Reinforcing & Reducing Methods, Seven Forms of Acupuncture

Insert on exhale

Reinforcing

Insert slowly

Reinforcing

Point needle along channel direction

Reinforcing

Rotate clockwise, forcefully & rapidly, in back turning go gently & slowly

Reinforcing

Once De Qi has come, thrust heavily & rapidly; lift gently & slowly

Reinforcing

After needle is inserted, rotate gently & slowly w/ small amplitude

Reinforcing

Withdraw on inhale

Reinforcing

Withdraw rapidly

Reinforcing

Close hole

Reinforcing

Insert on inhale

Reducing

Insert rapidly

Reducing

Point needle against channel direction

Reducing

Rotate counterclockwise, forcefully & rapidly, in back turning go gently & slowly

Reducing

After needle is inserted, rotate rapidly w/ large amplitude

Reducing

Once De Qi has come, thrust gently & slowly; lift forcefully & rapidly

Reducing

Withdraw on exhale

Reducing

Withdraw slowly

Reducing

Leave hole open

Reducing

Setting Mountain on Fire: Treats

Def & cold syndromes

Setting Mountain on Fire is:

Thrust heavily, lift lightly 9x at each level, superficial, mid-level, deepest

Repeat 3x

Clockwise

Penetrating Heaven's Coolness: Treats

Excess & heat syndromes

Penetrating Heaven's Coolness is:

Thrust lightly, lift heavily 6x at each level, deep, mid-level, superficial

Repeat 3x

Counterclockwise

Setting Mountain on Fire: Thrust or Lift heavily? How many times?

Thrust heavily; 9

Penetrating Heaven's Coolness: Thrust or Lift heavily? How many times?

Lift heavily; 6

Superficial level

0.5 cun

Mid-level

1 cun

Deepest level

1.5 cun

More needles than usual. 10-14. Larger gauge & retained longer

Big Form

Big Form treats

Infantile paralysis, arthritis, or pain in many places

Fewer needles. Finger gauge, lighter

Small Form

Small Form treats

Malaria, epigastric pain

Fewer points. Not retained for a long time. Frequency of tx corresponds w/ expected rate of recovery

Slow Form

Slow Form treats

Chronic problems that are not too serious

Chronic constipation in elderly patients

Points can be located quickly and must be expected to get results right away

Rapid Form

Rapid Form treats

Urgent problems & emergencies

Moxa on navel for unchecked diarrhea

One acupuncture point only. May be needled bilaterally if pain affects both sides of body or when problems are severe

Odd Form

Odd Form treats

Seizures (Ren 17)

Dizziness (LI 4 or Du 20)

Cardiac pain (P 4)

Back pain (Du 26)

Always paired points. Needles on left side matches equal number of point on right side but does not need to be the same points bilaterally

Even Form

Even Form treats

Four gates

L 7 & K 6

Front mu & Back shu

Complex problems, difficult to treat so additional points are chosen if prescription doesn't have strong enough effect. Additional points to do not have to be from same meridian

Complex Form

Complex Form treats

Infantile paralysis

Pluck handle of needle lightly, which causes it to tremble

Plucking

Plucking __ stimulation for Qi

strengthens

Retained needle is supported on shaft nearest skin by thumb & index finger. Other hand is closest to tip of needle while index of middle finger scrapes needle

Scraping

Scraping __ Qi

spreads

Twirl needle quickly 3x

Flying

Flying __ needling sensation

strengthens

Hold needle w/ fingers & apply quick lift-thrust movement slowly which causes a vibration

Trembling

Trembling __ Qi

promotes

insert on *exhale*

reinforcing

insert on *inhale*

reducing

insert *slowly*

reinforcing

insert *rapidly*

reducing

point needle *along* channel direction

reinforcing

point needle *against* channel direction

reducing

after needle is inserted to proper depth, rotate *gently* and *slowly* w/ *small* amplitude

reinforcing

after needle is inserted to proper depth, rotate *rapidly* w/ *large* amplitude

reducing

first rotate *clockwise*, forcefully & rapidly, and in back turning, go gently & slowly

reinforcing

first rotate *counter-clockwise*, forcefully & rapidly, and in back turning, go gently & slowly

reducing

needle is inserted to correct depth and needling sensation has come; lift *gently* and *slowly*, while thrusting *heavily* and *rapidly*

reinforcing

needle is inserted to correct depth and needling sensation has come; lift *forcefully* and *rapidly*, while thrusting *gently* and *slowly*

reducing

withdraw on *inhale*

reinforcing

withdraw on *exhale*

reducing

withdraw *rapidly*

reinforcing

withdraw *slowly*

reducing

*close* hole

reinforcing

leave hole *open*

reducing

thrust *heavily*, lift *lightly* *9* times at each level

Setting the Mountain on Fire

thrust *lightly*, lift *heavily* *6* times at each level

Penetrating Heaven's Coolness