ACUPUNCTURE DEPTH AT FENGFU, YAMEN AND FENGCHI POINTS

Yang Zhanling

(Shanxi Institute of TCM, Taiyuun)

Hou Shizhan, Niu xin

(Shanxi Medical College, Taiyuan)

Puncturing the points Fengfu, Yamen and Fengchi is effective to cure diseases in the area of the head, including face, ears, nose and throat, and also diseases in the cerebrovascular and nervous systems. These three points are linked to the medulla oblongata and the spinal cord. They are also closely connected with the cerebrospinal blood vessels. It frequently occurs that the cerebrospinal blood vessels and substances are injured by inserting the needle overly or directing it inaccurately. In order to avoid acupuncture accidents in clinical practice, we have made observations and measurement of acupuncture depth by puncturing these three points on 52 adult corpses (35 males, 17 females). The results are as follows:

1. Acupuncture depth at the Fengfu point (mm):

1) Male average depth 36.83±6.87; maximum 52.23; minimum 20.08; female average depth 30.96+7.56; maximum 39.40; minimum 19.45. Total average depth 34,93±7.49. sexual difference; P<0.05.

2) When inserting the needle towards the nasal tip:

Male average depth 42.22±4.33; maximum 53.04; minimum 34.41. Female average depth 40.90±6.22; maximum 48.22; minimum 28.92. Total average depth 41.82+4.99. Sexual difference: p>0,05.

3) When inserting the needle towards the mouth:

Male average depth 44.43±4.47; maximum 54.73; minimum 37,03. Female average depth 44.46±5.26; maximum 52.73; minimum 35.24. Total average depth 44.44±4.69. Sexual difference: p>0.05.

2. Acupuncture depth at the Yamen point(mm):

1) When inserting the needle straight:

Male average depth 40.59+4.85; maximum 53.32; minimum 31.53. Female average depth 37,43±5.31; maximum 46.93; minimum 26.43. Total average depth 40.13+6.67. Sexual difference: p>0.05.

2) When inserting the needle towards the nasal tip:

Male average depth 42.42±4.06; maximum 54.11; minimum 35.14. Female average depth 40,99±5.32; maximum 48.90; minimum 28.24. Total average depth 41.95±4.51. Sexual difference: p>0.05.

3) When inserting the needle towards the mouth:

Male average depth 44.92±4.42; maximum 57.30; minimum 38.14. Female average depth 43.33+5.09; maximum 50.43; minimum 32.42. Total average depth 4.38±4.65. Sexual difference: p>0,05.

4) When inserting the needle towards the ear lobe:

Male average depth 46.34±4,19; maximum 58.00; minimum 59.08. Female average depth 45.13±5.49; maximum 51.03; minimum 33.50. Total average depth 45.93±4.64. Sexual difference: p>0.05.

3. Acupuncture depth at the Fengchi point (mm):

1) There was no danger that the needle will enter the skull cavity (cranium), when inserted 25-75 mm in depth towards the opposite eyeball or the nasal tip and straight or transverse.

2) It was observed that the needle was most likely to enter the skull cavity when inserted towards the opposite tragus or its front edge, as it was in this direction that the vertebral artery enters the skull cavity through foramen magnum.

Acupuncture depth at the left Fengchi when inserting the needle towards the opposite tragus: Male average depth 41.21+3.82; maximum 49.43; minimum 32.78. Female average depth 43.88±4.61; maximum 53.35; minimum 35.92. Total average depth 42.08±4.24.

Acupuncture depth at the right Fengchi point when inserting the needle toward the opposite tragus: Male average depth 41.21±3.66: maximum 50.02; minimum 32.76. Female average depth 43.19±4.71; maximum 52.83; minimum 54.91. Total average depth 41.86± 4.09. The measurement of the acupuncture depth of this study is available clinically in order to exclude the possibility of acupuncture accidents when puncturing these three points