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Needling Techniques

Chapter 15: Acupuncture is a 'doing' medicine. Making the correct energy diagnosis is half the battle — the rest depends on choosing the best points, correct needling manoeuvres, and extraordinary therapies.

Choice of Needle

Thin needles: Thin-skinned areas: face, hands and feet. Used for tonification. Used for cosmetic treatments and skin ailments (acne, cellulites, warts, psoriasis at local areas).
Thick needles: Thick-skinned areas — body, arms and legs. Used for sedation technique. Thick needles with metal handles used in extraordinary therapies — moxa (hot needle), electrical stimulation, and in paralysis as local treatment.

Lengths: 1.5 cm to 10 cm. Commonly 1.5–4.5 cm. Long ones for arms, legs, torso; buttocks require longest. Face, hands, feet needled with short needles (not more than 2 cm deep). Interdigital points require lengths shorter than 1 cm.

Materials: Stainless steel with copper handles is 'balanced needle.' White metal = cooling/calming (Yin). Yellow metal = stimulating/activating (Yang).

Needle Sensation (De Qi)

A therapist should try to produce needle sensation around the needle. When the patient experiences any of these sensations, it is a sign that 'energy has arrived':

  • • A dull ache around the point
  • • Conduction along a line (often the meridian line)
  • • Pins and needles
  • • Heaviness of the limb or this area
  • • A tension in this area

Tonification & Sedation

Wind-Elimination Techniques

Performed only on Wind-eliminating points. Combination of correct technique on appropriate point brings nearly instantaneous results.

Wind-Elimination Tonification

Wind-cold symptoms

Runny or blocked nose with white mucus, head feels cold (wants to cover it), less thirst preferring hot drinks, lighter urine/stool, white tongue coating, superficial wiry slow pulse

Wind-Elimination Sedation

Wind-heat symptoms

Sneezing or painful sinuses with coloured or bloody mucus, head feels hot (wants fresh air), more thirst preferring cool drinks, darker urine/stool, yellow tongue coating, superficial wiry rapid pulse

Heat-Introducing & Heat-Elimination

Sp 6 Descending Technique

Left-Right Side Balancing

Session Guidelines

Needle count: 8–12 needles per session
Retention: Needles retained for 20 minutes
Principle: A good acupuncture treatment is a mixture of 'cook-book' points and 'energy-balancing' points

Needling Interactive Guide

Explore tonification vs sedation techniques, needle sensation, and session guidelines.

Needle Sensation (De Qi) Checklist

Needles: 8–12 needles per session
Retention: Needles retained for 20 minutes
Principle: A good acupuncture treatment is a mixture of 'cook-book' points and 'energy-balancing' points
Reflect

What is your comfort level with needling? Which sensation (de qi) have you experienced — and how does it differ from mere insertion?

Next: Moxibustion