Introduction:The “Three Needles” has two layers of meaning. Initially, it was used to treat a patient with allergic rhinitis, who was cured after three treatments. When the patient asked what this therapy was, a moment of inspiration led to the response: it is the “Nasal Three Needles”. Later, through literature research and clinical summaries, a method was developed to treat a disease using three acupuncture points. At that time, a reporter came to interview, and upon observation, found that three needles were indeed used, which led to widespread reporting. From then on, the “Three Needles” became famous worldwide.
Four Spirit Needles
Bai Hui (Hundred Meetings) point is located 1.5 cun lateral to the anterior, posterior, left, and right.Indications:Intellectual disability, dementia, headache, dizziness.Intellectual Three Needles
Shen Ting (Spirit Court) point is the first needle, the left and right Shen points are the second and third needles.Shen Ting is located on the head, 0.5 cun directly above the hairline.Shen points are located on the head, at the intersection of the inner two-thirds and outer one-third of the line connecting Shen Ting and the Head Wei point, which is 0.5 cun above the hairline.Indications:Intellectual disability, mental disorders.Language Three NeedlesPlace the thumb at the horizontal crease between the first and second phalanges of the index finger at the anterior edge of the mandible, with the tip of the thumb as the first needle, and 1 cun lateral to the left and right as the second and third needles.Indications:Speech disorders, unclear pronunciation, inability to speak.Drooling, swallowing difficulties.Temporal Three Needles
Two cun above the ear apex is the first needle, with the second and third needles placed 1 cun laterally to the front and back of the first needle.Indications:Post-stroke sequelae, hemiplegia caused by head trauma, facial droop, cerebral arteriosclerosis, tinnitus, deafness, migraine, Parkinson’s disease, brain atrophy, senile dementia.Calming Spirit Needle0.5 cun above the Yin Tang (Hall of Impression) is the first Calming Spirit needle, 0.5 cun above the left Yang Bai is the second Calming Spirit needle, and 0.5 cun above the right Yang Bai is the third Calming Spirit needle.Indications:Inattention, strabismus, frontal headache, nystagmus, dizziness, decreased vision.Needling Technique:Insert the needle subcutaneously, straight down 0.5-0.8 cun, and apply pressure with a cotton ball at the needle site to prevent bleeding.Dizziness Pain Needle
This consists of the Four Spirit Needles plus Yin Tang and Tai Yang points.Indications:Dizziness, headache, vertex pain, migraine, frontal pain.Needling Technique:Insert straight down 0.5 to 0.8 cun, and be cautious of hard objects under the needle; if felt, do not insert deeper, but raise the needle 0.2 cun. After insertion, do not lift or twist the needle; you may use a scraping technique.Facial Muscle Needle
1. Eyelid spasm: Si Bai, lower eyelid, Ah Shi point.2. Oral muscle spasm: Di Cang, He Liao, Ying Xiang.Needling Technique:Si Bai is inserted straight or obliquely 0.5-0.8 cun; lower eyelid Ah Shi point is inserted horizontally 0.5 cun towards the nose; Di Cang is inserted horizontally 0.5-0.8 cun towards the cheek; He Liao is inserted vertically 0.8 cun; after insertion, use electrical stimulation with continuous wave, at a slightly dense frequency.The intensity should be sufficient to cause the eye or oral muscles to spasm without pain, leaving the needle in for 30-40 minutes. When using electrical stimulation, it is necessary to increase the intensity after 5-10 minutes, as it will not be effective if increased later.Fork Three Needles
This consists of Tai Yang, Xia Guan, and Ah Shi points.Needling Technique:Each point is inserted straight down 0.5-0.8 cun deep. Electrical stimulation with continuous wave may be added, leaving the needle in for 30-40 minutes.Facial Paralysis Needle
