Wrist and Ankle Acupuncture (WAA) was invented and first published in 1975 by Dr. Zhang Xinshu, an expert at the Changhai Hospital of the Second Military Medical University. WAA utilizes twelve carefully selected points on the wrists and ankles to treat various ailments across the whole body. It is a modern style of acupuncture that features simplicity, fewer points, and gentle needling with shallow, subcutaneous insertion over deep penetration.
WAA focuses on the wrists and ankles because the three yin and three yang channels travel through these areas, and points here are convenient and practical to utilize for treatment. It uses superficial stimulation of the subcutaneous layer to harmonize local meridian qi and blood to treat diseases of the channels. Due to the proximity of these points to the channels' Luo (connecting) points, they can also indirectly connect the Zang fu to treat diseases of the whole body. This method works great for pain control, with excellent results demonstrated for headaches, toothache, joint and nerve pain, dysmenorrhea, post-surgical pain, and pain from traumatic injuries. It is also effective for post-stroke rehabilitation and treating various conditions such as runny/congested nose, dizziness, sore throat, asthma, itchy or chronically ulcerous skin, leucorrhea, hypertension, and many more.
The development of this technique originated from several successful one-session treatments with strong electrical stimulations that cured symptoms in patients with up to 20 years of paralysis and brain damage. Through extensive research over the next decade, Dr. Zhang further refined the method to focus on a small number of 12 bilateral wrist and ankle points. He also adopted and optimized the subcutaneous needling technique to maximize clinical efficacy while minimizing patient discomfort. The stream-lined treatment principles are easy to learn and perform and have shown remarkable clinical results.
WAA uses a small number of points and simple needling techniques that are easy to learn and perform.
It utilizes points at the wrist and ankle that are convenient to locate and practical for treatment. These points are also safer for needling due to the lack of prominent organs, vessels, or nerves nearby.
It applies a subcutaneous needling technique that is painless and, thus, more agreeable to patients.
It works for a wide range of ailments and, for certain conditions, demonstrates immediate results.
When needed, the subcutaneous needle(s) can be secured and retained to extend a treatment session with minimal interference to daily activities. WAA is also widely compatible with other treatment modalities.