Benchmark ReviewAcupuncture Techniques, CNT, and Herb Basics

March 16, 2013

Acupucture Techniques15 questions

Identifying correct location Review your point location information

covered last week. Look at: Anatomical landmarks – bony

prominences, hairlines, etc. Proportional measurements guides Hand guidelines How to count the vertebra and ribs Etc.

Positioning your patient Supine Prone Lateral recumbent Sitting Etc.

Anatomy and needling considerationsThis is a little bit of a repeat from Point Locations and Deadman. Depth Precautions

Children, elderly, people on blood thinners, hemophiliacs, etc.

Contraindications (Ren 8, St 17, Du 25, etc.)

Precautions related to treatment http://catstcmnotes.com/downloads/Acu

puncture%20Techniques/Acupuncture%20Techniques%201/Acu%20Tech%20I%20-%20Class%209%20handout.pdf

Insertion techniques Guide tube insertions

Two handed and one handed Pressing with non-dominant hand. Stretching the skin Pinching the skin

AnglesAngles Transverse/horizontal – 15-25 degrees

Thin areas Over organs Next to mouth Between the fingers

Oblique – 45 degrees hinner areas such as the chest, abdomen, intercostal

muscle spaces, into the back muscles in the thoracic areas or anywhere there is a danger of hitting an organ or nerve. This is especially important in thinner patients.

Perpendicular insert

Depth of insertion Age

Shallower for kids, elderly Constitution

Deeper for large (either muscley or fat)Shallower for small folks

Area of the body you are needling Disease conditions

Shallow for skin problems, close to the bone for bone problems, deeply for steaming bone, somewhat deeper for blood and deficiency problems, shallower for external invasions.

SeasonsShallower in spring/summer due to greater yang, deeper in winter/fall when Qi hides and goes deeper, deeper on rainy days/shallower on sunny .

Sensitivity of the patientDepends on how quickly your patient feels the qi.

Direction of insertion Back – 1st and 2nd bladder lines

Upper back Lower back

Chest – intercostal spaces Head Abdomen Limbs

Manipulation and arrival of Qi Normal needling reactions/patient

sensationsSoreness, aching, numbness, heaviness, distention, radiating sensations, etc.

Not-so-normal reactions Electrical zaps Pain when hitting a blood vessel – sharp

and doesn’t recede Hitting a bone can result in sharp pain or

dull ache also Getting Da Qi

Reinforcing/Reducing Reinforce for deficiencies, reduce for excesses. Lift/thrust Rotating methods Pressing (pressing around the needle to call qi) Plucking Scraping Shaking Flying Trembling Rotate + lift/thrust

Cupping techniques and applicationSee Dr. Qiu’s Cupping lecture

Moxa and applicationDr. Qiu’s Moxibustion lecture notes

Four Needle Technique…againBeen there, done that last week.

Clean Needle Technique 5 questions

Equipment maintenance and safety

Emergency situations Fainting Broken Needles Stuck Needles Organ Punctures Burns Bleeding Cardiac arrest Other

Precautions and contraindications Pregnant patients Upper back and chest points OSHA requirements

Herbs 8 questions

The basics Dosages Tastes Properties Safety

Release exterior cold

Release exterior heat

Clear heat

Drain downward

Drain damp