1. Contraindications for Acupuncture:
1. Location Contraindications: Important organ areas should not be needled. Areas where major blood vessels pass should be avoided. Important joint areas are not suitable for acupuncture.
2. Acupoint Contraindications: Pregnant women should avoid needling Hegu (LI4), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Quxi (CV3), as well as abdominal and lumbar sacral acupoints. Children should avoid needling the fontanel. Women should avoid needling Shimen (CV5).
3. Contraindications for Critical Conditions: The Neijing mentions the five depletions and five reversals as contraindications for acupuncture.
4. Severe anger, shock, overwork, extreme hunger, extreme thirst, sexual activity, intoxication, etc., are contraindications for acupuncture.
2. Contraindications for Moxibustion:
Acupoint Contraindications for Moxibustion
Such as Yamen (GV15), Fengfu (GV16), Tianzhu (BL10), Chengguang (BL1), Toulinqi (GB1), Touwei (ST8), Sizhukong (SJ23), and Zan Zhu (BL2);
Jingming (BL1), Suliao (GB2), Qianliao (GB3), Yingxiang (LI20), Xiaguan (ST7), Renying (ST9), Tianyou (SI16), Tianfu (LU3), and Zhou Rong (ST18);
Yuanye (BL9), Ruzhong (ST17), Jiutai (CV10), Fuhai (SP6), Jianzhong (PC6), Yangchi (TE4), Zhongchong (PC9), Shaoshang (LU11), Yujie (LU10), and Jingqu (LU8);
Diwuhui (CV5), Yangguan (GV3), Jizhong (GV4), Lougu (BL8), Yinlingquan (SP9), Tiaokou (ST38), Dubi (ST35), Yinshi (SP7), and Futou (BL12);
Biguan (GB27), Shenmai (BL62), Weizhong (BL40), Yinmen (BL37), Chengfu (BL36), Baihuanyu (BL30), and Xinshu (BL15) etc.
Contraindications for Conditions:
Conditions in the three Yang meridians are not suitable for moxibustion, those with Yin deficiency and internal heat should avoid moxibustion, exterior conditions are not suitable for moxibustion, warm diseases are not suitable for moxibustion, damp-heat diseases are not suitable for moxibustion, etc.
According to modern medical research and clinical practice, many of the ancient contraindications for acupuncture and moxibustion have become outdated, and many prohibitions no longer exist in modern clinical practice.
Therefore, these discussions are for clinical reference only.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is profound and has various miraculous therapies, among which acupuncture is one. Needling acupoints on the body can have health-preserving effects.
Three Forbidden Acupuncture Points:
Ruzhong (乳中穴):
Some ancient texts still mention needling and moxibustion at this point. For example, the Emergency Prescriptions for the Elbow from the Jin Dynasty states: “Can moxibustion three times for sudden epilepsy”; and the Illustrated Manual of Acupuncture Points mentions: “Can be needled slightly three fen”. This indicates it is not an absolute prohibition. However, modern reports of moxibustion or needling at this point are rare, and it is only used as a landmark for locating acupoints.
Naohud (脑户):
This point is contraindicated for needling, first recorded in the Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, while the prohibition for moxibustion only appeared in the Qing Dynasty. Naohud is a point on the Du meridian, located near the foramen magnum, which may be one reason for the ancient prohibition due to accidents during acupuncture. This point has been released from prohibition in modern times.
Yujie (鱼际穴):
The prohibition for needling this point first appeared in the Plain Questions: Prohibitions for Needling: “Needling the fish belly of the hand, if it sinks in, causes swelling”; the prohibition for moxibustion is mentioned in the Introduction to Medicine. The reasons for these prohibitions are similar to those mentioned above, but this point has long been released from prohibition in modern practice.
Acupuncture requires a high level of skill; it is not something that anyone can perform, and not all acupoints can be treated with needles.
The above introduces the three major forbidden acupuncture points; everyone must pay attention to avoid unexpected situations.