THE THREE - EDGED NEEDLE

Needle. The three - edged needle is developed from the sharp needle of the Nine Needles created in the ancient times. The needle is shaped in a round handle, a triangular head and a sharp tip.

Indications. The three - edged needle functions to promote the smooth flow of qi and blood in meridians, dispel blood stasis and eliminate the heat. It is advisable to treat blockage of the meridians, blood stasis, excess syndrome and heat syndrome, such as high fever, loss of consciousness, sore throat, local congestion or swelling.

Manipulations. There are three kinds of manipulations.

• Spot pricking. This is a method known as collateral pricking in ancient times used to treat disease by pricking the small vessels with a three - edged needle to obtain a little bloodletting. During the operation hold the handle of the three - edged needle with the right hand, prick swiftly about 0.05 - 0.1 cun deep at the area for bloodletting and withdraw the needle immediately. After pricking, press the punctured hole with a dry cotton ball until the bleeding stops. This is the most widely used method in clinics, for example, pricking B40 to treat lumbago due to stagnation of blood, pricking L11 to treat sore throat, pricking P3 and B40 to treat acute vomiting, pricking Taiyang ( Extra ) or apex of the ear to treat acute conjunctivitis
• Clumpy pricking. Prick around a small area or a reddened swelling, then press the skin to make the decayed blood escape. This method is mostly used for carbuncles, erysipelas, etc.
• Pricking. During the operation, pinch up the local skin with the left hand, prick the skin 0.5 cun deep with a three - edged needle to make bleed. If there is no bleeding, press the punctured part until bleeding occurs. This method is mostly used to treat multiple folliculitis. For multiple carbuncles of the neck, try to find the red spots at the both sides of the vertebra, and then prick them with a three - edged needle till bleeding

Precautions

• Aseptic operation is applied to prevent infection
• For spot pricking, the operation should be slight, superficial, and rapid. Bleeding should not be excessive. Avoid injuring the deep large arteries
• Pricking shall in no case be applied for those with weak constitution, for pregnant women and those susceptible to bleeding