岐伯曰∶夫邪之客于形也，必先舍于皮毛。留而不去，入于孙络。留而不去，入于络脉
。留
而不去，入于经脉。内连五脏，散于肠胃，阴肠俱盛，五脏乃伤。此邪之从皮毛而入，极于
五脏之次也，如此则治其经焉。凡刺之数，先视其经脉，切而从之，审其虚实而调之。不调
者经刺之。不盛不虚，以经取之。
痛在于左而右脉病者，则巨刺之。邪客于经，左盛则右病，右盛则左病，亦有移易者。
左痛未已，而右脉先病，如此者必巨刺之。必中其经，非络脉也。
人迎一盛，病在足少阳，一盛而躁，病在手少阳。人迎二盛，病在足太阳，二盛而躁，
病在
手太阳。人迎三盛，病在足阳明，三盛而躁，病在手阳明。人迎四盛，且大且数，名曰溢阳
，阴溢阳为外格。脉口一盛，病在足厥阴，一盛而躁，在手心主。脉口二盛，病在足少阴，
二盛而躁，在手少阴。脉口三盛，病在足太阴，三盛而躁，在手太阴。脉口四盛，且大且数
者，名曰溢阴，溢阳为内关，内关不通死不治。人迎与太阴脉口俱盛四倍以上，命曰关格，
关格者与之短期。人迎一盛，泻足少阳而补足厥阴，二泻一补，日一取之，必切而验之，疏
取之，上气和乃止。人迎二盛，泻中太阳，补足少阴，二泻一补，二日一取之，必切而验之
，疏取之，上气和乃止。人迎三盛，泻足阳明而补足太阴，二泻一补，日二取之，必切而险
之，疏取之，上气和乃止。脉口一盛，泻足厥阴而补足少阳，二补一泻，日一取之，必切而
验之，疏而取，上气和乃止。脉口二盛，泻足少阴而补足太阳，二补一泻，二日一取之，必
切而验之，疏取之，上气和乃止。脉口三盛，泻足太阴而补足阳明，二补一泻，日二取之，
必切而验之，疏而取之，上气和乃止，所以日二取之者。太阳主胃，大富于谷气，故可日二
直取之也。人迎与脉口俱盛，三倍以上，命曰阴阳俱溢。如是者不开，则血脉闭塞，气无所
行，流淫于中，五脏内伤。如是者因而灸之，则变易而为他病矣。
岐伯说：邪气侵犯人体，必定先停留在皮毛。如果停留不去，就会进入孙络。如果继续停留不去，就会进入络脉。如果仍然停留不去，就会深入经脉。经脉内连五脏，外散于肠胃，导致阴分和阳分都亢盛，从而损伤五脏。这就是邪气从皮毛侵入，最终极至五脏的次序，遇到这种情况就要治疗其经脉。
凡是针刺的原则，首先要观察患者的经脉，通过切按来顺从其气血走向，仔细审察虚实情况并进行调理。如果经气不调，就用“经刺”法治疗。如果不虚不实，就直接从本经取穴治疗。
疼痛出现在左侧，但右侧的脉象出现病变的，就用“巨刺”法治疗。邪气客居在经脉中，左侧脉象盛实则右侧身体发病，右侧脉象盛实则左侧身体发病，也有病情转移变化的情况。左侧疼痛尚未停止，而右侧脉象先出现病变，像这样的情况必须用“巨刺”法。针刺时必须中其经脉，而不是络脉。
人迎脉搏动比寸口快一倍（一盛），病在足少阳胆经；如果快一倍且躁动不安，病在手少阳三焦经。人迎脉搏动比寸口快两倍（二盛），病在足太阳膀胱经；如果快两倍且躁动不安，病在手太阳小肠经。人迎脉搏动比寸口快三倍（三盛），病在足阳明胃经；如果快三倍且躁动不安，病在手阳明大肠经。人迎脉搏动比寸口快四倍（四盛），并且脉大且数，称为“溢阳”，阴气溢出阳气之外称为“外格”。
寸口脉搏动比人迎快一倍（一盛），病在足厥阴肝经；如果快一倍且躁动不安，病在手厥阴心包经。寸口脉搏动比人迎快两倍（二盛），病在足少阴肾经；如果快两倍且躁动不安，病在手少阴心经。寸口脉搏动比人迎快三倍（三盛），病在足太阴脾经；如果快三倍且躁动不安，病在手太阴肺经。寸口脉搏动比人迎快四倍（四盛），并且脉大且数，称为“溢阴”，阳气被阻隔在内称为“内关”，内关不通则死亡，无法治愈。
如果人迎和太阴脉口（寸口）都盛大四倍以上，称为“关格”，患关格病的人寿命不长（预后不良）。
人迎脉盛一倍，泻足少阳胆经，补足厥阴肝经，采用两泻一补的方法，每天针刺一次，必须切脉验证疗效，疏泄经气，直到上部和缓为止。人迎脉盛两倍，泻足太阳膀胱经，补足少阴肾经，两泻一补，每两天针刺一次，必须切脉验证疗效，疏泄经气，直到上部和缓为止。人迎脉盛三倍，泻足阳明胃经，补足太阴脾经，两泻一补，每天针刺两次，必须切脉验证疗效，疏泄经气，直到上部和缓为止。
寸口脉盛一倍，泻足厥阴肝经，补足少阳胆经，采用两补一泻的方法，每天针刺一次，必须切脉验证疗效，疏泄经气，直到上部和缓为止。寸口脉盛两倍，泻足少阴肾经，补足太阳膀胱经，两补一泻，每两天针刺一次，必须切脉验证疗效，疏泄经气，直到上部和缓为止。寸口脉盛三倍，泻足太阴脾经，补足阳明胃经，两补一泻，每天针刺两次，必须切脉验证疗效，疏泄经气，直到上部和缓为止。之所以每天针刺两次，是因为足太阳膀胱经主司胃气，谷气丰富，所以可以每天针刺两次。
如果人迎和脉口都盛大三倍以上，称为“阴阳俱溢”。像这种情况如果不及时开泄，就会导致血脉闭塞，气机无法运行，流散淫溢于体内，造成五脏内伤。像这种情况如果再用灸法，就会变生其他疾病。
Qibo said: When pathogenic factors invade the human body, they first lodge in the skin and hair (mao pi). If they remain there without being expelled, they enter the sun luo vessels (sun luo). If they continue to remain, they enter the luo vessels (luo mai). If they still do not leave, they penetrate into the main meridians (jing mai). These meridians connect internally with the five zang organs and disperse externally to the intestines and stomach. When both yin and yang aspects become excessive, the five zang organs are injured. This is the sequence by which pathogens enter from the skin and hair and ultimately reach the five zang organs; in such cases, one should treat the meridians.
