title: [Xie's articular needling and four pain-relieving points].
abstract: Xie's articular needling is handed down from the older generations of the family of Mr. XIE Jiguang, which is approved to have extensive indications and capable to treat various pain syndromes and Bi syndromes. Articular needling is a technique of puncturing the area at the junction of the joints, tendons and muscles. Local points and distal points are often combined in the application. The four pain-relieving points are held as distal points in articular needling, which refers to Sanjian (LI 3), Houxi (SI 3), Taibai (SP 3) and Shugu (BL 65). If pain occurs at one side of the body, the four points are supposed to be selected on the opposite side the affected area. While if pain occurs on both sides or for chronic cases, all the 8 points on both sides should be applied. For treatment of local and chronic pain, local points must be combined. Reinforcing manipulations with superficial insertion should be applied for deficient syndrome at the healthy side in most of the situations. Moreover, points around the umbilicus should be selected for tonifying the primary qi.
authors.affiliation: Acupuncture and Rehabilitation Department of Cangxi Hospital of TCM, Guangyuan 628400, Sichuan Province, China. xjg48@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D015667:Acupuncture Analgesia / Q000379:methods*; D015669:Acupuncture Points; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints