（《灵枢·终始篇》）
阴盛而阳虚，先补其阳，后泻其阴而和之；阴虚而阳盛，先补其阴，后泻其阳而和之。（此以脉口人迎言阴阳也。脉
口盛者，阴经盛而阳经虚也，当先补其阳、后泻其阴而和之。人迎盛者，阳经盛而阴经虚也，当先补其阴、后泻其阳而
和之。何也？以治病者皆宜先顾正气，后治邪气。盖攻实无难，伐虚当畏，于此节之义可见。用针用药，其道皆然。）三
脉动于足大趾之间，必审其实虚。虚而泻之，是谓重虚，重虚病益甚。（三脉动者，阳明起于大趾次趾之间，自厉兑以至
冲阳皆是也；厥阴起于大趾之间，自大敦以至太冲皆是也；少阴起于足心，自涌泉以上太溪皆是也。三者皆在大趾之后，
故曰动于足大趾之间也。虚而泻之，故病益甚。）凡刺此者，以指按之，脉动而实且疾者疾泻之，虚而徐者则补之，反此
者病益甚。（泻虚补实，是为反也。）其动也，阳明在上，厥阴在中，少阴在下。（阳明行足跗之上，厥阴行足跗之内而在
二经之中，少阴行足跗之下也。）
补须一方实，深取之，稀按其 ，以极出其邪气；（同前《终始篇》。补当作刺。刺法虽多，其要惟二，则补泻而已。
一者因其方实，故当深取之，勿按其 ，欲以出其邪气，此泻法也。 ，委、伟二音，针瘢也。）一方虚，浅刺之，以养
其脉，疾按其 ，无使邪气得入。（一者因其方虚，故当浅刺之以养其血脉，疾按其穴以拒其邪气，此补法也。）邪气来
也紧而疾，谷气来也徐而和。（邪气，病气也。谷气，元气也，即胃气也。此虽以针下之气为言，然脉气之至亦如此。）
脉实者，深刺之，以泄其气；脉虚者，浅刺之，使精气无得出，以养其脉，独出其邪气。（诸篇皆言虚实，而未详虚实之
辨；此言脉实则实，脉虚则虚，实则深刺之以泄其气，虚则浅刺之无伤精气，以养其脉而独出其邪气，庶补泻知其要矣。）
（出自《灵枢·终始篇》）
阴气偏盛而阳气虚弱，应当先补益其阳气，随后泻除其阴邪以调和阴阳；阴气虚弱而阳气偏盛，应当先补益其阴气，随后泻除其阳邪以调和阴阳。（此处所说的阴阳，是依据脉口与人迎穴的脉象而言的。脉口脉盛，说明阴经邪盛而阳经正气虚，此时应当先补益其阳气、后泻除其阴邪以调和阴阳。人迎脉盛，说明阳经邪盛而阴经正气虚，此时应当先补益其阴气、后泻除其阳邪以调和阴阳。为什么呢？因为治病都应当先顾护正气，后祛除邪气。攻伐实证并不难，但攻伐虚证则需畏惧谨慎，从这一节的含义中就可以看出这一点。无论是使用针刺还是药物，治疗原则都是如此。）
足大趾之间的三条经脉跳动，必须仔细辨别其虚实。如果脉虚却误用泻法，这就叫做“重虚”，会导致病情更加严重。（所谓三条经脉跳动，是指阳明经起始于足第二趾之间，从厉兑穴到冲阳穴都是；厥阴经起始于足大趾之间，自大敦穴到太冲穴都是；少阴经起始于足心，从涌泉穴向上至太溪穴都是。这三条经脉都位于足大趾后方，所以说它们跳动在足大趾之间。因为脉虚却误用泻法，所以病情会更加严重。）
凡是针刺这些部位，用手指按压探查，如果脉搏跳动坚实且急促，就迅速泻之；如果脉搏虚弱且缓慢，就施以补法，如果反其道而行之，病情就会更加严重。（泻虚补实，就是所谓的反治错误。）
这三条经脉的搏动位置，阳明经在上部，厥阴经在中部，少阴经在下部。（阳明经行走在足背之上，厥阴经行走在足背内侧而在另外两条经之间，少阴经行走在足背之下。）
补法（此处指刺法中的正确操作逻辑，原文可能有误或特指某种语境，结合下文注释“补当作刺”，此处应理解为针对虚实的不同刺法原则，但根据上下文及注释，前文讲泻法，此段讲补法对应的操作，或者是对比。注：原文括号内指出“补当作刺”，且后文解释为泻法和补法。这里按原文字面翻译并保留注释逻辑）：对于一方（身体某部分）表现为实证，要深刺，稀疏按压针孔，以便让邪气完全排出；（同前《终始篇》。这里的“补”字应当作“刺”解。刺法虽然繁多，但其要点只有两个，即补法和泻法。一种是因其正值实证，所以应当深刺，不要按压针孔，目的是排出邪气，这是泻法。[注：原文中有缺字或异体字，结合注释“针瘢也”，应为按压针孔]。另一种情况是对于一方表现为虚证，要浅刺，以养护经脉，快速按压针孔，不让邪气侵入。（一种是因其正值虚证，所以应当浅刺以养护血脉，快速按压穴位以拒绝邪气侵入，这是补法。）
邪气来的时候，感觉紧促而急疾；谷气（正气/胃气）来的时候，感觉徐缓而柔和。（邪气，即病气。谷气，即元气，也就是胃气。这里虽然是描述针下的气感，但脉气的到来也是如此。）
脉象实的，深刺，以泄出其邪气；脉象虚的，浅刺，使精气不致外泄，以养护经脉，单独排出邪气。（各篇章都谈论虚实，但没有详细辨析虚实的区别；这里说脉实则证实，脉虚则证虚，实证深刺以泄出邪气，虚证浅刺以免损伤精气，从而养护经脉并单独排出邪气，这样就能掌握补泻的要领了。）
(From *Ling Shu: Zhong Shi Pian*)
When Yin is excessive and Yang is deficient, one should first tonify Yang, then drain Yin to harmonize; when Yin is deficient and Yang is excessive, one should first tonify Yin, then drain Yang to harmonize. (The Yin and Yang mentioned here refer to the pulse at Maikou [Cunkou, radial artery] and Renying [Jiajie, carotid artery]. An excess pulse at Maikou indicates excess in the Yin meridians and deficiency in the Yang meridians; thus, one should first tonify Yang and then drain Yin to harmonize. An excess pulse at Renying indicates excess in the Yang meridians and deficiency in the Yin meridians; thus, one should first tonify Yin and then drain Yang to harmonize. Why? Because in treating disease, it is appropriate to first protect the Zheng Qi [Upright Qi], and subsequently treat the Xie Qi [Pathogenic Qi]. Attacking excess is not difficult, but attacking deficiency requires caution. The meaning of this section illustrates this principle. Whether using acupuncture or herbal medicine, the approach is the same.)
