Acupuncture Acupuncture defined as the insertion of metallic needles in specific points of the body meridians to prevent/treat disease. WHAT IS ACUPUNCTURE POINTS? They are locations on the body that are the focus of acupuncture, acupressure, nonopuncture and laser acupuncture treatment. • Several hundred acupuncture points are considered to be located along meridians The methods commonly used to locate acupoints are : bone length measurement, anatomical landmarks, Finger measurement simple location and searching acupoints - MANIPULATION OF NEEDLES IN ACUPUNCTURE. Acupuncture needles are typically made of stainless steel wire and provided in sterilized enclosed packages. They are disposable and only used once. • The needles are extremely thin. • The needles are inserted into specific acupuncture points on the body, and are sometimes spun to provide additional therapeutic stimulation NEEDLING TECHNIQUE The skin is sterilized and the needles are inserted, frequently with a plastic guide tube. Needles may be manipulated in various ways, e.g. spun, flicked, or moved up and down relative to the skin. • Since most pain is felt in the superficial layers of the skin, a quick insertion of the needle is recommended. Acupuncture can be painful. The skill level of the acupuncturist, so it depends on the skill level and experience

1. ‫الرحــي‬ ‫الرحمن‬ ‫هللا‬ ‫بــسم‬‫م‬
Acupuncture
Anas saad alsaab

2. :Objectives
• Explain methods of locating acupuncture points and manipulating needles
• Identify the precautions, contraindications and management of possible adverse events
in acupuncture treatment.

3. •
Explain methods of locating acupuncture points and manipulating needles
Acupuncture defined as the insertion of metallic needles in specific points of the body meridian
to prevent/treat disease.
WHAT IS ACUPUNCTURE POINTS?
They are locations on the body that are the focus of acupuncture, acupressure, nonopuncture and laser
acupuncture treatment.
• Several hundred acupuncture points are considered to be located along meridians

4. The methods commonly used to locate acupoints are :
• bone length measurement,
• anatomical landmarks,
• Finger measurement
• simple location and
• searching acupoints

5. •1- BONE-LENGTH MEASUREMENT
Bone-length measurement means to use the major bones in the
human body as signifiers or indicator to measure the length
and size of each region for locating acupoints.
2- ANATOMICAL LANDMARKS
1. Fixed anatomical landmarks: are those that would not
change with body movement and visible or palpable on the body surface.
They include the five sensory organs, hair, nails, nipple, umbilicus, and
prominence and depression of the bones as well as texture of the
muscles
2. Moving landmarks: refer to those that will appear only
when a part of the body keeps in a specific position.

6. •
3- FINGER MEASUREMENT
Finger measurement means to take the length and width of the patient's finger(s) as a
standard for locating acupoints because the fingers and the other parts of the body are
in proportion. The following three methods are commonly used in clinical treatment
divided into three methods that commonly used in clinical treatment:
A. Middle finger measurement
measure vertical distance to locate on limbs
measure horizontal distance to locate on back
B. Thumb measurement
measure vertical distance to locate on limbs
C. Four-finger measurement
locate the acupoints on the lower limbs, lower abdomen and the back

7. •
4- SIMPLE LOCATION
• Simple location was developed by the ancient doctors according to
their clinical experience.
5- SEARCHING ACUPUNCTURE POINTS
• means that the doctor presses around the acupoint to decide its exact location.
• The acupuncture are usually
located in the bone spaces like
(zusanli)

8. - MANIPULATION OF NEEDLES IN ACUPUNCTURE.
• Acupuncture needles are typically made of stainless steel wire and
provided in sterilized enclosed packages. They are disposable and only used once.
• • The needles are extremely thin.
• • The needles are inserted into specific acupuncture points on the body, and are
sometimes spun to provide additional therapeutic stimulation.

9. NEEDLING TECHNIQUE
• The skin is sterilized and the needles are inserted, frequently with a plastic guide
tube. Needles may be
• manipulated in various ways, e.g. spun, flicked, or moved up and down relative to
the skin.
• Since most pain is felt in the superficial layers of the skin, a quick insertion of the needle is
recommended. Acupuncture can be painful. The skill level of the
acupuncturist, so it depends on the skill level and experience

10. Identify the precautions, contraindications and management of possible adverse events in acupuncture
treatment.
Precautions in Acupuncture Treatment
It is advisable to apply few needles or to delay giving acupuncture treatment to the
patients who are either famished or overeaten, intoxicated, over fatigued or very weak.
Needling should avoid the blood vessels to prevent bleeding. Points of the chest and
back should be carefully needled to avoid injury of the vital organs.

11. • It is contraindicated to puncture points on the lower abdomen and lumbosacral region for
women pregnant under three months. After three months pregnancy it is contraindicated to
needle the points on the upper abdomen and lumbosacral region, and those points causing
strong sensation.
• Drug or alcohol intoxication.
• A seizure disorder.
• Bleeding disorder.
• Infections skin disorder.
Contraindications in Acupuncture Treatment

12. Management : When fainting aura such as dizziness, vertigo, fidgets and nausea appear, stop
needling immediately and withdraw all the needles. Then help the patient to lie down, and offer
him some warm or sweet water. The symptoms will disappear after a short rest.
Manifestations : During acupuncture treatment, there may appear dizziness, vertigo,
palpitation, short breath, nausea, pallor, cold sweating, weak pulse. In severe cases, there may
be cold extremities, drop of blood pressure, and loss of consciousness.
Fainting
Cause : This is often due to nervous tension, hunger, fatigue, improper position or to the too
forceful manipulation.
Management of Possible events

13. Bent needle
Cause : unskillful manipulation or too forceful manipulation, or the needle striking the hard
tissue.
Management : When the needle is bent, lifting, thrusting, and rotating shall in no case be
applied. The needle may be removed slowly and withdrawn by following the course of bend.
In case the bent needle is caused by the change of the patient ' s posture, move him to his
original position, relax the local muscle and then remove the needle. Never try to withdraw
the needle with force.

14. Hematoma
Cause : injury of the blood vessels during insertion, or from absent pressing of
the point after withdrawing the needle
Management : Generally, a mild hematoma will disappear by itself.
If the local swelling and pain are serious, apply local pressing, or light massage.

15. Summary
•
The methods commonly used to locate acupoints are :
1- Bone Length measurement
2- Anatomical Landmarks
3-finger measurement
4- Simple location and searching acupoints
Contraindications in Acupuncture Treatment
1. It is contraindicated to puncture points on the
lower abdomen and lumbosacral region for women
pregnant under three months..
2. Drug or alcohol intoxication.
3. A seizure disorder.
4. Bleeding disorder.
5. Infections skin disorder.

16. Resources
•
•
http://www.acupuncture.org.au/
Health_Services/
Acupuncture.aspx
• clinical acupuncture a to z pdf
• http://tcmdiscovery.com/
2007/5-18/2007518114521.ht
ml
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Acupuncture#Needles
• http://umaihealth.com/images/
AboutTech.html
http://www.geocities.ws/altmedd/acupuncture/ac
upuncture_technique/PRECAUTIONS.html

17. Questions

18. Done by: Anas saad alsaab.