chapter 1 of the Huang Di Nei Jing, an ancient Chinese medicine manual, outlines: “When the five yin and six yang organs are diseased, it is like there is a thorn, a piece of dirt, a knot, a blockage. Althought the thorn is longstanding it may be removed. althought the dirt might be longstanding, it can be wiped away. Although the knot may be longstanding, it can be untied. Although the blockage may be longstanding, it can be opened. Those who say that old diseases cannot be taken up speak wrongly. Those who use needles should look for the cause of disease. Then, the thorn can be removed, the dirt can be wiped away, the knot untied and the blockage opened. Even though disease is longstanding, it can be stopped.”