Table 2.
Fixed acupuncture protocol
| Point | Stimulation | Location | Muscle | Muscle innervation | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Set 1 | |||||
| Zhongji (CV3) | EA | 4 cun caudal to the umbilicus | Fibrous tissue, linea alba | L1 | Puncture perpendicularly 0.5–1.0 cun |
| Qihai (CV6) | EA | 1.5 cun caudal to the umbilicus | Fibrous tissue, linea alba | Th11 | Puncture perpendicularly 0.8–1.2 cun |
| Guilai (bilateral) (ST29) | EA | 1 cun cranial to the pubic bone and 2 cun lateral to the midline | M. rectus abdominis | Th6–12 | Puncture perpendicularly 0.7–1.2 cun |
| Sanyinjiao (bilateral) (SP6) | EA | 3 cun proximal to the medial malleolus | M. flexor digitorum longus, tibialis posterior | L4–5, S1–2 | Puncture perpendicularly 0.5–1.0 cun |
| Yinlingquan (bilateral) (SP9) | EA | Below the medial tibia chondyle | M. gastrocnemius | S1–2 | Puncture perpendicularly 0.5–1.0 cun |
| Hegu (bilateral) (LI4) | De-qi 4 times | On the highest point at the musculi interosseus dorsalis | M. interosseus dorsalis I, lumbricalis II, adductor pollicis | C8, Th1 | Puncture perpendicularly 0.5–1.0 cun |
| Baihui (GV20) | De-qi 4 times | On the top of the head | Aponeurosis epicranii | C2–3,N trigeminus | Puncture subcutaneously 0.3–0.5 cun |
| Set 2 | |||||
| Tianshu (bilateral) (ST25) | EA | 2 cun lateral to the midline at the level of the umbilicus | M. rectus abdominis | Th6–12 | Puncture perpendicularly 0.7–1.2 cun |
| Guilai (bilateral) (ST29) | EA | 1 cun cranial to the pubic bone and 2 cun lateral to the midline | M. rectus abdominis | Th6–12 | Puncture perpendicularly 0.7–1.2 cun |
| Zhongji (CV3) | A | 4 cun caudal to the umbilicus | Fibrous tissue, linea alba | L1 | Puncture perpendicularly 0.5–1.0 cun |
| Qihai (CV6) | A | 1.5 cun caudal to the umbilicus | Fibrous tissue, linea alba | Th11 | Puncture perpendicularly 0.8–1.2 cun |
| Sanyinjiao (bilateral) (SP6) | EA | 3 cun proximal to the medial malleolus | M. flexor digitorum longus, tibialis posterior | L4–5, S1–2 | Puncture perpendicularly 0.8–1.2 cun |
| Taichong (bilateral) (LR3) | EA | Between metatarsal I and II, just distal to the caput | M. interosseus dorsalis I | S2–3 | Puncture perpendicularly 0.3–0.5 cun |
| Neiguan (bilateral) (PC6) | De-qi 4 times | 2 cun proximal to the processus styloideus radii, between the tendons of the palmaris longus and the flexor carpi radialis | M. flexor digitorum superficialis | C8, Th1 | Puncture perpendicularly 0.5–0.8 cun |
| Baihui (GV20) | De-qi 4 times | On the top of the head | Aponeurosis epicranii | C2–3,N trigeminus | Puncture subcutaneously 0.3–0.5 cun |
The two sets will be alternated for every other treatment
Abbreviations: A acupuncture, C cervical vertebra, CV conception vessel, EA electroacupuncture, GV governor vessel, L lumbar vertebra, LI large intestine, LR liver, PC pericardium, S sacral vertebra, SP spleen, ST stomach, Th thoracic vertebra