五行六气各有胜复故木将行胜也苍埃先见于林木木乃有声震星光芒是其兆也又木将胜也宫音失调 虫不滋雨湿
失令也十二月先取其化源也此谓迎而取之也迎者于未来而先取之也故取者泻也用针泻其源也即木气将欲胜者即先泻肝
之源出于太冲（左足大指本节后三寸陷者中乃肝脉所过为源）先以左手按其源穴得动气乃下针针入三分乃阳之
位也以得天气而住针留三呼即应木之生数三也乃四面以手弹之令气之针下即推而进至五分留八呼应其木之成数八也是
引天气而得地气也针头似动气相接也乃急出其针次以手扪之此是预知木胜泻木肝之源也令不克其土也其用药者即用辛
平之罚木之胜用甘全之佐土之衰无令食酸物佐木之胜也火之将胜也远视天涯光辉赤气山川草木先乃焦枯甲虫之体遍
生燥疥商音之声先乃失调于三月迎而取之化源火木王之前先取其心之源也故心之源出于太陵（掌后两骨间陷者中乃心之
所过为源也）先以左手按其源穴得动气乃下针针入三分乃阳之位也以得天气乃住针留二呼乃火生数也乃四面以手弹之气
至针下即推而进针至于五分留七呼应火之成数也是引天气而接地气也针头似动其气相接也急出其针可泄泻有余之气此
泻包络小心之源也应相火之胜也其君火之源者故名曰少阴之源也少阴之源出于兑骨（此是真心之源在掌后兑骨之端陷者
中一名神门一名中都）刺法同前法其用药者即用咸平之罚火之胜也用辛全之补金之衰勿食其苦物佐火之胜也土将胜也山
石先润黄埃四起溽暑乃作云气乃扰雾翳乃施羽音先少是其候也于五月迎而取其化源也先取泻脾之源也故脾之源出于太
白（在足内侧校骨陷者中是足太阴所过为源）先以左手按其源穴得动气乃下针针至三分阳之位也留五呼应土之数也以手
弹之气至针下乃推而针至五分留五呼亦应土之数也是谓引天气而接地气也针头似动急出其针取泻其有余之气令脾气不盛
勿伤肾也其用药者用酸平之罚土之胜用咸全之补肾之衰勿食其甘物佐土之胜也金将胜也西风数起松篁发籁土生卤白地气
先燥山彰白气肃杀乃作木凋草萎角音乃亏是其兆也于六月迎而取其化源即先泻肺之源也故肺之源出于太渊（在掌后大筋
一寸五分间陷者中是手太阴所过为源）先以左手按其源穴得动气乃下针至三分阳之位也留四呼应金之生数也以手四面弹
之气至针下推而进针至五分留九呼应金之成数也是谓引天气而接地气也得气乃急出之可泻肺气之有余也令勿伤肝也其用
药者即用苦平之罚金之胜用酸全之补肝之衰勿食其辛物佐金之胜也水将胜也天色沉阴鸣鸟不语太虚暝黯阳光不治冷气先
至征音不及荧惑不见是其兆也于九月迎而取其化源也即先泻肾之源也故肾之源出于太溪（在足内踝下起大骨下陷中是足
太阴所过为源也）先以左手按其源穴得动气乃下针针入三分阳之位也留一呼应水之生数也以手四面弹之令气至针下即推
而进针至五分留六呼应水之成数也是谓引天气而接地气也得气即急出之即泻肾气之有余无令伤于心气也其用药者即用甘
以平之罚肾气之胜也用苦全之补心气之衰也无令食咸物佐肾之胜也凡资其化源者何也故资者补之取者泻之当泻其胜实补
其衰弱也假令木气之胜土当衰弱也故泻其肝源补其脾源也火气之胜金当衰弱也故泻其心源补其肺源也土气之胜水当衰弱
也故泻其脾源补其肾源也金气之胜木当衰弱故泻其肺源补其肝源也水气之胜火当衰弱故泻其肾源补其心源也故资补其化
源者故先以左手按其源穴得动气乃下针便至五分阴分地之气留呼即从其五行之生数也得地气之动乃抽针至三分阳分天之
气是谓引阴至阳白资补化源留呼即次从五行之成数也故以外至内而出曰泻也以内至外而出曰补也故以补为资以取为泻也
即胜者取之虚者资也
五行与六气各自存在相克与报复的规律，因此当木气即将行使胜气时，苍色的尘埃会先在林木间显现，树木发出声响，星辰光芒闪烁，这些都是征兆。另外，当木气将要胜复时，宫音失调，昆虫不再滋生，雨湿失去时令特征。在十二月（丑月），应当先选取其化源。这叫做“迎而取之”。“迎”，就是在病气未发之前先加以干预。所谓“取”，就是采用泻法。用针刺以泻其源头。即当木气将要胜复时，就先泻肝的源头，该源头出于太冲穴（位于左足大脚趾本节后三寸处的凹陷中，是肝脉经过的地方，称为源）。先用左手按压该源穴，感觉到搏动的气感后，再下针。针刺入三分深，这是阳的位置。等到获得天之气后停止进针，留针三次呼吸的时间，这对应木的生数三。然后用手从四面弹击针柄，使气至针下，接着推进针至五分深，留针八次呼吸的时间，这对应木的成数八。这是引导天之气而得到地之气。针头似有动气相接。随后迅速出针，并用手指按压针孔。这就是预先预知木气胜复而泻肝之源的方法，目的是防止木气克制土气。对于用药者，则使用辛味药来平抑木气的胜复，使用甘味药来保全土气的衰弱，不要食用酸味食物以助长木气的胜复。
