素问·诊要经终论 Discourse on the Essentials of Diagnosis and the Ending of the Channels
黄帝问曰：诊要何如。歧伯对曰：正月二月，天气始方，地气始发，人气在肝。三月四月，天气正方，地气定发，人气在脾。五月六月，天气盛，地气高，人气在头。七月八月，阴气始杀，人气在肺。九月十月，阴气始冰，地气始闭，人气在心。十一月十二月，冰复，地气合，人气在肾。
故春刺散俞，及与分理，血出而止，甚者传气，闲者环也。夏刺络俞，见血而止，尽气闭环，痛病必下。秋刺皮肤，循理，上下同法，神变而止。冬刺俞窍于分理，甚者直下，闲者散下。春夏秋冬，各有所刺，法其所在。
春刺夏分，脉乱气微，入淫骨髓，病不能愈，令人不嗜食，又且少气。春刺秋分，筋挛，逆气环，为咳嗽，病不愈，令人时惊，又且哭。春刺冬分，邪气著藏，令人胀，病不愈，又且欲言语。夏刺春分，病不愈，令人解墯。夏刺秋分，病不愈，令人心中欲无言，惕惕如人将补之。夏刺冬分，病不愈，令人少气，时欲怒。秋刺春分，病不已，令人惕然欲有所为，起而忘之。秋刺夏分，病不已，令人益嗜卧，又且善㝱。秋刺冬分，病不已，令人洒洒时寒。冬刺春分，病不已，令人欲卧不能眠，眠而有见。冬刺夏分，病不愈，气上，发为诸痹。冬刺秋分，病不已，令人善渴。
凡刺胸腹者，必避五藏。中心者，环死；中脾者，五日死；中肾者，七日死；中肺者，五日死；中鬲者，皆为伤中，其病虽愈，不过一岁必死。刺避五藏者，知逆从也。所谓从者，鬲与脾肾之处，不知者反之。刺胸腹者，必以布憿著之，乃从单布上刺，刺之不愈，复刺。刺针必肃，刺肿摇针，经刺勿摇，此刺之道也。
帝曰：愿闻十二经脉之终，奈何。歧伯曰：太阳之脉，其终也戴眼反折瘈瘲，其色白，绝汗乃出，出则死矣。少阳终者，耳聋百节皆纵，目𦊷绝系，绝系一日半死，其死也，色先青白，乃死矣。阳明终者，口目动作，善惊妄言，色黄，其上下经盛，不仁，则终矣。少阴终者，面黑齿长而垢，腹胀闭，上下不通而终矣。太阴终者，腹胀闭不得息，善噫善呕，呕则逆，逆则面赤，不逆则上下不通，不通则面黑皮毛焦而终矣。厥阴终者，中热嗌乾，善溺心烦，甚则舌卷卵上缩而终矣。此十二经之所败也。
Huangdi asked: What are the essentials of diagnosis? Qibo replied: In the first and second months, the qi of heaven is just beginning to open out and the qi of earth is just beginning to stir; the qi of the person is in the liver. In the third and fourth months, the qi of heaven is fully opened and the qi of earth is settled and active; the qi of the person is in the spleen. In the fifth and sixth months, the qi of heaven is abundant and the qi of earth rises high; the qi of the person is in the head. In the seventh and eighth months, the yin qi begins its killing work; the qi of the person is in the lung. In the ninth and tenth months, the yin qi begins to freeze and the qi of earth begins to close up; the qi of the person is in the heart. In the eleventh and twelfth months, the ice is at its height and the qi of earth is sealed shut; the qi of the person is in the kidney.
Therefore, in spring, needle the scattered transport points and the interstices of the flesh, stopping as soon as blood appears; in severe cases move the qi through, in mild cases let it merely circulate. In summer, needle the connecting transport points, stopping as soon as blood appears; when the qi is exhausted the circulation closes off, and painful conditions will certainly subside. In autumn, needle the skin, following its natural creases, applying the same method above and below, stopping when the spirit shows a change. In winter, needle the transport openings at the interstices of the flesh; in severe cases go straight down, in mild cases disperse the needling downward. Spring, summer, autumn, and winter each have their proper needling, following the method appropriate to where the qi resides.