1. Frontal paralysis: Yang Bai, Tai Yang, Si Bai.2. Oral facial paralysis: Yi Feng, Ying Xiang, Di Cang through to the cheek, Ren Zhong.Indications: Facial nerve paralysis, stroke with facial droop.Needling Technique:Yi Feng is inserted straight forward 0.8-1 cun at the central depression behind the ear. Ren Zhong is inserted obliquely upward 0.5 cun deep.Other points are needled according to their respective techniques, and every 5-10 minutes, the needle is twisted once, leaving the needle in for 30-40 minutes.Sudden Three Needles
Shui Tu, Fu Tu, Tian Tu.Indications:Thyroid enlargement, thyroid cyst.Needling Technique:Shui Tu is inserted obliquely towards the trachea 0.5-0.7 cun. Fu Tu is also inserted obliquely towards the trachea 0.5-0.7 cun; Tian Tu is first inserted 0.3 cun, then the needle handle is raised and inserted obliquely towards the sternum 0.3 cun.After needling all points, do not lift or twist the needle, only twist or scrape the needle, leaving it in for 30 minutes.Eye Three Needles
Eye I is located 1 cun above the Qing Ming point.Eye II is located directly below the pupil, between the lower orbital margin and the eyeball.Eye III is located directly above the pupil, between the upper orbital margin and the eyeball.Indications:Optic nerve atrophy, retinitis, macular degeneration, amblyopia, and other internal eye diseases.Needling Technique:For all three eye needles, instruct the patient to close their eyes, the practitioner should gently stabilize the eyeball with the left hand, and hold the needle with the right hand, slowly twisting and inserting the needle.After insertion, do not twist or lift the needle; you may lightly scrape the needle handle with the thumbnail. For Eye I, gently push the eyeball outward and insert the needle vertically 1-1.2 cun. For Eye II, gently push the eyeball upward and insert the needle slowly along the lower orbital margin 1-1.2 cun, with the needle tip angled slightly upward. For Eye III, gently push the eyeball downward and insert the needle slowly along the upper orbital margin 1-1.2 cun, with the needle tip angled slightly upward at first, then angled backward.Nasal Three Needles
Ying Xiang, Bi Tong (Upper Ying Xiang), Yin Tang or Zan Zhu.Indications:Allergic rhinitis, acute rhinitis, sinusitis, epistaxis, olfactory disorders.Needling Technique:Ying Xiang is inserted horizontally towards the nasal wing 5-8 fen, Bi Tong is inserted horizontally downwards 5 fen deep, and Zan Zhu, Yin Tang are inserted horizontally downwards 3-5 fen.Ear Three Needles
Ting Gong, Ting Hui, Wan Gu.Indications:Deafness, tinnitus.Needling Technique:Ting Gong and Ting Hui are needled with the mouth open, inserted straight down 1-1.5 cun deep. Wan Gu is inserted straight forward 1-1.5 cun deep, and after needling all three ear points, do not lift or twist the needle; you may use a scraping technique or light twisting technique.Hand Three Needles
He Gu, Qu Chi, Wai Guan.Indications:Upper limb paralysis, numbness, pain, sensory disturbances.Needling Technique:He Gu and Wai Guan are inserted straight down 0.8-1.2 cun deep. Qu Chi is inserted straight down 1-1.2 cun deep.Foot Three NeedlesZu San Li, San Yin Jiao, Tai Chong.Indications:Lower limb sensory or motor disturbances, lower limb paralysis, pain.Needling Technique:Zu San Li and San Yin Jiao are inserted straight down 1-1.5 cun, Tai Chong is inserted straight down 5-8 fen deep.Hand Wisdom Needle
Nei Guan, Shen Men, Lao Gong.Indications:Intellectually disabled children with hyperactivity, more movement than stillness, epilepsy, insomnia.Needling Technique:All three points are inserted straight down 0.5-0.8 cun deep.Foot Wisdom NeedleYong Quan is the first needle, the midpoint of the line connecting the transverse crease of the toes to the posterior edge of the heel is the second needle (Qian Zhong), and 1 finger lateral to the second needle is the third needle (Qian Zhong Nei).Indications:Autism in intellectually disabled children, more stillness than movement, inability to speak.Needling Technique:All are inserted straight down: 0.5-0.8 cun deep.Shoulder Three Needles
