1
刺家不診，聽病者言在頭，頭疾痛，爲藏鍼之，刺至骨，病已上，無傷骨肉及皮，皮者道也。
刺家不诊，听病者言在头，头疾痛，为藏针之，刺至骨，病已上，无伤骨肉及皮，皮者道也。
Cì jiā bù zhěn, tīng bìng zhě yán zài tóu, tóu jí tòng, wéi cáng zhēn zhī, cì zhì gǔ, bìng yǐ shàng, wú shāng gǔ ròu jí pí, pí zhě dào yě.
针家不必先诊脉，只听病人自述：病人说病在头、头痛剧烈，就给他深刺；刺到骨分为止，病愈即止，切不可伤及骨、肉与皮——皮是针出入的道路。
One who practises the needle does not take the pulse; he listens to what the patient says. Told that the trouble is in the head and that the head aches painfully, he sinks the needle deep — 藏 cáng, deep — and goes in as far as the bone; once the illness is over he stops. Above all he is to do no harm to the bone, flesh or skin, for the skin is the road, and every needle travels by it.
2
陰刺入一，傍四處，治寒熱。
阴刺入一，傍四处，治寒热。
Yīn cì rù yī, bàng sì chù, zhì hán rè.
阴刺之法：正中直入一针，四傍各入一针，用来治疗寒热。
For yin needling, one needle goes in at the centre and four enter about it; this treats cold and heat.
3
深專者，刺大藏，迫藏刺背，背俞也。
深专者，刺大藏，迫藏刺背，背俞也。
Shēn zhuān zhě, cì dà zàng, pò zàng cì bèi, bèi shù yě.
寒热之气深入而专攻于里的，要刺五脏；迫近五脏的办法是刺背，因为背上有五脏之俞。
Where it is deep and drives inward on one spot, needle the great depots. To come close to the depots one needles the back, for the back carries the depot transport points.
4
刺之迫藏，藏會腹中，寒熱去而止。
刺之迫藏，藏会腹中，寒热去而止。
Cì zhī pò zàng, zàng huì fù zhōng, hán rè qù ér zhǐ.
这样刺而迫近五脏，是因为背俞是脏气聚会之处；刺到腹中的寒热退净，就可以停针。
That one comes close to the depots by needling there is because these are where the depot qi gathers; stop when the cold and heat within the abdomen are gone.
5
與刺之要，發鍼而淺出血。
与刺之要，发针而浅出血。
Yǔ cì zhī yào, fā zhēn ér qiǎn chū xuè.
凡是这一类刺法，其要领是出针时让针孔出少量的血。
The main point in this way of needling is that on withdrawing the needle a little blood should come.
6
治腐腫者，刺腐上，視癰小大深淺刺。
治腐肿者，刺腐上，视痈小大深浅刺。
Zhì fǔ zhǒng zhě, cì fǔ shàng, shì yōng xiǎo dà shēn qiǎn cì.
治腐肿，要刺在腐处之上，并看痈的大小来决定刺的深浅。
To treat putrid swelling, needle onto the putrid place and judge the depth by the size of the abscess.
7
刺大者多血，小者深之，必端内鍼爲故止。
刺大者多血，小者深之，必端内针为故止。
Cì dà zhě duō xuè, xiǎo zhě shēn zhī, bì duān nà zhēn wéi gù zhǐ.
痈大的要多出血，痈小的要深刺，都以针身端直地刺入为准则，中病即止。
For a large abscess let much blood; for a small one go deeper. Either way make it the rule that the needle goes straight in — 内 nà, insert — and stop there.
8
病在少腹有積，刺皮𩩻以下，至少腹而止，刺俠脊兩傍四椎間，刺兩髂髎季脅肋間，導腹中氣熱下已。
病在少腹有积，刺皮𩩻以下，至少腹而止，刺侠脊两傍四椎间，刺两髂髎季胁肋间，导腹中气热下已。
Bìng zài shào fù yǒu jī, cì pí tū yǐ xià, zhì shào fù ér zhǐ, cì xié jǐ liǎng bàng sì zhuī jiān, cì liǎng qià liáo jì xié lèi jiān, dǎo fù zhōng qì rè xià yǐ.
