Table 3 Acupoint selection and rationale based on traditional Chinese medicine
Acupoint | Location | Traditional Chinese medicine indication | Suggested technique |
|---|---|---|---|
LI4 (hegu) | Dorsum of hand, at the level of the midpoint of the second metacarpal bone, between the first and second metacarpal bones | Alleviates nasal pain | Needle perpendicular, 0.5–1.0 cun |
PC6 (neiguan) | Palmar aspect of the forearm, between the tendons, 2 cun away from the transverse crease of the wrist | Alleviates gastric pain and calms the shen (spirit) | Needle perpendicular, 0.5–1.5 cun |
HT7 (shenmen) | Palmar aspect of the wrist, ulnar end of the transverse crease | Helps in calming the shen (spirit) | Needle perpendicular, 0.3–0.5 cun |
LI20 (yingxiang) | 0.5 cun lateral to the midpoint of the border of line ala nasi, in the nasolabial groove | Helps in nasal congestion and epistaxis. | Needle perpendicular, 0.3–0.5 cun |
ST36 (zusanli) | Antero-lateral leg, 1 middle-finger breadth next to the anterior crest of tibia, 3 cun under the depression lateral to the patellar ligament | Helps in regulating qi and blood circulation | Needle perpendicular, 0.5–1.5 cun |
GV23 (shangxing) | 1 cun directly above the midpoint of the anterior hairline | Helps in rhinorrhea, epistaxis. | Needle perpendicular, 0.5–1.0 cun |
GV20 (baihui) | 5 cun directly above the midpoint of the anterior hairline, at the midpoint of the line connecting the apexes of the two auricles | Helps in calming the Shen (spirit) | Needle perpendicular, 0.5–0.8 cun Moxibustion can be used to reinforce the yang |
GV29 (yintang) | On the forehead, at the midpoint between the two medial ends of the eyebrow | Helps in insomnia, dizziness; epistaxis, rhinorrhea. | Needle perpendicular, 0.3–0.5 cun |
EX-HN22 (anmian) | On the napex, at the midpoint between TE17 and GB20 | Helps in calming the Shen (spirit), improving insomnia. | Needle perpendicular, 0.8–1.2 cun Moxibustion can be used to reinforce the yang |
SP6 (sanyinjiao) | Behind the medial tibia, 3 cun above the tip of the medial malleolus | Helps in regulating Qi and blood circulation improving insomnia, dizziness. | Needle perpendicular, 0.5–1.0 cun |