Usually 32 gauge, 1 to 1.5 cun needles are used.

Needle top to bottom; from inside to outside. Primary needles to “Bring Qi Home” should be deeper. Secondary points middle depth. Supporting points or ashi points should be shallow if treating pain.

First insert all the needles and let them settle in so the body is aware it’s being treated. Then come back to adjust the depth and direction so all the needles stand upright. Be sure to use very gentle pressure.

Step 1: Chief Points to Bring Qi Home (bilateral needling)

Choose 2 or 4 of the following chief points to bring the qi to the core/home. This is known as “Bringing the Qi Home” to strengthen the Spleen and the Kidneys.

Step 2: Deputy and Assistant Points (bilateral needling)

Step 3: Envoy Points. (Needle the Ashi, Affected area on the same side)

Feel for nodes or grain or bubbles or ashi point in the corresponding problematic area. Use up to 3 needles if necessary and adjust the depth of your needling for optimal result.

Upper and Lower Rheumatism points can be used to open channels and collaterals, relieve bi zheng (painful obstruction syndrome).

Step 4: Stimulation

There is no need to stimulate up and down like body acupuncture. So long as you are in the right depth you can just let the needle work its magic. Any stimulation should be just back and forth in a gentle manner. Adjust the angle if needed. Weaker stimulation tonifies while stronger stimulation sedates. Because Abdominal Acupuncture is most suitable for chronic disorders and most chronic patients are deficient, mild needle stimulation would be enough to achieve the treatment result. Moxa can also be added to the points.

There are three stages to “De Qi” in Abdominal Acupuncture:

Step 5: Removal of Needles

Remove the needles in the order of insertion. Slowly remove the needles from whatever depth they are in. Do not stimulate the point again or further insert the needle before removal. Use a dry cotton ball to press on the points after needle removal.

There are 3 levels, Heaven, Man and Earth. Heaven level is mostly for pain and is less than 1 cun from the surface. Of course the level may change if the patient is heavy. But the Heaven or superficial level is more for periphery, acute, or painful disorders of the muscles, bones, etc. The Hologram is 2 dimensional so the superficial part of the Heaven level treats the front of the body while the deeper part of the Heaven level treats the bone or the posterior side of the body. Don’t go deeper than necessary.

Second level is Man. That is used to treat problems with the channels and collaterals.

Last level is Earth and that’s for zang fu disorders.

As a general rule, depth of Chief points on the CV channel should be deep and one can mark the point with red ink on the patient chart indicating the depth is the deepest. Deputy and Assistant points on the ST, SP, KI points should be medium depth, indicated by blue ink. . Envoy points on the affected area should be shallow. One can also indicate the depth on the patient chart by writing D (Deep), M (Medium) or S (Shallow) on the side of the points that are needled.

On average needles stay in for 20-30 minutes. Leave the needles in for a shorter period of time if treating chronic or weak patients. Alternatively, for acute or stronger patients, needles can be retained for a longer period of time.

• Avoid deep needling puncturing into the abdomen, vessels or organs.
• Abdominal acupuncture is contraindicated in acute abdominal disorders, cancer and pregnant women.
• Contraindicated in acute peritonitis, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly with visible veins, extremely deficient patients or post-surgical patients. (Shallow needling around the rib area for patients with hepato- or splenomegaly).