病在少腹而有积块，从皮𩩻，即脐下五寸横纹处，以下取穴，一路刺到少腹为止；再刺侠脊两傍第四椎之间，以及两侧髂骨上的髎穴与季胁肋间，引导腹中热气下行，病就好了。
Where there is a gathering in the lesser abdomen, needle from below the 皮𩩻 — the crease five inches below the navel — down as far as the lesser abdomen, and stop there; needle too between the fourth vertebra on either side of the spine, and the liáo points over the two haunch bones in the space of the short ribs, leading the qi and heat within the abdomen downward until the trouble is done.
9
病在少腹，腹痛不得大小便，病名曰疝，得之寒，刺少腹兩股間，刺腰髁骨間，刺而多之，盡炅，病已。
病在少腹，腹痛不得大小便，病名曰疝，得之寒，刺少腹两股间，刺腰髁骨间，刺而多之，尽炅，病已。
Bìng zài shào fù, fù tòng bù dé dà xiǎo biàn, bìng míng yuē shàn, dé zhī hán, cì shào fù liǎng gǔ jiān, cì yāo kē gǔ jiān, cì ér duō zhī, jìn jiǒng, bìng yǐ.
病在少腹，腹痛而大小便不通，这种病名叫疝，得之于寒；刺少腹与两股之间，并刺腰髁骨之间，多刺几针，等到针下全都热起来，即尽炅，病就好了。
Where the trouble is in the lesser abdomen, with pain there and no passage either way, the illness is called shàn, and it is got from cold. Needle between the lesser abdomen and the two thighs, and between the bones of the lumbar condyles; needle repeatedly, and once everything is blazing hot the illness is over.
10
病在筋，筋攣節痛，不可以行，名曰筋痺，刺筋上爲故，刺分肉間，不可中骨也。
病在筋，筋挛节痛，不可以行，名曰筋痹，刺筋上为故，刺分肉间，不可中骨也。
Bìng zài jīn, jīn luán jié tòng, bù kě yǐ xíng, míng yuē jīn bì, cì jīn shàng wéi gù, cì fēn ròu jiān, bù kě zhòng gǔ yě.
病在筋，筋脉拘挛、关节疼痛，不能行走，名叫筋痹；治疗以刺到筋为准则，在分肉之间下针，不可刺中于骨。
Trouble in the sinews, with cramping of the sinews, pain in the joints and no power to walk, is called sinew obstruction. Make it the rule to reach the sinews: needle in the partings between the flesh, and do not strike bone.
Bìng qǐ jīn jiǒng, bìng yǐ zhǐ.
筋脉复起而针下觉热，病就好了，可以停针。
When the sinews rally and run hot, the illness is done; then stop.
12
病在肌膚，肌膚盡痛，名曰肌痺。
病在肌肤，肌肤尽痛，名曰肌痹。
Bìng zài jī fū, jī fū jìn tòng, míng yuē jī bì.
病在肌肤，肌肉与皮肤全都疼痛，名叫肌痹。
Trouble in the flesh and skin, with pain all through them, is called flesh obstruction.
13
傷於寒濕，刺大分小分，多發，鍼而深之，以熱爲故，無傷筋骨，傷筋骨，癰發若變，諸分盡熱，病已止。
伤于寒湿，刺大分小分，多发，针而深之，以热为故，无伤筋骨，伤筋骨，痈发若变，诸分尽热，病已止。
Shāng yú hán shī, cì dà fēn xiǎo fēn, duō fā, zhēn ér shēn zhī, yǐ rè wéi gù, wú shāng jīn gǔ, shāng jīn gǔ, yōng fā ruò biàn, zhū fēn jìn rè, bìng yǐ zhǐ.
这病是伤于寒湿所致；要刺大分小分，多下几针而且要刺得深，以针下发热为准则。不可伤了筋骨；若伤了筋骨，就会发为痈肿而生变。待到各处肉分全都发热了，病愈即可停针。
It comes of harm by cold and damp. Needle the greater and lesser partings, inserting many needles and going deep, with heat as the rule. Do no harm to sinew or bone: harm them and an abscess will rise as though things had changed for the worse. When the partings everywhere are hot, the illness is done and you stop.
Bìng zài gǔ, gǔ zhòng bù kě jǔ, gǔ suǐ suān tòng, hán qì zhì, míng yuē gǔ bì.
病在骨，骨头沉重得举不起来，骨髓酸痛，寒气深入其中，名叫骨痹。
Trouble in the bone, the bones so heavy they cannot be lifted, with sore aching in the marrow and cold qi arrived within, is called bone impediment.
15
深者刺無傷脉肉爲故，其道大分小分，骨熱，病已止，病在諸陽脉，且寒且熱，諸分且寒且熱，名曰狂。
深者刺无伤脉肉为故，其道大分小分，骨热，病已止，病在诸阳脉，且寒且热，诸分且寒且热，名曰狂。
Shēn zhě cì wú shāng mài ròu wéi gù, qí dào dà fēn xiǎo fēn, gǔ rè, bìng yǐ zhǐ, bìng zài zhū yáng mài, qiě hán qiě rè, zhū fēn qiě hán qiě rè, míng yuē kuáng.
要刺得深，但以不伤血脉与肌肉为准则，进针之路仍在大分小分之间；等到骨中发热，病愈即停针。病在诸阳脉，忽寒忽热，各处分肉也忽寒忽热，这种病名叫狂。
Go deep, but make it the rule to do no harm to the vessels and the flesh; the way in lies still through the greater and lesser partings. When the bone is hot the illness is over and you stop. When the trouble is in the various yang vessels, by turns cold and hot, and the partings share that alternation, the illness is called mania.
16
刺之虚脉，視分盡熱，病已止。
刺之虚脉，视分尽热，病已止。
Cì zhī xū mài, shì fēn jìn rè, bìng yǐ zhǐ.
针刺以泻其脉中之实邪，看到各处分肉全都发热了，病就好了，可以停针。
Needle so as to empty the vessel, and watch for the partings to grow hot throughout; then the illness is over and you stop.
17
病初發，歲一發，不治，月一發，不治，月四五發，名曰癲病。
病初发，岁一发，不治，月一发，不治，月四五发，名曰癫病。
Bìng chū fā, suì yī fā, bù zhì, yuè yī fā, bù zhì, yuè sì wǔ fā, míng yuē diān bìng.
病初起时一年发作一次；不治，就变成一月发作一次；再不治，一月发作四五次，这就叫癫病。
At the outset it erupts once a year. Left untreated, once a month. Left longer still, four or five times a month: this is called diān illness.
18
刺諸分諸脉，其無寒者，以鍼調之，病止。
刺诸分诸脉，其无寒者，以针调之，病止。
Cì zhū fēn zhū mài, qí wú hán zhě, yǐ zhēn tiáo zhī, bìng zhǐ.
刺各处分肉与各条经脉；其中没有寒象的，用针来调和它，病就可以止住。
Needle the various partings and the various vessels; where there is no cold, regulate with the needle, and the illness stops.
19
病風，且寒且熱，炅汗出，一日數過，先刺諸分，理絡脉，汗出且寒且熱，三日一刺，百日而已。
病风，且寒且热，炅汗出，一日数过，先刺诸分，理络脉，汗出且寒且热，三日一刺，百日而已。
Bìng fēng, qiě hán qiě rè, jiǒng hàn chū, yī rì shuò guò, xiān cì zhū fēn, lǐ luò mài, hàn chū qiě hán qiě rè, sān rì yī cì, bǎi rì ér yǐ.
伤于风邪，忽寒忽热，发热汗出，一天发作好几次；先刺各处分肉，调理络脉；若汗出之后仍然忽寒忽热，就三天刺一次，一百天可以痊愈。
In wind illness, by turns cold and hot, with blazing sweating several times a day, first needle the various partings and put the network vessels in order. If sweating persists and the alternation of cold and heat with it, needle once every three days, and in a hundred days the illness is finished.
Bìng dà fēng, gǔ jié zhòng, xū méi duò, míng yuē dà fēng.
患大风之病，骨节沉重，须眉脱落，这种病名叫大风。
In great wind, the joints are heavy and the beard and eyebrows fall out; the illness is called great wind.
21
刺肌肉爲故，汗出百日。
刺肌肉为故，汗出百日。
Cì jī ròu wéi gù, hàn chū bǎi rì.
以刺到肌肉为准则，使其出汗，持续一百天。
Make it the rule to reach the flesh and bring out sweating over a hundred days.
Cì gǔ suǐ, hàn chū bǎi rì.
再刺至骨髓，使其出汗，又是一百天。
Then needle to the bone and marrow and bring out sweating for another hundred days.
23
凡二百日，鬚眉生而止鍼。
凡二百日，须眉生而止针。
Fán èr bǎi rì, xū méi shēng ér zhǐ zhēn.
前后共二百天，等到须眉重新长出来，就可以停针了。
After two hundred days in all, once the beard and eyebrows have grown again, leave off needling.