The three meridians pulsating between the big toe must be carefully examined for excess or deficiency. If they are deficient but drained, this is called "double deficiency," which will cause the disease to worsen. (The three pulsating meridians are: the Yangming Meridian of Foot-Yangming Stomach starts between the second toe, from Lidui [ST45] to Chongyang [ST42]; the Jueyin Meridian of Foot-Jueyin Liver starts between the big toe, from Dadun [LR14] to Taichong [LR3]; the Shaoyin Meridian of Foot-Shaoyin Kidney starts at the sole of the foot, from Yongquan [KI1] upwards to Taixi [KI3]. All three are located behind the big toe, hence described as pulsating between the big toe. Because they are deficient yet drained, the disease worsens.)
When needling these areas, press with fingers to palpate. If the pulse is firm and rapid, drain it quickly; if the pulse is weak and slow, tonify it. Doing the opposite will worsen the disease. (Draining deficiency and tonifying excess constitutes a contraindicated reversal.)
Their pulsation locations are: Yangming is superior, Jueyin is intermediate, and Shaoyin is inferior. (Yangming runs on the dorsum of the foot; Jueyin runs on the medial aspect of the dorsum, between the other two meridians; Shaoyin runs on the inferior aspect of the dorsum.)
For tonification [Note: Text suggests 'Bu' should be read as 'Ci' (needling) in context of method description, but follows standard tonification protocol]: In cases of deficiency, needle shallowly to nourish the Mai [Vessels/Meridians], and press the acupoint quickly to prevent pathogenic Qi from entering. (Because it is deficient, shallow needling nourishes the blood vessels; quick pressure at the acupoint repels pathogenic Qi. This is the tonification method.)
When Xie Qi [Pathogenic Qi] arrives, it feels tight and rapid; when Gu Qi [Grain Qi/Stomach Qi/Upright Qi] arrives, it feels slow and harmonious. (Xie Qi refers to pathogenic Qi. Gu Qi refers to Yuan Qi [Original Qi], i.e., Wei Qi [Stomach Qi]. Although this describes the sensation under the needle, the arrival of Mai Qi [Pulse Qi] is similar.)
If the pulse is excess, needle deeply to drain the Qi; if the pulse is deficiency, needle shallowly so that Jing Qi [Essence Qi] does not escape, thereby nourishing the Mai and exclusively expelling the Xie Qi. (Various chapters discuss excess and deficiency but do not detail their differentiation. Here, it states that an excess pulse indicates an excess syndrome, and a deficiency pulse indicates a deficiency syndrome. Excess syndromes require deep needling to drain Qi; deficiency syndromes require shallow needling to avoid damaging Essence Qi, thus nourishing the Mai and exclusively expelling Pathogenic Qi. This clarifies the essentials of tonification and draining.)