Suwen · Needling Lumbar Pain

The text

The Taiyang vessel of the foot makes a person have lumbar pain, pulling the nape, the spine, the sacrum and the back as if a weight were being carried. Needle the regular Taiyang channel in the hollow behind the knee and let blood; in spring do not let blood be seen. The Shaoyang makes a person have lumbar pain, as if a needle were pricking inside the skin; it comes on step by step, and one cannot bow or look up, and cannot turn the head to look behind. Needle the tip of the completed bone of the Shaoyang and let blood. The completed bone is the bone that stands alone on the outer edge of the knee. In summer do not let blood be seen. The Yangming makes a person have lumbar pain; one cannot turn to look, and turning to look is as if there were something seen; the person is given to grief. Needle the Yangming three insertions in front of the shin; harmonize above and below and let blood. In autumn do not let blood be seen. The Shaoyin of the foot makes a person have lumbar pain, the pain pulling the inner edge of the spine. Needle the Shaoyin two insertions above the inner ankle. In spring do not let blood be seen; if too much blood is let, it cannot be restored. The Jueyin vessel makes a person have lumbar pain; inside the lumbar region it is as if a bowstring were drawn taut. Needle the Jueyin vessel on the outer side of the calf, the heel, and the fish-belly; follow it until it feels beaded, then needle. The illness makes the person talkative, or silent and not clear-minded. Needle three insertions. The Unbinding vessel makes a person have lumbar pain; the pain pulls the shoulder; the eyes are dazzled; at times urine is lost. Needle the Unbinding vessel at the crosswise vessel on the outer edge of the hollow, in the space where sinew and flesh of the knee divide, and let blood; stop when the blood changes. The Unbinding vessel makes a person have lumbar pain as if a sash were pulling; it is often as if the waist were broken; the person is given to fear. Needle the Unbinding vessel at the knotted collateral in the hollow, like a grain of millet; when needled the blood shoots; stop when from black one sees red blood. The Same-Yin vessel makes a person have lumbar pain; the pain is as if a small hammer sat inside it; it swells up in a rush. Needle the Same-Yin vessel at the tip of the severed bone above the outer ankle, three insertions. The Yang-Linking vessel makes a person have lumbar pain; the pain rises and swells in a rush. Needle the Yang-Linking vessel where the vessel meets the Taiyang in the space below the calf, about one chi from the ground. The Transverse Network vessel makes a person have lumbar pain; one cannot bow or look up; looking up, one fears falling. It is gotten by lifting a heavy load and wounding the lumbar region; the transverse network is cut, and spoiled blood returns there. Needle it between the yang sinews of the hollow, several cun above the hollow, lying crosswise, two insertions, and let blood. The Meeting-Yin vessel makes a person have lumbar pain; the pain rises and sweat pours in streams; when the sweat dries the person wants to drink; having drunk, wants to run. Needle the Straight-Yang vessel three insertions above; it lies crosswise five cun above the instep and below the hollow; look for what is full and let blood. The Flying-Yang vessel makes a person have lumbar pain; the pain rises and swells in waves; in the extreme there is grief and fear. Needle the Flying-Yang vessel five cun above the inner ankle, in front of the Shaoyin, at its meeting with the Yin-Linking. The Changyang vessel makes a person have lumbar pain pulling the chest; the eyes are dazzled; in the extreme the back bends the wrong way; the tongue rolls and speech is lost. Needle the inner sinew, two insertions, in front of the great sinew above the inner ankle, behind the Taiyin, about two cun above the ankle. The Scattered vessel makes a person have lumbar pain with heat; when the heat is extreme, vexation is born; below the lumbar region it is as if a crossbeam sat inside; in the extreme urine is lost. Needle the Scattered vessel in the space where bone and flesh divide in front of the knee; the bound vessel of the collateral on the outer edge, three insertions. The Flesh-Interior vessel makes a person have lumbar pain; one cannot cough; if one coughs the sinews draw tight. Needle the Flesh-Interior vessel two insertions, outside the Taiyang, behind the severed bone of the Shaoyang. Lumbar pain that flanks the spine and hurts as far as the head, the neck held stiff, the eyes dazzled, about to fall rigid: needle the Taiyang of the foot in the hollow and let blood. Lumbar pain with cold above: needle the Taiyang and Yangming of the foot. With heat above: needle the Jueyin of the foot. If one cannot bow or look up: needle the Shaoyang of the foot. Heat in the center and panting: needle the Shaoyin of the foot, and needle the hollow and let blood. Lumbar pain with cold above, unable to turn the head: needle the Yangming of the foot. With heat above: needle the Taiyin of the foot. Heat in the center and panting: needle the Shaoyin of the foot. Difficulty with the stool: needle the Shaoyin of the foot. The lesser abdomen full: needle the Jueyin of the foot. As if broken, unable to bow or look up, unable to lift: needle the Taiyang of the foot. Pulling the inner edge of the spine: needle the Shaoyin of the foot. Lumbar pain pulling the lesser abdomen and gripping the flank, unable to look up: needle where the lumbar region and the sacrum meet, on the sinews above the two condyles. Take the number of insertions from the birth and death of the moon. When the needle is withdrawn it is at once done. For the left, take the right; for the right, take the left.

The line

The Taiyang vessel of the foot makes a person have lumbar pain, pulling the nape, the spine, the sacrum and the back as if a weight were being carried. Needle the regular Taiyang channel in the hollow behind the knee and let blood; in spring do not let blood be seen.

The note

Lumbar pain that pulls the nape and the spine is like carrying a weight. Where the channel walks, the pain follows. First know the road; then know the pain.