岐伯曰∶刺家不诊，听病者言。在头，头疾痛，为藏针之，刺至骨病已，上无伤骨肉及
皮，皮者道也。阴刺，入一旁四处，治寒热（阴刺谓卒刺）。深专者刺大脏，迫脏刺背
，背俞也，刺之迫脏，脏会，腹中寒热去而止，刺俞之要，发针而浅出血。
治腐肿者，刺腐上，视痈小大，深浅刺。刺大者多血，小者深之，必端内针为故止。
病在少腹有积，刺皮HT 以下，至少腹而止；刺侠脊两旁四椎间，刺两髂 季胁肋间
，导腹中气热下已（HT 一作 ，四椎恐为五椎，谓心俞应少腹）。病在少腹，腹痛不得大
小便，病名曰疝，得之寒。刺少腹两股间，刺腰髁骨间，刺而多
之，尽炅病已（炅，热也）。病在筋，筋挛节痛，不可以行，名曰筋痹。刺筋上为故，刺
分肉间，不可中骨也，病起
而深之，以热为故
，寒气至，名曰骨痹。深者刺无伤脉肉为故，其道大
病在诸阳脉，且寒且热，诸分且寒且热，名曰狂（气狂乱也）。刺之虚脉，视分尽热，病
已止。病初发岁一发，不治月一发，不治月四五发，名曰癫病。刺诸分诸脉，其
无寒者
且热，三日一刺，百日
而已。病大风骨节重，须眉堕，名曰大风。刺肌肉为故，汗出百日，刺骨髓汗出百
日，凡二百日须眉生而止针。
岐伯说：针灸医生在施针时不一定进行诊脉，而是听取病人的陈述。如果病位在头部，出现头痛，就将针深藏于穴位中（留针），针刺至骨部，病愈即止，操作过程中不要损伤骨肉和皮肤，因为皮肤是进针的通道。所谓“阴刺”，是指在一侧进针，另一侧出针，共四处，用于治疗寒热往来的病症（阴刺即指卒然直刺的方法）。对于病邪深入专一的，应针刺五脏对应的背俞穴；若病邪逼迫五脏，则针刺背部膀胱经的背俞穴，针刺时要接近脏腑，因为背俞穴是脏腑之气汇聚之处，这样可使腹中的寒热症状消除而停止针刺。针刺背俞穴的关键在于，出针后让少量出血。
治疗痈肿溃烂的，要刺破腐肉处，根据痈肿的大小决定针刺的深浅。对于较大的痈肿，放出较多血液；对于较小的，则深刺，必须端正地插入针具，以病愈为度。
病位在少腹部且有积块的，从皮下开始针刺，向下至少腹部为止；同时针刺脊柱两旁第四椎间隙（此处有争议，一说为第五椎，认为心俞对应少腹），以及两侧髂骨与季胁肋间，引导腹中的热气下行从而痊愈。病位在少腹，腹痛且大小便不通，病名叫做疝气，这是由于受寒引起的。针刺少腹两侧大腿根部之间、腰部髋骨之间，多刺几次，使局部产生温热感，病即可愈（炅，意为热）。
病位在筋脉，表现为筋脉拘挛、关节疼痛、无法行走，病名叫做筋痹。针刺筋脉所在部位，并刺入分肉之间，不可刺中骨骼，病势起于深处则深刺，以局部产生热感为有效标准。寒气深入，病名叫做骨痹。对于深层的病邪，针刺时不损伤血脉和肌肉为原则，其道理同上。
病在诸阳经脉，既怕冷又发热，全身各部分也忽冷忽热，病名叫做狂证（指气机狂乱）。针刺时要使脉气虚衰，观察各个分肉部位的热象消退，病即停止。
疾病初发时一年发作一次，若不治疗，则一个月发作一次；再若不治疗，则一个月发作四五次，病名叫做癫病。针刺各个分肉和经脉，若无寒象仅有热象，每三天针刺一次，一百天即可痊愈。
患大风病（麻风），骨节沉重，眉毛胡须脱落，病名叫做大风。针刺肌肉层，使其出汗，持续一百天；再针刺骨髓层，使其出汗，再持续一百天，总共二百天，待眉毛胡须重新长出即可停针。
Qibo said: Acupuncturists do not necessarily perform pulse diagnosis but listen to the patients' descriptions. When the disease is located in the head, causing headache, the needle should be retained deeply (retaining needles), inserted to the bone level, and removed when the disease resolves; care must be taken not to damage the muscles, bones, or skin, as the skin serves as the pathway for needle insertion. The "Yin Stimulation" involves inserting the needle on one side and extracting it on the other, totaling four puncture points, used to treat alternating cold and heat (Yin Stimulation refers to sudden direct puncture). For diseases that are deep-seated and localized, one should puncture the Back-Shu points of the Zang organs; if the pathogen presses upon the Zang organs, puncture the Back-Shu points on the back. The needling should approach the viscera, as these points are where the Qi of the Zang organs converges; this method eliminates abdominal cold and heat, and needling ceases once resolved. The key to needling Back-Shu points is to allow slight bleeding after withdrawing the needle.
To treat ulcerated swellings, puncture the necrotic tissue. Depending on the size of the abscess, adjust the depth of insertion. For larger swellings, release more blood; for smaller ones, insert deeply. The needle must be held straight, and treatment continues until the condition resolves.
For accumulations in the lower abdomen, begin needling subcutaneously and proceed down to the lower abdomen. Additionally, puncture the spaces between the fourth vertebrae on both sides of the spine (note: some texts suggest the fifth vertebra, associating Xinshu with the lower abdomen) and between the iliac bones and costal margins on both sides, guiding the heat in the abdomen downward to achieve cure. If the disease is in the lower abdomen, presenting with abdominal pain and inability to urinate or defecate, it is named "Shan" (Hernia), caused by cold. Puncture the areas between the thighs and the lower abdomen, and between the lumbar and hip joints. Apply multiple punctures until a sensation of heat is generated, at which point the disease will resolve ("Jiong" means heat).
When the disease affects the tendons, causing tendon spasms, joint pain, and immobility, it is named "Jin Bi" (Tendinous Bi Syndrome). Puncture the affected tendons and the intermuscular spaces, avoiding the bone. If the pathology originates deeply, insert the needle deeply. A local sensation of heat indicates efficacy. If cold qi penetrates deeply, it is named "Gu Bi" (Osseous Bi Syndrome). For deep-seated conditions, the principle is to avoid damaging the vessels and muscles.
When diseases affect the Yang meridians, characterized by alternating chills and fever, and generalized sensations of alternating cold and heat in various muscle compartments, it is named "Kuang" (Mania, referring to chaotic Qi). Needling should aim to reduce excess in the pulses. Treatment stops when the heat in all muscle compartments subsides.
If a disease initially occurs once a year and remains untreated, it may occur once a month; if still untreated, it may occur four or five times a month. This is named "Dian Bing" (Epilepsy/Mania-Depression Syndrome). Puncture various muscle compartments and vessels. If there is no cold but only heat, needle once every three days for one hundred days to achieve a cure.
In cases of "Da Feng" (Great Wind, i.e., Leprosy), characterized by heavy joints and loss of eyebrows and beard, needle the muscle layer until sweating occurs for one hundred days. Then, needle the bone marrow layer until sweating occurs for another one hundred days. After a total of two hundred days, when the eyebrows and beard regrow, cease needling.