10.29.08
Posted in Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Manipulation Methods at 10:13 am by Dr. Pharm Tao
These points are to be noticed before and during acupuncture treatments:
1. Do not give acupuncture treatment to patients who are hungry, or overeaten, or drunk, or nervous, or over-fatigued. For patients in weak conditions, the manipulation and stimulation of needles should not be too strong, and a supine posture of the patient is recommended.
2. Do not give acupuncture treatments at acupuncture points (acupoints) on the abdomen and lumbosacral areas for pregnant women, or the points that may cause contraction of the uterus, such as Hegu (LI 4), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Kunlun (BL 60) and Zhiyin (BL 67). Generally, acupuncture is not recommended for pregnant women or women in the period of menstruation.
3. Acupoints on the vertex of infants should not be needled when the fontanel is not closed. Retention of needles is forbidden in infants since they are unable to cooperate. Usually acupressure or massage (Tui Na) methods are more recommended for infants.
4. Do not use acupuncture on patients with a tendency of spontaneous bleeding or with the disturbance of blood coagulation, or with hemorrhagic tendencies.
5. Do not use acupuncture on the areas with infection, ulcer, scars, or tumors.
6. To avoid an accident, the practitioner should be cautious on the angle, direction and depth of needling at the points located around the eyes, the neck, the chest, the back, the hypochondriac area, and areas that are close to the vital organs or large blood vessels.
Permalink
10.28.08
Posted in Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Manipulation Methods at 11:35 am by Dr. Pharm Tao
Management of Possible Side Effects or Accidents in Acupuncture – Hematoma (Xue Zhong)
Cause:
This may result from the damage of the blood vessels during the insertion of the needle, or from the lack of pressing of the point after withdrawing the needle.
Manifestation:
Local swelling, distension and pain caused by subcutaneous hemorrhage after the withdrawal of the needle. The skin of the local needled area is blue and purplish.
Management:
Usually, a mild hematoma may disappear by itself. If the local swelling, distension and pain are serious, press it or apply cold pads/compression locally to stop bleeding. After the bleeding completely stopped, apply heat pads/hot compression to promote resolution of the blood stasis.
Prevention:
Avoid damaging the blood vessels. Press the acupuncture point (acupoints) with sterilized cotton balls as soon as the needle is withdrawn.
Management of Possible Side Effects or Accidents in Acupuncture – Pneumothorax (Qi Xiong)
Cause:
This may result from deep insertion of the needle at the acupoints on the supraclavicular fossa, chest, back, axilla, and the hypochondriac areas. Deep insertions at these areas may damage the lung and pleura and cause pneumothorax.
Manifestation:
Sudden chest distress, pectoralgia, and shortness of breath can be observed. In severe cases, dyspnea, cyanosis of the lips and nails, sweating, and the drop of blood pressure may occur. Physical examination manifestations include hyperresonance in percussing the chest, attenuation or disappearance of vesicular respiration, or shift of the trachea to the healthy side. The degree of pneumothorax can be determined by X-ray examinations.
Management:
In a mild situation, let the patient rest in a half-lying position and take some antitussives and antiseptics. Treat the patient with careful inspections. For severe cases, emergent rescue measures should be taken.
Prevention:
Be very careful and avoid deep insertions at the supraclavicular fossa, chest, back, axilla, and the hypochondriac areas.
Permalink
10.27.08
Posted in Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Manipulation Methods at 10:38 am by Dr. Pharm Tao
Cause:
Broken needles can be caused by the poor quality of the needle or eroded base of the needle, too strong muscle spasm, or a sudden movement of the patient when the needle is in the body, or withdrawal of a stuck needle.
Manifestations:
The needle body is broken during manipulation and the broken part is below the skin surface or a little bit out of the skin surface.
Management:
Keep the patient calm to prevent the broken needle from going deeper into the body. If the broken part protrudes from the skin, remove it with forceps.
If the broken part is at the same level of the skin, press the tissue around the site until the broken end is exposed. Next, remove it with forceps.
If the broken part is completely sunken into the skin, surgery should be performed, usually with the help of x-ray to find out the exact location of the broken needle.
Prevention:
Before operating acupuncture, carefully inspect the quality of the needles. Discard the needles that are not in good quality. The needle body should not be inserted into the body completely, while a little part should be exposed outside the skin. After the needle insertion, if it is bent, it should be withdrawn immediately. Never insert a needle too forcefully.
Permalink
« Previous entries Next Page » Next Page »