The Jian Yu point is the first needle, 2 cun forward at the same level is the second needle, and 2 cun backward at the same level is the third needle.Indications:Shoulder periarthritis, shoulder joint inflammation, upper limb paralysis, inability to raise the shoulder.Needling Technique:The needle tip should be at a 90° angle to the acupoint, inserted straight down 0.8-1 cun. Be careful not to insert too deeply to avoid injuring the thoracic cavity.Knee Three Needles
Xiyan, Liang Qiu, Xue Hai.Indications:Knee joint swelling or weakness, knee osteophytes.Needling Technique:Insert straight down 0.8-1.2 cun. Electrical stimulation with continuous wave, infrared, and multiple cupping methods may be added.Lumbar Three NeedlesShen Shu, Da Chang Shu, Wei Zhong.Indications:Lumbar pain, lumbar osteophytes, lumbar muscle strain, sexual dysfunction, nocturnal emissions, impotence, menstrual irregularities.Needling Technique:All are inserted straight down 1.2-1.5 cun deep. (Same as Knee Three Needles)Neck Three Needles
Tian Zhu, Bai Lao, Da Zhu.Indications:Cervical spondylosis, neck stiffness and pain.Needling Technique:All three points are inserted straight down 0.8-1 cun deep. Do not insert too deeply to avoid injuring internal organs. (Same as Knee Three Needles)Back Three Needles
Da Zhu, Feng Men, Fei Shu.Indications:Bronchitis, asthma, back pain.Needling Technique:Insert obliquely towards the spine 0.5-0.7 cun. Do not insert too deeply to avoid injuring internal organs.Ankle Three NeedlesJie Xi, Tai Xi, Kun Lun.Indications:Ankle joint swelling, pain, activity disorders, heel pain.Needling Technique:All are inserted straight down 0.8-1 cun deep.Sciatic NeedleSciatic point, Wei Zhong, Kun Lun.The Sciatic point is located in the gluteal fold, at the end of the gluteal groove, with fingers 2, 3, 4, and 5 placed together flat, the point is at the same height as the little finger.Indications:Sciatica.Needling Technique:For the Sciatic point, use a grasping technique to insert the needle, wrapping the lower section of a 3-4 cun long needle with an alcohol cotton ball, exposing the needle tip, and inserting it vertically into the skin. After penetrating the skin, use the left hand to grasp the cotton ball and support the needle body, twisting the needle handle while inserting about 2 cun deep until a numb sensation is felt radiating to the toes, at which point stop inserting.Wei Zhong and Kun Lun are inserted straight down 0.8-1.2 cun. Use electrical stimulation connecting the Sciatic point and Wei Zhong with continuous wave, adjusting the intensity according to the patient’s tolerance, leaving the needle in for 30 minutes, increasing the electrical stimulation intensity every 5-10 minutes, up to 2-3 times.Atrophy Three NeedlesUpper limb atrophy: Qu Chi, He Gu, Chi Ze.Lower limb atrophy: Zu San Li, San Yin Jiao, Tai Xi.Indications:Atrophy syndrome (muscle weakness, lack of strength, activity disorders).Needling Technique:All points are inserted straight down 0.8-1.2 cun, using a tonifying technique, slow insertion and quick withdrawal, with the heat under the needle as the standard, leaving the needle in for 40 minutes, performing the tonifying technique more than 5 times, electrical stimulation with continuous wave may also be used, at a moderate intensity that the patient finds comfortable. A course of treatment consists of 30 sessions.Fat Three NeedlesMiddle Jiao, Dai Mai, Zu San Li.Indications:Obesity, especially abdominal obesity.Needling Technique:Zu San Li is inserted straight down 1-1.5 cun, Dai Mai is inserted horizontally towards the navel 3-3.5 cun, and Middle Jiao is inserted horizontally towards Guan Yuan 2-3 cun. After insertion, twist the needle every 5-8 minutes, leaving the needle in for 30-40 minutes, once a day, for 10 sessions, electrical stimulation may also be used.Epilepsy Three NeedlesNei Guan, Shen Mai, Zhao Hai.Indications:Epilepsy, foot inversion, foot eversion.Needling Technique:Shen Mai and Zhao Hai are inserted straight down 0.5-0.8 cun.Brown Three NeedlesQiang Liao, Tai Yang, Xia Guan.
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