Precautions and Contraindications within Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine

Precautions and Contraindications within Acupuncture and Chinese Medicineprecautions and contraindications within acupuncture and chinese medicineAcupuncture contraindications Acupuncture precautions Needling Precautions Contraindications for acupuncture Acupuncture safety Needling safetyacupuncture contraindications acupuncture precautions needling precautions contraindications for acupuncture acupuncture safety needling safety

Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine have long histories of safe and effective usage. Complications from either acupuncture or properly prescribed Chinese herbal medicine are rare and side effects, if any, are generally self-limited.

There are a number of guidelines, however, which govern the use of particular acupuncture points, individual herbs and/or herbal formulas. Some of the more common precautions and contraindications are listed below. It is important to note, however, that this list is in no way complete and only serves as a general guidepost. Further, even for herbs and/or points that are contraindicated for a certain situation or usage they may still be used in most cases with the correct reasoning by a well trained practitioner.

No Deep Needle

No Deep Needling - these acupuncture points require careful needling depth consideration due to their location.

Precaution Type: NDN(28 points)

No Perpendicular Needle

No Perpendicular Needling - proper needle angles and insertion techniques should be used at these points.

Precaution Type: NPN(13 points)

  • CV 2 - Curved Bone
    Chinese: Qugu (曲骨)
    Caution: No Deep Needling in Pregnancy, No Perpendicular Needling in Advanced Pregnancy
  • CV 3 - Central Pole
    Chinese: Zhong ji (中極)
    Caution: No Deep Needling in Pregnancy, No Perpendicular Needling in Advanced Pregnancy
  • CV 4 - Origin Pass
    Chinese: Guan Yuan (關元)
    Caution: No Deep Needling in Pregnancy, No Perpendicular Needling in Advanced Pregnancy
  • CV 5 - Stone Gate
    Chinese: Shi Men (石門)
    Caution: No Deep Needling in Pregnancy, No Perpendicular Needling in Advanced Pregnancy
  • CV 6 - Sea of Qi
    Chinese: Qi Hai (氣海)
    Caution: No Deep Needling in Pregnancy, No Perpendicular Needling in Advanced Pregnancy
  • CV 7 - Yin Intersection
    Chinese: Yin Jiao (陰交)
    Caution: No Deep Needling in Pregnancy, No Perpendicular Needling in Advanced Pregnancy
  • CV 9 - Water Divide
    Chinese: Shui Fen (水分)
    Caution: No Perpendicular Needling in Pregnancy.
  • CV 10 - Lower Venter
    Chinese: Xia Wan (下脘)
    Caution: No Perpendicular Needling in Pregnancy.
  • CV 11 - Interior Strengthening
    Chinese: Jian Li (建里)
    Caution: No Perpendicular Needling in Pregnancy.
  • CV 12 - Central Venter
    Chinese: Zhong Wan (中脘)
    Caution: No Perpendicular Needling in Pregnancy.
  • CV 13 - Upper Venter
    Chinese: Shang Wan (上脘)
    Caution: No Perpendicular Needling in Pregnancy.
  • CV 14 - Great Tower Gate
    Chinese: Ju Que (巨闕)
    Caution: No Perpendicular Needling in Pregnancy.
  • CV 15 - Turtledove Tail
    Chinese: Jiu Wei (鳩尾)
    Caution: No Perpendicular Needling in Pregnancy.

Avoid Artery

Avoid Artery - these points require awareness of the underlying vascular structure to avoid bleeding and/or bruising

Precaution Type: AA(10 points)

Pregnancy

Avoid During Prenancy - these points should be avoided or used with extreme caution in pregnant patients.

Precaution Type: PG(7 points)

No Moxa

No Moxa - moxa should be avoided on these points for anatomical reasons and/or clinical effects of the area.

Precaution Type: MX(37 points)

General

General Precautions - these points have their own sets of precautions.

Precaution Type: X(37 points)