当火气将要胜复时，远望天边光辉赤红，山川草木先变得焦枯，甲壳类昆虫身上遍生干燥疥疮，商音之声先出现失调。在三月（辰月）迎而取之化源，在火、木王相的前夕，先选取心的源头。心的源头出于太陵穴（手掌后方两骨之间的凹陷中，是心包络所经过的地方，称为源）。先用左手按压该源穴，感觉到搏动的气感后，再下针。针刺入三分深，这是阳的位置。等到获得天之气后停止进针，留针两次呼吸的时间，这对应火的生数二。然后用手从四面弹击针柄，使气至针下，接着推进针至五分深，留针七次呼吸的时间，这对应火的成数七。这是引导天之气而得到地之气。针头似有动气相接。随后迅速出针，可以泄泻有余之气。这是泻心包络和命门（小心）的源头，以应对相火的胜复。至于君火的源头，所以称为少阴的源头。少阴的源头出于兑骨端（这是真心的源头，在手掌后方兑骨的末端凹陷中，又名神门，又名中都）。刺法同前法。对于用药者，则使用咸味药来平抑火气的胜复，使用辛味药来补益金气的衰弱，不要食用苦味食物以助长火气的胜复。
当土气将要胜复时，山石先变得湿润，黄色的尘埃四起，湿热气候形成，云气扰乱，雾气弥漫，羽音先减弱，这是征兆。在五月（午月）迎而取之化源，先选取并泻脾的源头。脾的源头出于太白穴（在足内侧核骨后的凹陷中，是足太阴脾经所经过的地方，称为源）。先用左手按压该源穴，感觉到搏动的气感后，再下针。针刺至三分深，这是阳的位置。留针五次呼吸的时间，这对应土的数五。用手弹击，使气至针下，然后推针至五分深，留针五次呼吸的时间，这也对应土的数五。这叫做引导天之气而得到地之气。针头似有动气，迅速出针，取泻其有余之气，使脾气不致过盛，以免伤害肾气。对于用药者，使用酸味药来平抑土气的胜复，使用咸味药来补肾气的衰弱，不要食用甘味食物以助长土气的胜复。
当金气将要胜复时，西风频繁吹起，松竹发出声响，土壤生出盐卤，白气显现，地气先变干燥，山峦呈现白色肃杀之气，树木凋零，草木枯萎，角音亏损，这是征兆。在六月（未月）迎而取之化源，即先泻肺的源头。肺的源头出于太渊穴（在手腕后方大筋一寸五分间的凹陷中，是手太阴肺经所经过的地方，称为源）。先用左手按压该源穴，感觉到搏动的气感后，再下针。针刺至三分深，这是阳的位置。留针四次呼吸的时间，这对应金的生数四。用手从四面弹击，使气至针下，推针前进至五分深，留针九次呼吸的时间，这对应金的成数九。这叫做引导天之气而得到地之气。得气后迅速出针，可泻肺气之有余，以免伤害肝气。对于用药者，使用苦味药来平抑金气的胜复，使用酸味药来补益肝气的衰弱，不要食用辛味食物以助长金气的胜复。
当水气将要胜复时，天色阴沉，鸣鸟不语，天空昏暗，阳光不明，冷气先到，征音不及，荧惑星不见，这是征兆。在九月（戌月）迎而取之化源，即先泻肾的源头。肾的源头出于太溪穴（在足内踝下方，大骨下的凹陷中，是足少阴肾经所经过的地方，称为源）。先用左手按压该源穴，感觉到搏动的气感后，再下针。针刺入三分深，这是阳的位置。留针一次呼吸的时间，这对应水的生数一。用手从四面弹击，使气至针下，推针前进至五分深，留针六次呼吸的时间，这对应水的成数六。这叫做引导天之气而得到地之气。得气后迅速出针，即泻肾气之有余，以免伤害心气。对于用药者，使用甘味药来平抑肾气的胜复，使用苦味药来补益心气的衰弱，不要食用咸味食物以助长肾气的胜复。
凡是资助其化源的原因是什么呢？所谓“资”，就是补；所谓“取”，就是泻。应当泻其胜实，补其衰弱。例如木气胜复，土气应当衰弱，所以泻肝之源，补脾之源。火气胜复，金气应当衰弱，所以泻心之源，补肺之源。土气胜复，水气应当衰弱，所以泻脾之源，补肾之源。金气胜复，木气应当衰弱，所以泻肺之源，补肝之源。水气胜复，火气应当衰弱，所以泻肾之源，补心之源。所以资助并补益其化源的方法是：先用左手按压源穴，感觉到搏动的气感后，再下针，便至五分深的阴分地之气，留针次数随即遵循五行之生数。得到地气的动象后，抽针至三分深的阳分天之气，这叫做引阴至阳。资助并补益化源时，留针次数随即遵循五行之成数。所以由外向内出针叫做泻，由内向外出针叫做补。所以以补为资，以取为泻。即对胜复之气采取“取”（泻）的方法，对虚弱之气采取“资”（补）的方法。
