官针/Guan Zhen

(On the Application of Needles)

凡刺之要，官针最妙。九针之宜，各有所为[之宜、所为:“宜”“为”二字，上下误倒]，长短大小，各有所施也，不得其用，病弗能移。疾浅针深，内伤良肉，皮肤为痈;病深针浅，病气不泻，支[支:《甲乙》卷五第二作“反”]为大脓。病小针大，气泻太甚，疾必为害;病大针小，气不泄泻，亦复为败[亦复为败:《甲乙》卷五第二作“亦为后败”]。失针之宜，大者泻，小者不移，已言其过，请言其所施。

The most important clue of acupuncture is in the application of the nine needles. The application of the nine kinds of needle has a proper scope respectively, and the applications of the long, short, large and small needles are different. If the application is not correct, the disease will not be removed. Such as, when one pricks deeply to the focus which is in a shallow location, it will injure the good muscle inside to cause the suppuration of the skin; when pricks shallowly to the focus which is 'in a deeper location, the evil-energy will not be removed and finally causing a big ulcer; when applyng a large needle to a slight disease and the energy is purged excessively, the condition of the disease will become worse; when one applies a small needle to a serious disease, the evil-energy will not be purged, and it will cause trouble later. Thus, the application of the needle_must be appropriate. When the size of the needle is bigger than enough, it will injure the healthy energy; when it is smaller than it ought to be, the disease will not be removed. These are the conditions when applying the needle erroneously, Here we discuss the proper applications of the needle.

病在皮肤无常处者，取以镥针于病所，肤白勿取。病在分肉间，取以员针于病所。病在经络痼痹者，取以锋针，病在脉，气少当补之者，取以锓针于井荥分输。病为大脓者，取以铍针。病痹气暴发者，取以员利针。病痹气痛而不去者，取以毫针。病在中者，取以长针，病

水肿不能通关节者，取以大针。病在五脏固居者，取以锋针，泻于井荥分输，取以四时。

When the disease is in the surface of the skin without a definite location, it can be treated with the sagital needle. If the diseased location of the skin is pale, the sagital needle must not be used. When the disease is in the muscle or between the muscles, it can be treated with the ovoid-tip needle. When the disease is in the channel and the patient's energy is deficient which needs invigoration, treat with the blunt-tip needle by pressing the Jing (Well), Xing and Shu points respectively. To the patient with the disease of serious suppurative ulcer, it can be treated with the sword-shaped needle to eliminate the pus. When treating the bi-syndrome, it can be treated with the horse-tail-shaped needle. When treating the bi-syndrome with unceasing pain, it can be treate d with the filiform needle. When the disease has penetrated inside, it can be treated with the long needle. When treating edema and the joints of the patient are choppy, it can be treated with the large needle. When treating the protracted disease retaining in the five-viscera, it can be treated with the ensiform needle. When pricking the Jing (Well) and Xing points for purging, it must treat them respectively according to the different weathers of the four seasons.

凡刺有九，以应九变。一日输刺;输刺者，刺诸经荥输脏输也。二日远道刺;远道刺者，病在上，取之下，刺府输也。三日经刺;经刺者，刺大经之结络经分也。四日络刺;络刺者，刺小络之血脉也。五日分刺;分刺者，刺分肉之间也。六日大泻刺;大泻刺者，刺大脓以铍针也。七日毛刺;毛刺者，刺浮痹皮肤也。八日巨刺;巨刺者，左取右，右取左。九日焠刺;焠刺者，刺燔针则取痹也。

There are nine kinds of needling to suit the nine kinds of pathological change. The first kind is called the shu-needling which is to prick the shu points on the various Jing (Well), Xing, Shu, Jing (River) and He points of the twelve channels on the extremities and the visceral acupoints on the back and the two latteral sides. The second kind is called the distant-needling which is to prick the acupoint on lower part when the disease is in the upper part, and prick the acupoints of the three Yang channels. The third kind is called the channel-needling which is to prick the knots, or hardness that connect the deep lying channel.  The fourth kind is called the blood-letting-needling which is to prick the superficial and small vien beneath the skin. The fifth kind is called the intermuscular-needling which is to prick the pace of the low-lying muscular layers, The sixth kind is called the drainage-needling which is to prick the suppurative ulcer. The seventh kind is called the skin-needling which is to prick the superficial bi-syndrome of skin without injuring the muscle. The eighth kind is called the opposing-needling which is to prick the points contralateral to the affected side. The ninth kind is called the red-hot-needling which is to treat the bi-syndrome with the needle heated by the burning fire.