《黄帝内经·灵枢·小针解》
所谓 虚则实之 ，是说气口脉出现虚弱的脉象时，就当用补的针法，以充实正气。 满则泄之 ，是说气口脉出现满盛的脉象时，应当用泻的针法，以泻除邪气。 宛陈则除之 ，是说血脉中如有蓄积淤血，就应当刺破皮肤以排除它。 邪胜则虚之 ，是说经脉中邪气盛时，应采取泻法，以使邪气外泄。 徐而疾则实 ，是说慢进针而快出针的手法属于补法。 疾而徐则虚 ，是说快进针而慢出针的手法属于泻法。 言实与虚，若有若无 ，是说用补法会使正气来复，用泻法会使邪气消失。 察后与先，若亡若存 ，是说应诊明气的虚实，决定补泻手法的先后，并观察气的行与不行，以确定针的去留。 为虚与实，若得若失 ，是说用补法会使患者感觉充实而似有所得，用泻法会使患者感到轻爽而似有所失。
所谓虚则实之者，气口虚而当补之也。满则泄之者，气口盛而当泻之也。宛陈则除之者，去血脉也。邪胜则虚之者，言诸经有盛者，皆泻其邪也。徐而疾则实者，言徐内而疾出也。疾而徐则虚者，言疾内而徐出也。言实与虚若有若无者，言实者有气，虚者无气也。察后与先若亡若存者，言气之虚实，补泻之先后也，察其气之已下与常存也。为虚与实，若得若失者，言补者佖然若有得也，泻则恍然若有失也。
So-called tonifying if deficient, means if Qi-kou pulse shows a weak pulse condition, we should use the tonification needling method to enrich the right Qi. Purgating if full, means if Qi-kou pulse shows a full and strong pulse condition. we should use the purgation needling method to purge the evil Qi. Eliminating if filthy and old, means if there is accumulated stagnant blood in the veins, we should puncture the skin to get rid of it. Depleting if the evil prevails, means if there is much evil Qi in the channels and collaterals, we should adopt the purgation method to drain the evil Qi. Slow and fast then enriching, means the method of inserting the needle slowly and withdrawing it quickly belongs to the tonification method. Quick and slow then depleting, means the method of inserting the needle quickly and withdrawing it slowly belongs to the purgation method. Speaking of enriching and depleting. being and not being, means using the tonification method can make the right Qi restore. and using the purgation method can make the evil Qi disappear. Observing after and before, being and not being. means we should diagnose the weakness or fullness of the Qi after the needling to decide the sequence of tonification and purgation methods, and observe the movement or non-movement of the Qi to decide whether to insert or withdraw the needle. Being and not being for weakness and fullness, getting and losing. means using the tonification method will make the patient feel enriched and seem to get something. and using the purgation method will make the patient feel fresh and seem to lose something.