The Five Phases and Six Qi each have their own patterns of overcoming (Sheng) and retaliating (Fu). Therefore, when Wood Qi is about to exert its overcoming power, pale green dust will first appear in the trees, the trees will make sounds, and the stars' radiance will flicker; these are omens. Furthermore, when Wood Qi is about to overcome, the Gong tone will be disordered, insects will cease to multiply, and rain and humidity will lose their seasonal characteristics. In the twelfth month (Chou month), one should first select its source of transformation (Hua Yuan). This is called "Ying Er Qu Zhi" (Meeting and Taking). "Ying" means intervening before the pathogenic qi arises. "Qu" refers to using the reducing method. Needling is used to reduce its source. That is, when Wood Qi is about to overcome, one first reduces the source of the Liver. This source emerges from Taichong (LR3) (located three cun posterior to the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe on the left foot, in the depression where the Liver meridian passes, known as the source). First, press the source acupoint with the left hand until a pulsating sensation (Dong Qi) is felt, then insert the needle. Insert the needle three fen deep, which is the position of Yang. Once the Heaven Qi is obtained, stop advancing the needle and retain it for three breaths, corresponding to the generating number of Wood, which is three. Then, tap the needle handle from all four directions with your hand to guide the Qi to the needle tip. Advance the needle to five fen deep and retain it for eight breaths, corresponding to the completing number of Wood, which is eight. This is guiding Heaven Qi to obtain Earth Qi. The needle head seems to connect with the moving Qi. Then, rapidly withdraw the needle and cover the puncture site with your hand. This is preemptively knowing Wood's overcoming and reducing the Liver's source, preventing Wood from overacting on Earth. For those using medication, use Pungent (Xin) flavor to penalize/reduce Wood's overcoming, use Sweet (Gan) flavor to preserve Earth's decline, and avoid eating Sour (Suan) foods that assist Wood's overcoming.
