穴，于中庶得进退，方有准也。《难经》曰∶刺荣毋伤卫，刺卫毋伤荣。又曰∶刺荣无伤卫
者，乃掐按其穴，令气散，以针而刺，是不伤其卫气也。刺卫无伤荣者，乃撮起其穴，以针
卧而刺之，是不伤其荣血也。此乃阴阳补泻之大法也。
爪∶爪而下之，此则《针赋》曰∶左手重而切按，欲令气血得以宣散，是不伤于荣卫也
。右手轻而徐入，欲不痛之因，此乃下针之秘法也。
搓∶搓而转者，如搓线之貌，勿转太紧，转者左补右泻，以大指次指相合，大指往上，
进为之左，大指往下，退为之右，此则迎随之法也。故经曰∶迎夺右而泻凉，随济左而补暖
。此则左右补泻之大法也。
弹∶弹而努之，此则先弹针头，待气至，却退一豆许，先浅而后深，自外推内，补针之
摇∶摇而伸之，此乃先摇动针头，待气至，却退一豆许，乃先深而后浅，自内引外，泻
针之法也。故曰∶针头补泻。
扪∶扪而闭之。经曰∶凡补必扪而出之。故补欲出针时，就扪闭其穴，不令气出，使血
循∶循而通之。经曰∶凡泻针，必以手指于穴上四旁循之，使令气血宣散，方可下针，
故出针时，不闭其穴，乃为真泻。此提按补泻之法，男女补泻，左右反用。
捻∶捻者，治上大指向外捻，治下大指向内捻。外捻者令气向上而治病，内捻者令气向
下而治病。如出针，内捻者令气行至病所，外捻者令邪气至针下而出也。此下手八法口诀也
穴位，要在中庶穴（注：此处原文可能有误，通常指“中”或泛指穴位深浅）掌握进退的尺度，才有准则。《难经》说：刺荣气不要伤及卫气，刺卫气不要伤及荣气。又说：所谓刺荣不伤卫，是指用手指掐按穴位，使气血散开，然后用针刺入，这样就不会损伤卫气。所谓刺卫不伤荣，是指用手指捏起穴位皮肤，将针卧倒平刺，这样就不会损伤荣血。这是阴阳补泻的大法。
爪法：用指甲切按后下针。这正如《针赋》所说：左手重而切按，目的是让气血得以宣散，从而不损伤荣卫。右手轻缓进针，目的是为了避免疼痛，这是下针的秘法。
搓法：搓动并旋转针柄，样子像搓线一样，不要转得太紧。左转是补，右转是泻。用大拇指和食指相合，大拇指向上推为左进，即补；大拇指向下退为右退，即泻。这是迎随补泻的方法。所以经文说：逆向夺其邪气则右转为泻，产生凉感；顺向济其正气则左转为补，产生暖感。这是左右补泻的大法。
弹法：弹击针柄使其充盈。这是先弹针头，待得气后，再退针约一粒豆的距离，先浅后深，从外向内推进，这是补针的方法。
摇法：摇动针身并伸展。这是先摇动针头，待得气后，再退针约一粒豆的距离，先深后浅，从内向外引拔，这是泻针的方法。所以说这是通过针头的动作进行补泻。
扪法：扪按并闭合穴位。经文说：凡是补法，出针时都要扪按。所以在补法准备出针时，就扪闭穴位，不让正气外泄，使血液循行正常。
循法：循按以疏通经络。经文说：凡是泻法，必须用手指在穴位四周循按，使气血宣散，然后才能下针。所以在出针时，不闭合穴位，这才是真正的泻法。这是提按补泻的方法，男女、左右的补泻运用相反。
捻法：捻转针柄。治疗上部疾病时，大拇指向外捻；治疗下部疾病时，大拇指向内捻。向外捻使气向上行以治病，向内捻使气向下行以治病。如出针时，向内捻使气行至病所，向外捻使邪气至针下而出。这是下手八法的口诀。
The acupoint, one must master the advancement and withdrawal at [Zhongshu] (Note: Text likely refers to general acupoints or depth control), thereby establishing a standard. The *Nan Jing* states: When penetrating Ying (Nutrient) Qi, do not injure Wei (Defensive) Qi; when penetrating Wei Qi, do not injure Ying Qi. It further states: To penetrate Ying without injuring Wei means to press the acupoint with the fingernail to disperse the Qi, then insert the needle, thus not injuring the Wei Qi. To penetrate Wei without injuring Ying means to pinch up the skin of the acupoint and insert the needle horizontally, thus not injuring the Ying Blood. This is the great method of Yin-Yang tonification and sedation.
Clawing (Zhua): Press with the claw before inserting. As stated in the *Zhen Fu*: The left hand presses heavily to allow the Qi and Blood to disperse, thereby not injuring Ying and Wei. The right hand inserts lightly and slowly to avoid pain. This is the secret method of needle insertion.
Rubbing (Cuo): Rub and rotate the needle handle, resembling the motion of twisting thread. Do not twist too tightly. Left rotation is tonification, right rotation is sedation. Join the thumb and index finger; pushing the thumb upward constitutes left advancement (tonification), while pulling the thumb downward constitutes right withdrawal (sedation). This is the method of Following and Opposing. Thus, the classic says: Opposing and reducing on the right brings coolness; Following and supplementing on the left brings warmth. This is the great method of left-right tonification and sedation.
Tapping (Tan): Tap to make the needle full. First tap the needle head. After Qi arrives, withdraw the needle slightly (about the size of a bean). Advance from shallow to deep, pushing from outside to inside. This is the method for tonifying needles.
Shaking (Yao): Shake and extend. First shake the needle head. After Qi arrives, withdraw the needle slightly (about the size of a bean). Withdraw from deep to shallow, drawing from inside to outside. This is the method for sedating needles. Thus, it is said that this involves manipulating the needle head for tonification and sedation.
Closing (Men): Close by pressing. The classic states: For all tonification methods, one must press upon withdrawing the needle. Therefore, when preparing to withdraw the needle for tonification, close the acupoint by pressing, preventing Qi from escaping, so that Blood follows its normal course.
Tracing (Xun): Trace to unblock. The classic states: For all sedation methods, one must use fingers to trace around the four sides of the acupoint, causing Qi and Blood to disperse, before inserting the needle. Therefore, upon withdrawing the needle, leaving the acupoint open constitutes true sedation. This is the method of lifting-thrusting tonification and sedation. The application of tonification and sedation differs between men and women, and between left and right sides.
Twisting (Nian): Twisting the needle. For treating upper body conditions, twist outward with the thumb; for lower body conditions, twist inward with the thumb. Outward twisting directs Qi upward to treat disease; inward twisting directs Qi downward to treat disease. Upon withdrawing the needle, inward twisting directs Qi to the site of disease, while outward twisting directs pathogenic Qi out from under the needle. These are the mantras of the Eight Methods of Needle Insertion.