The general principles of acupuncture require first observing the meridians, palpating them to follow their qi flow, carefully assessing deficiency and excess, and then regulating them. If the meridian qi is unregulated, apply Jing Ci (Meridian Needling). If there is neither deficiency nor excess, select points from the affected meridian itself.
When pain is located on the left side but the pulse on the right side shows pathology, apply Ju Ci (Giant Needling). When pathogens lodge in the meridians, an excess on the left causes disease on the right, and an excess on the right causes disease on the left; there may also be shifts in location. If pain persists on the left while the pulse on the right becomes pathological first, one must use Ju Ci. The needle must target the meridians, not the luo vessels.
If the Ren Ying pulse (carotid artery) beats once faster than the Mai Kou pulse (radial artery), the disease is in the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian. If it beats once faster and is rapid and restless, the disease is in the Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian. If the Ren Ying pulse beats twice as fast, the disease is in the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian. If it beats twice as fast and is rapid and restless, the disease is in the Hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian. If the Ren Ying pulse beats three times as fast, the disease is in the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian. If it beats three times as fast and is rapid and restless, the disease is in the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. If the Ren Ying pulse beats four times as fast, and is large and rapid, it is called Yi Yang (Overflowing Yang). Yin overflowing beyond Yang is termed Wai Ge (External Grid).
If the Mai Kou pulse beats once faster than the Ren Ying pulse, the disease is in the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian. If it beats once faster and is rapid and restless, the disease is in the Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian. If the Mai Kou pulse beats twice as fast, the disease is in the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. If it beats twice as fast and is rapid and restless, the disease is in the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian. If the Mai Kou pulse beats three times as fast, the disease is in the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian. If it beats three times as fast and is rapid and restless, the disease is in the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian. If the Mai Kou pulse beats four times as fast, and is large and rapid, it is called Yi Yin (Overflowing Yin). Yang trapped inside is termed Nei Guan (Internal Closure). If Nei Guan is blocked, death ensues and cannot be cured.
If both the Ren Ying and Mai Kou pulses are more than four times excessive, it is called Guan Ge (Gridlock). Patients with Guan Ge have a short life expectancy.
If the Ren Ying pulse is excessive by one degree, drain the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian and tonify the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian, using a method of two drains and one tonification, performed once daily. One must palpate the pulse to verify effects, disperse the qi, and stop when the upper qi harmonizes. If the Ren Ying pulse is excessive by two degrees, drain the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian and tonify the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, using two drains and one tonification, performed every two days. One must palpate the pulse to verify effects, disperse the qi, and stop when the upper qi harmonizes. If the Ren Ying pulse is excessive by three degrees, drain the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian and tonify the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian, using two drains and one tonification, performed twice daily. One must palpate the pulse to verify effects, disperse the qi, and stop when the upper qi harmonizes.
If the Mai Kou pulse is excessive by one degree, drain the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian and tonify the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian, using two tonifications and one drain, performed once daily. One must palpate the pulse to verify effects, disperse the qi, and stop when the upper qi harmonizes. If the Mai Kou pulse is excessive by two degrees, drain the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian and tonify the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian, using two tonifications and one drain, performed every two days. One must palpate the pulse to verify effects, disperse the qi, and stop when the upper qi harmonizes. If the Mai Kou pulse is excessive by three degrees, drain the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian and tonify the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian, using two tonifications and one drain, performed twice daily. One must palpate the pulse to verify effects, disperse the qi, and stop when the upper qi harmonizes. The reason for treating twice daily is that the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian governs Stomach Qi and is rich in grain qi, so it can tolerate twice-daily treatment.
If both the Ren Ying and Mai Kou pulses are more than three times excessive, it is called Yin Yang Ju Yi (Yin and Yang Both Overflowing). In such cases, if not opened and released, blood vessels will become blocked, qi will fail to circulate, and it will flow wildly within, injuring the five zang organs internally. If moxibustion is applied in such cases, it will transform into other diseases.