When Fire Qi is about to overcome, looking far into the sky reveals red brilliance; mountains, rivers, grass, and trees first become scorched and dry; chitinous insects develop dry scabs all over their bodies; and the Shang tone becomes disordered first. In the third month (Chen month), meet and take the source of transformation. Before the Wang phase of Fire and Wood, first select the source of the Heart. The source of the Heart emerges from Tailing (PC7) (located in the depression between the two bones behind the palm, where the Pericardium meridian passes, known as the source). First, press the source acupoint with the left hand until a pulsating sensation is felt, then insert the needle. Insert the needle three fen deep, which is the position of Yang. Once Heaven Qi is obtained, stop advancing the needle and retain it for two breaths, corresponding to the generating number of Fire, which is two. Then, tap the needle handle from all four directions to guide the Qi to the needle tip. Advance the needle to five fen deep and retain it for seven breaths, corresponding to the completing number of Fire, which is seven. This is guiding Heaven Qi to obtain Earth Qi. The needle head seems to connect with the moving Qi. Rapidly withdraw the needle to drain excess Qi. This reduces the source of the Pericardium and the "Small Heart" (San Jiao/Triple Burner or Mingmen depending on interpretation, here referring to Ministerial Fire), responding to the overcoming of Ministerial Fire. As for the source of Sovereign Fire, it is therefore called the source of Shaoyin. The source of Shaoyin emerges from Duigu (HT7/Shenmen) (this is the true Heart's source, located in the depression at the end of the Duigu bone behind the palm, also named Shenmen or Zhongdu). The needling method is the same as above. For those using medication, use Salty (Xian) flavor to penalize/reduce Fire's overcoming, use Pungent flavor to tonify Metal's decline, and avoid eating Bitter (Ku) foods that assist Fire's overcoming.
When Earth Qi is about to overcome, mountain rocks first become moist, yellow dust rises in all directions, humid heat forms, clouds disturb, and mist spreads; the Yu tone first weakens; this is the omen. In the fifth month (Wu month), meet and take the source of transformation. First select and reduce the source of the Spleen. The source of the Spleen emerges from Taibai (SP3) (located in the depression posterior to the medial malleolus/metatarsal bone on the medial side of the foot, where the Foot Taiyin Spleen meridian passes, known as the source). First, press the source acupoint with the left hand until a pulsating sensation is felt, then insert the needle. Insert the needle three fen deep, which is the position of Yang. Retain it for five breaths, corresponding to the number of Earth, which is five. Tap with the hand to guide the Qi to the needle tip, then advance the needle to five fen deep and retain it for five breaths, also corresponding to the number of Earth. This is called guiding Heaven Qi to obtain Earth Qi. The needle head seems to move; rapidly withdraw the needle to drain excess Qi, preventing Spleen Qi from becoming excessive and injuring Kidney Qi. For those using medication, use Sour flavor to penalize/reduce Earth's overcoming, use Salty flavor to tonify Kidney's decline, and avoid eating Sweet foods that assist Earth's overcoming.
