Lingshu · The Five Prohibitions

The text

The Yellow Emperor asked Qi Bo: I have heard that needling has five prohibitions. What are the five prohibitions? Qi Bo said: They forbid what must not be needled. The Yellow Emperor said: I have heard that needling has five seizures. Qi Bo said: Do not drain what must not be seized. The Yellow Emperor said: I have heard that needling has five excesses. Qi Bo said: In replenishing and draining, do not go past the measure. The Yellow Emperor said: I have heard that needling has five against. Qi Bo said: When illness and pulse are against each other, it is named the five against. The Yellow Emperor said: I have heard that needling has nine fittings. Qi Bo said: To know clearly the discourse of the nine needles — this is called the nine fittings. The Yellow Emperor said: What are the five prohibitions? I wish to hear the times that must not be needled. Qi Bo said: On jia and yi days, when they ride themselves: do not needle the head; do not open the cover inside the ear. On bing and ding days, when they ride themselves: do not shake off the dust at the shoulder, the throat, and Lianquan. On wu and ji days, when they ride themselves and the four seasons: do not needle the abdomen, remove the nails, or drain water. On geng and xin days, when they ride themselves: do not needle the joints at the thigh and knee. On ren and gui days, when they ride themselves: do not needle the feet and shins. These are called the five prohibitions. The Yellow Emperor said: What are the five seizures? Qi Bo said: Form and flesh already seized — this is the first seizure. After a great seizure of blood — this is the second. After a great sweating — this is the third. After a great leaking — this is the fourth. A new birth, and great blood — this is the fifth. All these must not be drained. The Yellow Emperor said: What are the five against? Qi Bo said: A heat illness, the pulse quiet; sweat already out, the pulse full and restless — this is the first against. Illness of leaking, the pulse flooding and large — this is the second against. Lodged impediment that does not move, the ridges of flesh broken, the body hot, the pulse cut off on one side — this is the third against. Overflow that seizes the form, the body hot, the color withered and unnaturally white, and afterward clotted blood coming down — clotted blood heavy and grave — this is called the fourth against. Cold and heat that seize the form, the pulse hard and leaping — this is called the fifth against.

The line

Qi Bo said: They forbid what must not be needled.

The note

The five prohibitions are days and places that must not be needled. A prohibition is not a scare. It is admitting that heaven and man have hours that must not be touched.