Skip to main content

Table 2 Fixed acupuncture protocol

From: A multicenter randomized trial of personalized acupuncture, fixed acupuncture, letrozole, and placebo letrozole on live birth in infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Point

Stimulation

Location

Muscle

Muscle innervation

Method

Set 1

 Zhongji (CV3)

EA

4 cun caudal to the umbilicus

Fibrous tissue, linea alba

L1

Puncture perpendicularly 0.5–1.0 cun

 Qihai (CV6)

EA

1.5 cun caudal to the umbilicus

Fibrous tissue, linea alba

Th11

Puncture perpendicularly 0.8–1.2 cun

 Guilai (bilateral) (ST29)

EA

1 cun cranial to the pubic bone and 2 cun lateral to the midline

M. rectus abdominis

Th6–12

Puncture perpendicularly 0.7–1.2 cun

 Sanyinjiao (bilateral) (SP6)

EA

3 cun proximal to the medial malleolus

M. flexor digitorum longus, tibialis posterior

L4–5, S1–2

Puncture perpendicularly 0.5–1.0 cun

 Yinlingquan (bilateral) (SP9)

EA

Below the medial tibia chondyle

M. gastrocnemius

S1–2

Puncture perpendicularly 0.5–1.0 cun

 Hegu (bilateral) (LI4)

De-qi 4 times

On the highest point at the musculi interosseus dorsalis

M. interosseus dorsalis I, lumbricalis II, adductor pollicis

C8, Th1

Puncture perpendicularly 0.5–1.0 cun

 Baihui (GV20)

De-qi 4 times

On the top of the head

Aponeurosis epicranii

C2–3,N trigeminus

Puncture subcutaneously 0.3–0.5 cun

Set 2

 Tianshu (bilateral) (ST25)

EA

2 cun lateral to the midline at the level of the umbilicus

M. rectus abdominis

Th6–12

Puncture perpendicularly 0.7–1.2 cun

 Guilai (bilateral) (ST29)

EA

1 cun cranial to the pubic bone and 2 cun lateral to the midline

M. rectus abdominis

Th6–12

Puncture perpendicularly 0.7–1.2 cun

 Zhongji (CV3)

A

4 cun caudal to the umbilicus

Fibrous tissue, linea alba

L1

Puncture perpendicularly 0.5–1.0 cun

 Qihai (CV6)

A

1.5 cun caudal to the umbilicus

Fibrous tissue, linea alba

Th11

Puncture perpendicularly 0.8–1.2 cun

 Sanyinjiao (bilateral) (SP6)

EA

3 cun proximal to the medial malleolus

M. flexor digitorum longus, tibialis posterior

L4–5, S1–2

Puncture perpendicularly 0.8–1.2 cun

 Taichong (bilateral) (LR3)

EA

Between metatarsal I and II, just distal to the caput

M. interosseus dorsalis I

S2–3

Puncture perpendicularly 0.3–0.5 cun

 Neiguan (bilateral) (PC6)

De-qi 4 times

2 cun proximal to the processus styloideus radii, between the tendons of the palmaris longus and the flexor carpi radialis

M. flexor digitorum superficialis

C8, Th1

Puncture perpendicularly 0.5–0.8 cun

 Baihui (GV20)

De-qi 4 times

On the top of the head

Aponeurosis epicranii

C2–3,N trigeminus

Puncture subcutaneously 0.3–0.5 cun

  1. The two sets will be alternated for every other treatment
  2. Abbreviations: A acupuncture, C cervical vertebra, CV conception vessel, EA electroacupuncture, GV governor vessel, L lumbar vertebra, LI large intestine, LR liver, PC pericardium, S sacral vertebra, SP spleen, ST stomach, Th thoracic vertebra