灵枢经·上膈 Upper Diaphragm Obstruction
黄帝曰：气为上膈者，食饮入而还出，余已知之矣。虫为下膈。下膈者，食焠时乃出，余未得其意，愿卒闻之。歧伯曰：喜怒不适，食饮不节，寒温不时，则寒汁流于肠中。流于肠中则虫寒，虫寒则积聚，守于下管，则肠胃充郭，卫气不营，邪气居之。人食则虫上食，虫上食则下管虚，下管虚则邪气胜之，积聚以留，留则痈成，痈成则下管约。其痈在管内者，即而痛深，其痈在外者，则痈外而痛浮，痈上皮热。
黄帝曰：刺之奈何？歧伯曰：微按其痈，视气所行，先浅刺其傍，稍内益深，逐而刺之，毋过三行，察其沈浮，以为深浅。已刺必熨，令热入中，日使热内，邪气益衰，大痈乃溃。伍以参禁，以除其内，恬憺无为，乃能行气，后以咸苦，化谷乃下矣。
Huangdi said: 'When qi causes upper-diaphragm obstruction, food and drink, once swallowed, are returned and vomited back up — this I already understand. But when parasites cause lower-diaphragm obstruction, the food is retained for a time and only later expelled — I have not yet grasped the meaning of this, and I wish to hear it in full.' Qibo said: 'When joy and anger are not properly regulated, when eating and drinking are not moderated, and when cold and warmth are not kept in their proper season, cold fluid flows into the intestines. Once it flows into the intestines, the parasites there become chilled; once chilled, they gather and accumulate, taking up residence at the lower portion of the stomach duct. This causes the intestines and stomach to become distended and full, the defensive qi fails to circulate properly there, and evil qi comes to lodge in that place. When a person eats, the parasites rise up to feed on the food; when the parasites rise up to feed, the lower stomach duct becomes empty, and when it is empty, evil qi overcomes it there, accumulating and lingering. Once it lingers, an abscess forms, and once the abscess forms, the lower stomach duct becomes constricted. Where the abscess lies within the duct itself, the pain, though close at hand, lies deep; where the abscess lies outside the duct, it protrudes outward and the pain lies near the surface, with the skin over the abscess feeling hot.'
Huangdi said: 'How should one needle this condition?' Qibo said: 'Press gently upon the abscess and observe the direction in which the qi moves. First needle shallowly at its periphery, then gradually insert the needle deeper, pursuing the abscess with successive needlings, but not exceeding three rounds of insertion. Examine whether the qi lies deep or near the surface, and let this determine the depth of needling. After needling, one must always apply a warming compress, so as to let the heat penetrate within; by causing the heat to enter day after day, the evil qi will gradually decline, and the great abscess will eventually break open and drain. Combine this with the appropriate dietary prohibitions in order to clear the interior; keep the patient tranquil and free of exertion, so that the qi may be made to circulate properly. Afterward, use salty and bitter flavors to help transform the grain so that it may descend properly.'