Each acupuncture point has a specific needling direction and depth according to its location on the body, body constitution, and therapeutic intention of needling.
Directions
- Perpendicular: Normally fleshy parts of the body, soft and thick.
- 45º: Non-fleshy soft parts or over important viscera (chest, back)
- 15º: Non-fleshy parts (face, bony areas of the limbs)
Depth
- Superficial: 0.3-0.5 cun. Limbs in areas with little flesh or areas with important viscera underneath
- Medium: 0.5-1 cun. Fleshy parts with viscera underneath
- Deep: >1 cun. Fleshy, thick areas without viscera underneath (buttocks, thighs...)
Depends on the person, if they are thicker or thinner, we choose the appropriate depth.
Superficial needling
- Weak constitution, old age, thinness, childhood
- Heat pattern
- Empty pattern
- Exterior pattern
- External location (skin, hair...)
- Spring / Summer
Deep needling
- Strong constitution, young, thick
- Cold pattern
- Full pattern
- Interior pattern
- Internal location (tendon, bone...)
- Autumn / Winter