1. Principles of Appropriate Positioning Before Acupuncture
Supine Position: Suitable for the head, face, chest, and abdomen.
Lateral Position: Suitable for the lateral parts of the body.
Prone Position: Suitable for the head, neck, back, sacral region, and lower limbs.
Seated Forward Position: Suitable for the back of the head, neck, and back.
Lateral Seated Position: Suitable for one side of the head, cheeks, and around the ears.
2. Needle Insertion Techniques
① Single-Handed Needle Insertion Technique
② Double-Handed Needle Insertion Technique – The cutting finger insertion is suitable for short needles; the clamping insertion is suitable for long needles; the stretching insertion is suitable for areas with loose skin; the lifting and pinching insertion is suitable for areas with thin flesh.
③ Tube Needle Insertion Technique: Suitable for painless needle insertion.
3. Needle Insertion Angles
Horizontal Insertion – The needle is inserted at a 15° angle to the skin, suitable for acupoints with thin skin and little flesh.
Oblique Insertion – The needle is inserted at a 45° angle to the skin, suitable for areas with thin flesh or where important organs are located.
Perpendicular Insertion – The needle is inserted at a 90° angle to the skin, suitable for most acupoints.
4. Techniques for Tonifying and Sedating
① Twisting Technique for Tonification and Sedation: After obtaining qi under the needle, a small twisting angle, light force, slow frequency, and short operation time indicate tonification. A large twisting angle, heavy force, fast frequency, and long operation time indicate sedation.
② Lifting and Thrusting Technique for Tonification and Sedation: After obtaining qi under the needle, shallow to deep insertion, heavy thrusting with light lifting, small amplitude, slow frequency, and short operation time indicate tonification. Deep to shallow insertion, light thrusting with heavy lifting, large amplitude, fast frequency, and long operation time indicate sedation.
③ Fast and Slow Technique for Tonification and Sedation: Slow insertion of the needle with little twisting and fast withdrawal indicates tonification. Fast insertion with much twisting and slow withdrawal indicates sedation.
④ Following and Leading Technique for Tonification and Sedation: Inserting the needle in the direction of the meridian flow indicates tonification. Inserting the needle against the direction of the meridian flow indicates sedation.
⑤ Breathing Technique for Tonification and Sedation: Inserting the needle during the patient’s exhalation and withdrawing it during inhalation indicates tonification. Inserting the needle during inhalation and withdrawing it during exhalation indicates sedation.
⑥ Opening and Closing Technique for Tonification and Sedation: Quickly rubbing the needle hole after withdrawal indicates tonification. Enlarging the needle hole during withdrawal without immediate rubbing indicates sedation.