When Metal Qi is about to overcome, west winds blow frequently, pines and bamboos make sounds, salt appears in the soil, white Qi manifests, Earth Qi first becomes dry, mountains show white and austere killing Qi, trees wither, grass dies, and the Jue tone declines; this is the omen. In the sixth month (Wei month), meet and take the source of transformation, i.e., first reduce the source of the Lung. The source of the Lung emerges from Taiyuan (LU9) (located in the depression one cun and five fen distal to the radial styloid process, between the large tendon, where the Hand Taiyin Lung meridian passes, known as the source). First, press the source acupoint with the left hand until a pulsating sensation is felt, then insert the needle. Insert the needle three fen deep, which is the position of Yang. Retain it for four breaths, corresponding to the generating number of Metal, which is four. Tap with the hand from all four directions to guide the Qi to the needle tip, advance the needle to five fen deep, and retain it for nine breaths, corresponding to the completing number of Metal, which is nine. This is called guiding Heaven Qi to obtain Earth Qi. After obtaining Qi, rapidly withdraw the needle to drain excess Lung Qi, preventing injury to Liver Qi. For those using medication, use Bitter flavor to penalize/reduce Metal's overcoming, use Sour flavor to tonify Liver's decline, and avoid eating Pungent foods that assist Metal's overcoming.
When Water Qi is about to overcome, the sky color sinks and becomes gloomy, singing birds fall silent, the vast emptiness darkens, sunlight is not governed, cold Qi arrives first, the Zheng tone is insufficient, and Mars (Yinghuo) is not visible; this is the omen. In the ninth month (Xu month), meet and take the source of transformation, i.e., first reduce the source of the Kidney. The source of the Kidney emerges from Taixi (KI3) (located in the depression below the medial malleolus, where the Foot Shaoyin Kidney meridian passes, known as the source). First, press the source acupoint with the left hand until a pulsating sensation is felt, then insert the needle. Insert the needle three fen deep, which is the position of Yang. Retain it for one breath, corresponding to the generating number of Water, which is one. Tap with the hand from all four directions to guide the Qi to the needle tip, advance the needle to five fen deep, and retain it for six breaths, corresponding to the completing number of Water, which is six. This is called guiding Heaven Qi to obtain Earth Qi. After obtaining Qi, rapidly withdraw the needle to drain excess Kidney Qi, preventing injury to Heart Qi. For those using medication, use Sweet flavor to balance/reduce Kidney Qi's overcoming, use Bitter flavor to tonify Heart Qi's decline, and avoid eating Salty foods that assist Kidney's overcoming.
Why is it necessary to nourish its source of transformation? "Zi" (Nourish/Supplement) means tonification; "Qu" (Take/Extract) means reduction. One should reduce excess overcoming and tonify weakness. For example, if Wood Qi overcomes, Earth Qi should weaken; thus, reduce the Liver's source and tonify the Spleen's source. If Fire Qi overcomes, Metal Qi should weaken; thus, reduce the Heart's source and tonify the Lung's source. If Earth Qi overcomes, Water Qi should weaken; thus, reduce the Spleen's source and tonify the Kidney's source. If Metal Qi overcomes, Wood Qi should weaken; thus, reduce the Lung's source and tonify the Liver's source. If Water Qi overcomes, Fire Qi should weaken; thus, reduce the Kidney's source and tonify the Heart's source. Therefore, to nourish and tonify its source of transformation: first, press the source acupoint with the left hand until a pulsating sensation is felt, then insert the needle to five fen deep (Yin/Earth Qi level), and retain it according to the generating numbers of the Five Phases. Upon feeling the movement of Earth Qi, withdraw the needle to three fen deep (Yang/Heaven Qi level); this is guiding Yin to Yang. When nourishing and tonifying the source of transformation, retain it according to the completing numbers of the Five Phases. Thus, withdrawing the needle from outside to inside is called reduction; withdrawing from inside to outside is called tonification. Therefore, tonification is "Zi," and reduction is "Qu." That is, apply "Qu" (reduction) to the overcoming excess, and apply "Zi" (tonification) to the deficiency.