| Location | TCM indication | Suggested technique |
---|---|---|---|
Core acupoints (used in all treatment sessions) | |||
LI4 (Hegu) | Dorsum of hand, at the level of the midpoint of the second metacarpal bone, between first and second metacarpal bones | Helps in abdominal pain. | Needle perpendicularly 0.5–1.0 cun |
ST36 (Zusanli) | Antero-lateral leg, 1 middle-finger breadth next to the anterior crest of tibia, 3 cun under the depression lateral to the patellar ligament | Stomach’s lower He point, helps in regulating Qi and blood circulation. | Needle perpendicularly 0.5–1.5 cun |
SP8 (Diji) | Medial leg, posterior to the tibia, 3 cun under the depression inferior and posterior to the tibia medial condyle | Xi (Cleft) point of the Spleen meridian, helps in abdominal pain | Needle perpendicularly 1.0–1.5 cun |
SP10 (Xuehai) | Antero-medial thigh, 2 cun above the medial cranial pole of the patella. | Helps in tonifying and circulating blood | Needle perpendicularly 1.0–2.0 cun |
LR3 (Taichong) | Dorsum of foot, within the depression between first and second metatarsal bones. | Helps in regulating liver Qi and blood | Needle obliquely upward 0.5–1.0 cun |
Additional acupoints: Before surgery (first treatment session): LR14, ST25, EX-CA1, CV4, and CV12 will be used. After surgery (second to seventh treatment sessions): 4 acupoints selected from below will be used, PC6 is the first choice | |||
GB26 (Daimai) | Lateral abdomen, at the level of the umbilicus, below the free end of the 11th rib | Crossing point of the Gallbladder and the Dai meridians | Needle obliquely 0.5–1.0 cun |
GB34 (Yanglingquan) | Lateral leg, at the depression inferior and anterior to the head of the fibula | He (Sea) point of the Gallbladder meridian and Influential Point for the tendons | Needle obliquely upward 0.5–0.8 cun |
GB41 (Zulinqi) | Lateral-dorsal aspect of the foot, lateral side of the little toe’s extensor muscle tendon | Shu (Stream) point of the Gallbladder meridian and the meridian’s Confluence Point with the Dai meridians | Needle perpendicularly 0.5–0.8 cun |
HT3 (Shaohai) | Elbow, at the middle of the medial end of the transverse antecubital crease and the medial epicondyle of the humerus | He (Sea) point of the Heart meridian, helps in regulating heart | Needle perpendicularly 0.5–1.0 cun |
HT7 (Shenmen) | Palmar aspect of the wrist, ulnar end of the transverse crease | Shu (Stream) and Yuan (Source) points of the Heart meridian, helps in calming the Shen (spirit) | Needle perpendicularly 0.3–0.5 cun |
KI4 (Dazhong) | Medial foot, at the back of and below the medial malleolus, in depression in front of the Achilles tendon | Helps in gynecological disorders | Needle perpendicularly 0.5–1.0 cun |
KI6 (Zhaohai) | Medial foot, at the depression below the medial malleolus | Helps in gynecological disorders | Needle perpendicularly 0.5–0.8 cun |
LI11 (Quchi) | Elbow, at the middle of Chize and the lateral epicondyle of the humerus | Helps in abdominal pain | Needle perpendicularly 1.0–2.5 cun |
LR5 (Ligou) | Medial leg, 5 cun on top of the medial malleolus. | Luo (Connecting) point of the Liver meridian, helps in gynecological disorders | Needle transversely 0.5–0.8 cun |
LR14 (Qimen) | Thorax, on the mammillary line, in the six intercostal space under the mammilla | Front Collecting Point (Mu point) of the Liver meridian, helps in regulating liver Qi and blood | Needle transversely 0.5–1.0 cun |
LU7 (Lieque) | Antero-lateral forearm, in front of the styloid process of the radius, 1.5 cun away from the wrist crease | Confluence Point of the Ren meridian and the Lung meridian | Needle obliquely upward 0.2–0.3 cun |
PC6 (Neiguan) | Palmar aspect of the forearm, between the tendons, 2 cun away from the transverse crease of the wrist | Luo (Connecting) point of the Pericardium meridian, helps in gastric pain and calming the Shen | Needle perpendicularly 0.5–1.5 cun |
SP6 (Sanyinjiao) | Behind the medial tibia, 3 cun above the tip of the medial malleolus | Helps in gynecological disorders | Needle perpendicularly 0.5–1.0 cun |
SP14 (Fujie) | Abdomen, 4 cun away from the anterior midline, 1.3 cun below Daheng | Helps in peri-umbilical pain | Needle perpendicularly 1.0–1.5 cun |
SP15 (Daheng) | Abdomen, 4 cun away from the umbilicus | Helps in abdominal pain | Needle perpendicularly 1.0–1.5 cun |
SP16 (Fuai) | Abdomen, 4 cun away from the anterior midline, 3 cun above Daheng | Helps in abdominal pain | Needle perpendicularly 1.0–1.5 cun |
SP21 (Dabao) | Lateral chest, in 6th intercostal space, on mid-axillary line | Collateral meridian of Spleen, helps in total body pain | Needle obliquely backward 0.5–0.8 cun |
ST23 (Taiyi) | Abdomen, 2 cun above Tianshu | Helps in reducing irritability | Needle perpendicularly 1.0–1.5 cun |
ST25 (Tianshu) | Abdomen, 2 cun away from the navel | Front Collecting Point (Mu point) of the Large Intestine meridian, helps in circulating Qi | Needle perpendicularly 1.0–1.5 cun |
ST27 (Daju) | Abdomen, 2 cun below Tianshu | Helps in lower abdominal distention and pain | Needle perpendicularly 1.0–1.5 cun |
ST34 (Liangqiu) | Anterior thigh, 2 cun above the superior lateral corner of the patella | Xi (Cleft) point of the Stomach meridian, helps in acute stomachache | Needle perpendicularly 1.0–1.5 cun |
CV4 (Guanyuan) | Abdomen, 3 cun under the navel | Front Collecting Point (Mu point) of the Large Intestine meridian, helps in invigorates original Qi (Yuan Qi) | Needle perpendicularly 0.5–1.0 cun |
CV12 (Zhongwan) | Abdomen, 4 cun above the navel | Front Collecting Point (Mu point) of the Stomach meridian, Master Point of the Fu organs, helps in regulating Qi | Needle perpendicularly 0.5–1.0 cun |
EX-CA1 (Zigong) | Abdomen, at the level of 4 cun under the navel and 3 cun away from the midline | Helps in gynecological disorders | Needle perpendicularly 0.8–1.2 cun |