《拔萃》云∶泻法，令病患咳嗽一声，捻针入腠理。病患吸气一口，针至六分，觉针沉
涩，
，引气直过针所三寸，随呼徐徐出针，勿闭其穴，（令走气也。）命之曰泻。补法，令病患咳
嗽一声，捻针入腠理，病患呼气一口，纳针至八分，觉针沉紧，复退一分，更觉沉紧，仰手
转针头向病所，根据前循扪其病所，气至病所，随吸而走出针，速按其穴，（恐走气也。）命之
曰补。（上言沉紧者，气至也。古云∶气至速而效速，气至迟而效迟，候之不至病危。）又云
∶呼不过三，吸不过五。
《明堂》云∶当补之时，候气至病所，更用生成之息数，令病患鼻中吸气，口中呼气，
病家
之处，病家自觉清凉矣。
《神应经》转针泻法∶针男女左边，医用右手大指向前，食指向后HT 。
针男女右边，医用左手大指向前，食指向后HT ，皆外转HT HT
为泻。补法∶针男女左边，医以右手食指向前，大指
向后HT 。针男女右边，医以左手食指向前，大指向后HT ，
皆内转HT HT 为补。至于男背上中行
左转为补，右转为泻。腹中行右转为补，左转为泻。女背中行右为补而左为泻，腹中行左为
补而右为泻，盖男子背阳腹阴，女子背阴腹阳，男女不同，惟此耳。
凡泻皆以六数，一六、二六、三六、四六、五六、六六。有用三六、有六六，不同。凡
补皆
，三次三九，九九八十一数。又治热针去疾，治寒针久留。提针为补为热，插针为泻为寒。
《拔萃》记载：泻法，让病人咳嗽一声，捻转针具刺入腠理（皮肤与肌肉之间的间隙）。病人在吸气时，将针刺入六分深，感觉到针下沉涩，引导经气直过针刺部位三寸，随着呼气徐徐拔出针具，不闭合穴位孔窍（为了让邪气排出），这叫做泻。补法，让病人咳嗽一声，捻转针具刺入腠理，病人在呼气时，将针纳至八分深，感觉到针下沉紧，再退出一分，更加感到沉紧，手掌向上转动针头朝向病灶部位，按照前面的方法循按并触摸病灶部位，经气到达病灶部位，随着吸气迅速拔出针具，快速按压穴位孔窍（防止正气外泄），这叫做补。（上面所说的沉紧，是指经气已至。古人说：经气到达得快疗效就快，经气到达得慢疗效就慢，如果候气不到病情就会危重。）又说：呼气不超过三次，吸气不超过五次。
《明堂》记载：在应当用补法的时候，等候经气到达病灶部位，再使用生成之息的数量（指特定的呼吸次数），让病人鼻中吸气，口中呼气，病患感觉患处清凉了。
《神应经》记载转针泻法：针刺身体左侧（男左女右原则中的“左”指医者视角或特定经络，此处泛指一侧），医生用右手大拇指向前推，食指向后拉。针刺身体右侧，医生用左手大拇指向前推，食指向后拉，都是向外旋转为泻。补法：针刺身体左侧，医生用右手食指向前推，大拇指向后拉。针刺身体右侧，医生用左手食指向前推，大拇指向后拉，都是向内旋转为补。至于男子背部正中线的左右旋转，左转是补，右转是泻；腹部正中线的左右旋转，右转是补，左转是泻。女子背部正中线的左右旋转，右转为补而左转为泻，腹部正中线的左右旋转，左转为补而右转为泻，这是因为男子背部属阳腹部属阴，女子背部属阴腹部属阳，男女不同，只有这一点区别。
凡是泻法都采用六的倍数，如一六、二六、三六、四六、五六、六六。有的用三六，有的用六六，有所不同。凡是补法都采用九的倍数，即三次三九，九九八十一数。另外治疗热证用针疾速去疾（快速进针出针以清热），治疗寒证留针时间较长。提针（向上提拉）为补为热，插针（向下插入）为泻为寒。
The *Bacui* records: For the reducing method, instruct the patient to cough once, then twist the needle and insert it into the *couli* (interstitial spaces between skin and muscle). As the patient inhales, insert the needle to a depth of six *fen*. When a heavy and obstructive sensation (*chen se*) is felt at the needle, guide the *qi* directly past the needling site by three *cun*. Slowly withdraw the needle as the patient exhales, without closing the acupoint (to allow the pathogenic factor to escape); this is called reducing. For the reinforcing method, instruct the patient to cough once, then twist the needle and insert it into the *couli*. As the patient exhales, insert the needle to a depth of eight *fen*. When a heavy and tight sensation (*chen jin*) is felt, withdraw the needle by one *fen*, resulting in an even heavier and tighter sensation. Rotate the needle head towards the diseased area with the palm facing up. Following the previous method, trace and palpate the diseased area until the *qi* arrives at the site. Withdraw the needle quickly as the patient inhales, and immediately press the acupoint (to prevent the loss of healthy *qi*); this is called reinforcing. (The "heavy and tight" mentioned above refers to the arrival of *qi*. Ancient texts state: If *qi* arrives quickly, the effect is quick; if *qi* arrives slowly, the effect is slow. If the awaited *qi* does not arrive, the condition becomes critical.) It is also said: Exhalation should not exceed three times, inhalation should not exceed five times.
The *Mingtang* records: When applying the reinforcing method, wait for the *qi* to arrive at the diseased area, then use the number of breaths corresponding to the generating cycle. Instruct the patient to inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth. The patient will feel a cooling sensation in the affected area.
The *Shenying Jing* describes the needle rotation for the reducing method: When needling the left side of the body (for both men and women), the practitioner uses the right hand, pushing forward with the thumb and pulling backward with the index finger. When needling the right side, the practitioner uses the left hand, pushing forward with the thumb and pulling backward with the index finger. In both cases, rotating outward constitutes reducing. For the reinforcing method: When needling the left side, the practitioner uses the right hand, pushing forward with the index finger and pulling backward with the thumb. When needling the right side, the practitioner uses the left hand, pushing forward with the index finger and pulling backward with the thumb. In both cases, rotating inward constitutes reinforcing. Regarding the midline of the back: for men, rotating left is reinforcing and rotating right is reducing; for the midline of the abdomen, rotating right is reinforcing and rotating left is reducing. For women, regarding the midline of the back, rotating right is reinforcing and rotating left is reducing; for the midline of the abdomen, rotating left is reinforcing and rotating right is reducing. This is because the back is Yang and the abdomen is Yin for men, whereas the back is Yin and the abdomen is Yang for women. This distinction applies only to these specific areas due to gender differences.
For all reducing methods, numbers based on six are used, such as 1x6, 2x6, 3x6, 4x6, 5x6, 6x6. Some use 3x6, some use 6x6, differing accordingly. For all reinforcing methods, numbers based on nine are used, specifically three sets of 3x9, totaling 81 (9x9). Additionally, for treating heat conditions, needles are manipulated rapidly to dispel the pathogen; for treating cold conditions, the needles are retained for a longer duration. Lifting the needle (upward movement) constitutes reinforcing and generates heat; thrusting the needle (downward movement) constitutes reducing and generates cold.