无益。但有炎
焰而无温存，宁不焦骨伤筋而血难复？非毁灸也。）
孙思邈早年亦毁灸法，逮晚年方信，乃曰∶火灸，大有奇功。昔曹操患头风，华佗针之，应手而愈，后佗
死复发。若于针处灸五十壮，永不再发。或曰∶人之皮肉最嫩，五百之壮，岂不焦枯皮肉乎？曰∶否。已死之
人，灸二三十壮，其肉便焦，无血荣养故也。若真气未脱之人，自然气血流行，荣卫环绕，虽灸千壮，何焦烂
之有哉。故治病必先别其死生，若真气已脱，虽灸亦无用矣。唯是膏粱之人，不能忍耐痛楚，当服睡圣散，即
昏不知痛，其睡圣散余自用灸膝神效，放心服之，断不误人。（以救己之心，推以救人。所谓见身说法，其言
诚真，其心诚切，其论诚千古不磨之论，无如天下之不信何。）
医生治疗疾病使用灸法，就像煮菜需要柴火一样。现在的人不能治愈大病，确实是因为不懂得针法和艾灸的缘故。世间有一百多种大病，如果不使用灸法、艾草和丹药，怎么能挽救性命，把病势扭转回来呢？比如伤寒、疽疮、劳瘵（慢性消耗性疾病）、中风、肿胀、泄泻、久痢、喉痹、小儿急慢惊风、痘疹黑陷等证候。如果施灸太晚，真气已经脱失，即使施灸也没有用了；如果能尽早施灸，自然阳气不绝，性命坚固牢靠。另外世俗人使用灸法，不过三五十壮，却不知道去除小病虽然有效，但要固护生命根本却很难。所以《铜人针灸图经》说：凡是大病适宜在脐下施灸五百壮。这是补接真气的方法。如果是去除风邪或四肢的小毛病，不过三、五、七壮就可以了。张仲景批评灸法说：火气虽然微弱，但内攻有力，会焦骨伤筋，血液难以恢复。我观察从古至今，何曾有过因灸法损伤筋骨而死亡的！这大概是不了解灸法奥妙的缘故罢了。（《灵枢》论述虚证导致脉象沉陷，温补无效时，借用冰台即艾叶来升起下陷的阳气。至于张仲景所说的微数之脉，千万不可施灸。脉象到了微弱的程度，似有似无，说明真阳已经枯竭；又兼见数脉，说明真阴已经耗尽。阴阳枯竭，施灸也无益。只有火焰而没有温润滋养的作用，难道不会焦骨伤筋且血液难复吗？这并不是毁谤灸法。）
孙思邈早年也批评灸法，等到晚年才相信，于是说：火灸，大有奇功。从前曹操患头风病，华佗用针刺他，应手而愈，后来华佗死后病情复发。如果在针刺的地方施灸五十壮，就永远不再发作。有人说：人的皮肉最娇嫩，五百壮，难道不会把皮肉烧焦枯干吗？回答说：不是的。死人施灸二三十壮，肉就会焦枯，因为没有血液滋养的缘故。如果是真气未脱的人，自然气血流行，营卫环绕，即使施灸千壮，哪里有焦烂的呢？所以治病必须先辨别死生，如果真气已经脱失，即使施灸也没有用了。只是那些生活优裕的人，不能忍耐疼痛，应当服用睡圣散，就会昏睡不知道疼痛。这个睡圣散余某自己用来灸膝非常神效，放心服用，绝不会误人。（以救己之心，推及救人。所谓现身说法，其言论确实真实，其心意确实恳切，其论述确实是千古不朽的言论，无奈天下有人不信又能怎样。）
When physicians treat diseases using moxibustion, it is like cooking vegetables requiring firewood. The reason why people nowadays cannot cure major illnesses is precisely because they do not understand acupuncture and moxa therapy. There are over a hundred types of major diseases in the world; without using moxibustion, moxa, and elixirs (Dan Yao), how can one save life and reverse the disease? Such as cold damage (Shanghan), carbuncles and sores, consumptive disease (Lao Zhai), stroke, edema, diarrhea, chronic dysentery, throat obstruction (Hou Bi), infantile acute and chronic convulsions, and smallpox with blackening and sinking, etc. If moxibustion is delayed until true Qi (Zhen Qi) has already collapsed, even if moxibustion is performed, it will be useless; however, if moxibustion is applied early, Yang Qi will naturally remain uninterrupted, and life will be secure and firm. Furthermore, laypeople use moxibustion for only thirty to fifty moxa cones (Zhuang), not realizing that while this may cure minor ailments, it is difficult to sustain the root of life. Therefore, *The Copper Man Acupuncture and Moxibustion Illustrated Classic* states: "For all major diseases, it is appropriate to apply five hundred moxa cones below the navel." This method supplements and reconnects true Qi. For dispelling wind pathogens or treating minor ailments of the limbs, three, five, or seven moxa cones suffice. Zhang Zhongjing criticized moxibustion, saying: "Although the fire energy is slight, its internal attack is powerful; it can scorch bones and injure sinews, making blood difficult to restore." I have observed from ancient times to the present, when has anyone died from moxibustion injuring bones and sinews! This is merely due to ignorance of the subtleties of moxibustion. (*Ling Shu* discusses cases where deficiency leads to sunken pulse positions; when warm tonification fails, one borrows Artemisia argyi (Ice Platform) to raise the sunken Yang. Regarding Zhang Zhongjing's statement about the fine and rapid pulse being unsuitable for moxibustion: when the pulse becomes faint, appearing and disappearing, true Yang is depleted; if it also becomes rapid, true Yin is exhausted. With Yin and Yang depleted, moxibustion is of no benefit. It produces flame without warmth and nourishment; would it not scorch bones and injure sinews, making blood hard to restore? This is not a condemnation of moxibustion.)
Sun Simiao also criticized moxibustion in his early years but believed in it only in his later years, stating: "Moxibustion has great miraculous effects." In the past, Cao Cao suffered from head wind; Hua Tuo treated him with acupuncture, and he recovered instantly. Later, after Hua Tuo's death, the condition recurred. If fifty moxa cones had been applied at the acupuncture sites, it would never have recurred. Some might ask: Human skin and flesh are most tender; would five hundred moxa cones not scorch and dry up the flesh? The answer is: No. On a dead person, applying twenty or thirty moxa cones causes the flesh to scorch because there is no blood to nourish it. However, in a person whose true Qi has not yet collapsed, Qi and Blood flow naturally, and Ying and Wei (Defensive and Nutritive Qi) surround the body; even if one thousand moxa cones are applied, how could there be scorching and rotting? Therefore, when treating diseases, one must first distinguish between life and death. If true Qi has already collapsed, moxibustion is useless. It is only those who live in luxury and cannot endure pain who should take Shuisheng San (Sleeping Sage Powder); they will fall into a deep sleep and feel no pain. I myself use Shuisheng San for moxibustion on the knees with excellent results; take it with confidence, and it will certainly not harm anyone. (Using the heart that saves oneself to extend to saving others. This is what is meant by 'teaching by example'; their words are truly sincere, their hearts earnest, and their arguments are indeed immortal theories for eternity. What can be done if the world does not believe?)