The seven-point hammer or plum blossom hammer is a therapeutic tool in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It consists of a fine hammer with a disposable head of seven short, sterile needles. It is gently struck on the skin to create Microsangraduras.

Techniques

• It can be struck gently until the skin reddens slightly. This stimulates circulation, moves blood.
• It can be struck harder causing the skin to bleed, to apply a cupping jar and eliminate Blood stasis and heat.

A new unused head must be used for each session and with each patient. It normally comes with about 10 spare heads.

Indications

In cosmetic acupuncture it is used to stimulate blood circulation to skin areas to be treated. Or to eliminate pathogenic factors from those areas. For example for alopecia (baldness) or in some cases of skin itching.