All these techniques can be used in treatment for the Bi Syndrome. There are more, but these are the most useful.
Cupping, moxibustion, electroacupuncture, scalp acupuncture and auriculotherapy can also be used.
Bao Ci
Successive needling.
Technique for treating moving pains, the Wind Bi (erratic, migratory): Right hand with needle, left hand searches for ashi points. Needling, manipulating, relieving, removing needle and searching for another point to stimulate the muscle. Needling with the same needle. The patient announces where there is pain.
Hui Chi
Stimulus in 5 directions.
Tendon and muscle Bi, trapezius, lumbar square. Used to dissolve those contractures that block. The stimulation seeks to restore mobility. The depth of needling depends on the muscle treated. Facilitates the circulation of energy and blood in the Jin-luo. You withdraw the needle without removing it and direct it in the 4 directions, right, left, up down, stimulating in each direction.
Qi Ci
Grouped needling.
For Cold Bi, in a small and deep area. Uses three needles: the first needle in the affected place, quite deep, and on each side two more needles. For example for epicondylitis, trochanteric bursitis. It is a way to reinforce the action of the first needle, to activate the Qi-xue.
Hui Ci is used in a wide area, which expands in all directions, Qi Ci is more localized.
In dispersion the stimulation is greater, more lasting. In tonification you barely touch it, light manipulation. In case of Bi dispersion is usually sought.
Yang Ci
Superficial Bi at skin level, for example fat cysts, herpes zoster, psoriasis, scars... Pain with numbness of the skin, or it can become muscular. Uses 5 needles: one needle in the middle and four around, directed toward the center. Sometimes four can be used to surround an area with superficial pain and/or paresthesia, one in the middle (or not) and four around. It is also called "surrounding the dragon".
From this technique come the cutaneous or plum blossom needles, 7-point hammer. Sometimes the pain doesn't allow percussion to be tolerated, then this is used for extended superficial use.
Duan Ci
Short needling. Deep technique for Bone Bi (bone is the deepest of the superficial. Needling with a long needle until almost touching bone (without touching as the periosteum is very innervated, therefore it hurts). I approach the bone and there I do manipulation. It tries to extract the pathogenic energy from the depth to activate circulation. Sometimes I scratch the periosteum a little, it is very effective despite the pain.
An Englishman, Felix Mann or something like that, treatment based on scraping the periosteum. For example in epicondylitis, I can scrape the periosteum a little. Be careful that it can exacerbate the pain if used wrongly.
Here patients go inside the pain. In China they have that attitude toward pain. In the West we prefer to avoid pain.
He Gu Ci
Used for pain in quite thick muscles. Similar to Hui Chi: with the same needle stimulate, withdraw and direct the needles toward the two directions where the muscle tendon inserts, to try to relax the muscle. Not used much.
Pi Nei Zhen
Inner skin needle: intradermal needle or akebane. Only below the skin, if it goes deeper it doesn't work. For all types of Bi, cold, wind, heat whatever. Leave semi-permanent needle, for a few days, to prolong the effect of acupuncture. One, two, three needles, but not more. Too much stimulus is no stimulus. Interesting pain control.
Ba Guan Ci
Needling with cupping. Especially in case of muscular pain, like contractures. Use 7-point hammer or lancet, perform bleeding technique to unblock the affected meridian and put cups. Sometimes you use only cups. Cups especially on Ashi points, when there is pain.
Miu Ci or Ju Ci
Contralateral needling. Needle the healthy side. For example when there is paralysis, Wei Syndrome or bone fracture and we cannot needle where there is cast. Needling in luo mai, more superficial meridians. Jing-Well points, Xi, Rong or Ashi. Fine venules on the opposite side to the affected side.
Zan Ci
Bleeding. Use thick needle or lancet. For contractures due to Blood stagnation. Eliminates blood stasis. Can also be used to eliminate heat. Used on Jing points, GV-14, LI-11, BL-40, LU-5, ear apex
Zi Zheng Ci
Penetrating or transfixiating needling. With a single needle you reach several points. It is a stronger effect than using one needle for each point. For example from LR-2 to LR-3.