Preparations Prior to Treatment

Needles of various size, trays, forceps, moxe wool, jars, sterilized cotton ball, 75% alcohol or 1.5% iodine tincture, or 2% gentian violet, etc. should be carefully inspected and prepared before use.

An appropriate posture of a patient is significant in correct location of points, manipulation for acupuncture and moxibustion, prolonged retaining of the needle, and in prevention of fainting, bent needle, stuck needle or broken needle. The selection of a proper posture is therefore of importance clinically. Generally, the practitioner must be able to work without hindrance and the patient is relaxed and feels comfortable. The commonly - used postures adopted in the clinic are as follows :

• Sitting in flexion : suitable for the points on the head, neck and back.
• Sitting erect - with elbows resting on a table, suitable for the points on the head, arm and shoulder.
• Lateral recumbent : suitable for the points at the lateral side of the body.
• Supine posture, suitable for the points on the head and face, chest and abdominal region, and areas of the four limbs.
• Prone posture : suitable for the points on the head, neck, back, lumbar and buttock regions, and the posterior region of the lower limbs.

Sterilization :

Needle sterilization :

• Autoclave sterilization : Needles should be sterilized in an autoclave at 1.5 atmospheric pressure and 125 ' C for 30 minutes.
• Boiling sterilization : Needles and other instruments are boiled in water for 30 minutes. This method is easy and effective without any special equipment.
• Medicinal sterilization : Soak the needles in 75% alcohol from 30 - 60 minutes. Then take them out and wipe off the liquid from the needles with a piece of dry cloth. At the same time, the needle tray and forceps which have directly contacted with the filiform needles should also be sterilized in the same way. Besides, needles used to treat some infectious cases should be sterilized and stored in separate place.

Skin desinfection

The area on the body surface selected for needling must be sterilized. Generally, points on the local area must be sterilized with 75% alcohol, or first with 2.5% iodine, and then it is removed by a 70% alcohol cotton ball. If the disinfected area is accidentally polluted, a second sterilization is imperative. The practitioner ' s fingers should be sterilized routinely.