Huangdi asked: "Diseases have branches and roots, and acupuncture has reversals and followings. How is this?" Qibo replied: "All methods of acupuncture must distinguish yin and yang, correspond front and back, apply reversals and followings, and shift branches and roots. Therefore, it is said that there are cases where the symptoms are treated at the surface, and cases where the root is treated at the root. There are cases where the root is treated at the surface, and cases where the surface is treated at the root. Thus, treatment can be achieved by addressing the surface, by addressing the root, by reversing, or by following. Therefore, understanding reversal and following allows for correct practice without doubt. Understanding branches and roots ensures success in every attempt, while not understanding them leads to reckless actions.
The principles of yin-yang reversal and following, and branches and roots, are small yet vast. Speaking of one can reveal the harm of a hundred diseases, few yet many, shallow yet profound. One can speak of one and understand a hundred. By understanding the shallow, one can grasp the deep; by observing the near, one can know the far. Speaking of surface and root is easy yet hard to achieve. Treating the opposite is reversal, treating correctly is following. For those who fall ill first and then experience reversal, treat the root. For those who experience reversal first and then fall ill, treat the root. For those who experience cold first and then fall ill, treat the root. For those who fall ill first and then experience cold, treat the root. For those who experience heat first and then fall ill, treat the root. For those who experience heat first and then develop abdominal fullness, treat the surface. For those who fall ill first and then experience diarrhea, treat the root. For those who experience diarrhea first and then develop other illnesses, treat the root. They must be regulated before treating other illnesses. For those who fall ill first and then develop abdominal fullness, treat the surface. For those who develop abdominal fullness first and then experience restlessness, treat the root. People may have guest qi or the same qi. Treat the branch in cases of difficulty in urination and defecation. For minor and major benefits, treat the root. When a disease manifests with excess, treat the root first, then the surface. When a disease manifests with deficiency, treat the surface first, then the root. Carefully observe the severity and regulate with intention. For mild cases, treat concurrently. For severe cases, use a single focal method. For those who experience minor and major difficulties first and then fall ill, treat the root.
As for Bingchuan , heart disease first causes heart pain, then cough after one day, flank pain after three days, blockage and body pain after five days. If it does not cease after three days, death occurs at midnight in winter and midday in summer. Lung disease causes coughing and panting, flank fullness and pain after three days, body pain after one day, and distension after five days. If it does not cease after ten days, death occurs at sunset in winter and sunrise in summer. Liver disease causes dizziness, flank fullness, body pain after three days, distension after five days, lower back and leg soreness after three days. If it does not cease after three days, death occurs at sunset in winter and early morning in summer. Spleen disease causes body pain and heaviness, distension after one day, lower back and leg soreness after two days, back and tendon pain and minor constipation after three days. If it does not cease after ten days, death occurs at nightfall in winter and late morning in summer. Kidney disease causes lower back and leg soreness, back and tendon pain and minor constipation after three days, abdominal distension and fullness after three days, flank pain after three days. If it does not cease after three days, death occurs at dawn in winter and late afternoon in summer. Stomach disease causes distension and fullness, lower back and leg soreness after five days, back and tendon pain and minor constipation after three days, body heaviness after five days. If it does not cease after six days, death occurs after midnight in winter and midday in summer. Bladder disease causes minor constipation, lower abdominal distension and fullness, back and leg soreness after five days, abdominal distension and fullness after one day, body pain after one day. If it does not cease after two days, death occurs at cockcrow in winter and late afternoon in summer. All diseases progress in this manner, and in such cases, there are fixed times of death, and acupuncture should not be applied. If the disease stops at one organ, or progresses to three or four organs, then acupuncture may be applied."