If in spring one needles at the summer level, the pulse becomes disordered and the qi grows faint, the needling penetrates and spreads into the bone marrow, the disease cannot be cured, and it causes the person to lose all appetite and also to become short of qi. If in spring one needles at the autumn level, the sinews will contract and cramp, rebellious qi will circulate about causing coughing, the disease will not be cured, and it will cause the person to be frequently startled and to weep. If in spring one needles at the winter level, evil qi will lodge in the viscera, causing the person to become bloated; the disease will not be cured, and moreover the person will feel a constant urge to talk. If in summer one needles at the spring level, the disease will not be cured, and it will cause the person to become listless and weak. If in summer one needles at the autumn level, the disease will not be cured, and it will cause the person's heart to want to say nothing, apprehensive as though someone were about to seize him. If in summer one needles at the winter level, the disease will not be cured, and it will cause the person to be short of qi and often inclined to anger. If in autumn one needles at the spring level, the disease will not subside, and it will cause the person to be startled and eager to do something, then rise and forget what it was. If in autumn one needles at the summer level, the disease will not subside, and it will cause the person to favor lying down more and more, and to dream frequently. If in autumn one needles at the winter level, the disease will not subside, and it will cause the person to shiver periodically with cold. If in winter one needles at the spring level, the disease will not subside, and it will cause the person to want to lie down yet be unable to sleep, and when sleep does come, to have visions. If in winter one needles at the summer level, the disease will not be cured, the qi will rise, and various impediment disorders will develop. If in winter one needles at the autumn level, the disease will not subside, and it will cause the person to be frequently thirsty.
Whenever needling the chest and abdomen, one must avoid the five viscera. If the needle strikes the heart, death occurs within a full day's cycle; if it strikes the spleen, death occurs in five days; if it strikes the kidney, death occurs in seven days; if it strikes the lung, death occurs in five days; if it strikes the diaphragm, this counts as injury to the center, and although the disease may seem to heal, within a year the patient must die. To needle while avoiding the five viscera, one must know what is contrary and what is compliant. What is called compliant refers to the true location of the diaphragm and of the spleen and kidney; one who does not know this does the opposite. When needling the chest and abdomen, one must first lay cloth padding over the area, then needle through the single layer of cloth; if the needling does not bring about a cure, needle again. In needling one must be solemn and careful; when needling a swelling, rock the needle; in needling along the channels, do not rock it — this is the way of needling.
Huangdi said: I wish to hear how the twelve channels come to their end. Qibo said: When the taiyang channel comes to its end, the eyes roll upward, the body arches backward in convulsions and spasms, the complexion turns white, and profuse sweat breaks out — once it breaks out, death follows. When the shaoyang channel comes to its end, the ears go deaf, all the joints go slack, the eyes stare fixedly as the vessel connecting to them is severed; once that connection is severed, death occurs within a day and a half, and before death the complexion first turns greenish-white. When the yangming channel comes to its end, the mouth and eyes twitch, the person is easily startled and speaks deliriously, the complexion turns yellow, the channels above and below become exuberant, numbness sets in, and then the end comes. When the shaoyin channel comes to its end, the face turns black, the teeth appear elongated and grimy, the abdomen becomes distended and blocked, and above and below cease to communicate, and then the end comes. When the taiyin channel comes to its end, the abdomen becomes so distended and blocked that breathing is impossible, the person belches and vomits repeatedly; if vomiting occurs, the qi rebels upward and the face turns red, and if it does not rebel, above and below cease to communicate, whereupon the face turns black, the skin and body hair wither, and the end comes. When the jueyin channel comes to its end, there is heat within and dryness of the throat, the person urinates frequently and the heart is vexed; in severe cases the tongue curls up and the testicles retract, and then the end comes. These are the ways in which the twelve channels fail.