Reducing

The reducing method is to dispel the pathogenic factors and remove stagnation in order to help restore the body resistance, and is advisable to the excess syndrome. In the tenth chapter of Miraculous Pivot, it says that " excessive and strong pathogenic factors should be eliminated by the reducing method, " and it says again in the first chapter of Miraculous Pivot that " in acupuncture therapy... the excessive and strong pathogenic factors must be dispelled " and " fullness should be relieved. " It is stated in the fifth chapter of Plain Questions that " blood stagnation should be treated by bleeding. "

The commonly used reducing methods are as follows :

• For dispelling wind to relieve the exterior syndrome, Fengchi ( G 20 ) , Hegu ( Li 4 ) , etc. are needled with the reducing method.
• For promoting defecation and reducing heat, Quchi ( Li 11 ) , Tianshu ( S 25 ) and Fenlong ( S 40 ) are needled with the reducing method.
• For invigorating blood circulation and removing blood stasis, the corresponding points are pricked to bleed to treat blood stagnation.
• For removing indigestion, Jianii ( Ren 11 ) , Zusanii ( S 36 ) and Sifeng ( Extra ) are punctured with the reducing method.

But the reducing method shall not be applied to the deficiency syndrome or to cases of deficiency complicated with the excess syndrome.