Abdominal Acupuncture is a new acupuncture method developed by Dr. Bo Zhi Yuan. It uses points on the abdomen at different depths to treat diseases. It is a microsystem, like foot reflexology, craniopuncture or auriculotherapy, in which we work the whole body through its representation in a specific area. It yields very good results for chronic pain and tonifying deficiencies.
Advantages of Abdominal Acupuncture
- The abdomen is less painful to needle than the extremities. A finer needle is also used (diameter 0.22 or 0.20).
- It is easy to learn. There are few points and needling is done with a guide tube.
- It allows treating the patient in the supine position only. Some patients cannot lie face down.
- It is very safe.
- It is very effective.
- It can be used on its own or as a complement to a traditional acupuncture treatment.
Channels used in Abdominal Acupuncture
Location of Abdominal Acupuncture Points
Precise and correct location of the points is very important for the treatment to work. To this end, in this technique a ruler can be used to measure the patient's distances and the cun distances are calculated mathematically. The cun above the umbilicus and below the umbilicus have different distances. People are not symmetrical; it is also necessary to measure the distances to the left and right of the umbilicus as they may also differ from one side to the other.
We use a suitable marker or pencil to mark the cun distances on the patient before treatment.
To make sure the points have been correctly located, they can be pressed with a probe to check whether the patient's pain decreases.
If you want to know more about the location of acupuncture points on the rest of the body, consult the page cun measurements of the body.
Above the umbilicus
Correctly locate the costal junction at the sternum to find CV-16. Do not confuse this point with the xiphoid process, as all your distances would be incorrect. From CV-16 to the centre of the umbilicus there are 8 cun. Measure this distance and divide by eight. Mark on the patient the location of 4 cun, 2 cun and 1 cun above the umbilicus.
Below the umbilicus
Correctly locate the pubic symphysis. Measure the distance between it and the centre of the umbilicus. This distance is 5 cun. Mark the distances 3 cun, 1.5 cun and 1 cun below the umbilicus.
Lateral to the umbilicus
Measure the distance from the centre of the umbilicus to the patient's side. That distance is 6 cun. Mark the distances 0.5 cun, 2 cun and 4 cun from the umbilicus towards the side. Repeat on the other side.
Abdominal Acupuncture Points
Ren Mai Channel
These points are needled deeply. They tonify the organs.
- CV-12, 4 cun above the umbilicus. Corresponds to the head. It is the first point to be needled and must be done at a deep level.
- CV-11, 3 cun above the umbilicus. Corresponds to the occipital area and the nape of the neck.
- CV-10, 2 cun above the umbilicus. Corresponds to the base of the neck, at the level of the 7th cervical vertebra.
- CV-9, 1 cun above the umbilicus. Used for acute disc pain.
- CV-6, 1.5 cun below the umbilicus. Corresponds to lumbar vertebrae 2 and 3.
- CV-4, 3 cun below the umbilicus. Corresponds to lumbar vertebrae 4 and 5. Needled very deeply.
Kidney Channel
- KI-17, 0.5 cun lateral to CV-10. Corresponds to treating the sides of the neck, at the level of C7.
- KI-18, 1 cun above KI-17. Corresponds to the sides of the neck near the head.
- KI-19, 0.5 cun lateral to CV-12. Corresponds to the sides of the head.
- KI-13, 0.5 cun lateral to CV-4. Corresponds to the sides of the lumbar vertebrae.
- Qi Pang. Extraordinary point, 0.5 cun lateral to CV-6. Reinforces and tonifies vital energy.
Stomach Channel
Stomach is Yang Ming, it moves a great deal of energy and Blood. It helps to unblock energy. Needled at medium or superficial depth in the affected area.
- ST-24, 1 cun above the umbilicus and 2 cun lateral. Corresponds to the shoulder on the same side of the body. Unblocks the upper extremity.
- ST-25, 2 cun lateral to the umbilicus.
- ST-26, 1 cun below the umbilicus and 2 cun lateral. Corresponds to the hip on the same side of the body. Unblocks the lower extremity.
Spleen Channel
- SP-15, 4 cun lateral to the umbilicus. Added when there is Dampness or lower back pain. Medium or deep depth.
Extra points
For the extremities. Needled superficially. In the affected area, additional needles are usually added in a line or triangular arrangement to cover the area of pain.
- Shang Feng Shi Dian. 0.5 cun lateral and 0.5 cun above ST-24. Corresponds to the elbow.
- Shang Feng Shi Wai Dian. 1 cun lateral to ST-24. Corresponds to the wrist.
- Xia Feng Shi Dian. 0.5 cun lateral and 0.5 cun below ST-26. Corresponds to the knee.
- Xia Feng Shi Xia Dian. 1 cun below and 1 cun lateral to ST-26. Corresponds to the ankle.
Procedure
- Activate the Qi of the organs.
- Regulate the Qi of the channels.
- Unblock the Qi of the affected area.
Treatment examples
Epicondylitis
Or tennis elbow: pain in the elbow at the epicondyle area. Abdominal acupuncture treatment:
- CV-12. Medium depth.
- KI-17 on the healthy side. Medium depth.
- ST-24 on the affected side. Medium depth.
- Shang Feng Shi Dian (elbow) and surrounding points. Superficial depth.
Within a short time, about a minute or so, the patient should already notice some relief when moving the elbow. Leave the needles in for about 40 minutes.
Frozen shoulder
Chronic shoulder pain with loss of mobility.
- CV-12. Medium depth. If the patient is weak, vital energy tonification points such as CV-6 and CV-4 can be added.
- KI-17 on the healthy side. Medium depth.
- ST-24 (shoulder) on the affected side. Superficial depth. Add points to the sides.
Knee pain due to osteoarthritis
It hurts, is hot, swollen, may be deformed and cause limping.
- CV-12 and CV-4. Medium depth.
- Qi Pang on the healthy side. Medium depth.
- ST-26 on the affected side. Medium depth.
- Xia Feng Shi Dian (knee) and surrounding points. Superficial depth.
If the medial aspect of the knee is painful, needling can be performed 0.5 CUN below ST-26 and 0.5 CUN towards CV.
Contraindications
Do not apply abdominal acupuncture in:
- Pregnant women.
- Acute abdominal pathology.
- Acute peritonitis.
- Abdominal tumour with metastasis.