Reference; https://mbp-japan.com/tokyo/seino-1987/column/5101351/
Modified and translated by CFJA
Now, do you see the difference between Japanese and Chinese acupuncture techniques for placing the needle on the skin and inserting it?
Cheng Dan’an coined the term ‘shin-shin 進針’ for the action of needle insertion into one’s body. In Japan, it is called ‘shi-nyu 刺入’. Also, he coined ‘nen-un 捻運’ for the manipulation after needle insertion. In Japan, it is called ‘un-shin 運鍼’. It seems that Cheng Dan’an intentionally created the terms that are similar but different from Japanese terms.
Chen Dan’an separated the manipulation method after needle insertion into 4 different types:
- Kofun shinpo 興奮針法
- Yokusei shinpo 抑制針法
- Hansha shinpo反射針法
- Yudo shinpo 誘導針法
1. Kofun shinpo 興奮針法
Use 28 or 30-gauge 号 (Jp. go) needle, apply gentle stimulation, nen-un 捻運 for a few or 30 seconds and remove the needle when the patient feels mild sancho 酸脹.
(Dr. Seino’s commentary)
This is China’s representative acupuncture technique. Using thick 0.32 – 0.36 mm needles, this involves administering a gentle stimulation through nenun 捻運 (unshin 運針) until the patient feels sancho 酸脹.
Sancho 酸脹 is the vibrating sensation from acupuncture. In China, this vibrating sensation from acupuncture therapy is called de qi 得気 (Jp. tokki). Chinese believe that acupuncture therapy gives no effect without the sensation of de qi.
2. Yokusei shinpo 抑制針法
Use 26 or 28-gauge 号 (Jp. go) needle, apply strong stimulation for a long time through strong nenun 捻運 for 1-2 mins, and retain the needle from 5 minutes to 20 – 30 minutes.
(Dr. Seino’s commentary)
Use 0.36 – 0.38 mm needles, much thicker than needles used for kofun shinpo 興奮針法, and induce a strong stimulation through nenun 捻運 (unshin 運針). No needle manipulation technique is specified. Many practitioners are quickly repeating the process of inserting and removing the needle, and afterwards, retains the inserted needle. This method, implemented by Cheng Dan’an, is called ryushin 留針. After applying strong stimulation, removing the needle too quickly will allow pain or discomfort to remain. It seems that he chose this technique after finding out that needle retention helps to ease pain or discomfort. Note that the “method of retaining the needle 留針する方法” can look the same as the “retention acupuncture method 置鍼法”, a technique that began to be practiced in Japan, but the original use or objective is different. Retention acupuncture 置鍼 is a method that involves needle retention. It was created for the purpose of getting a larger effect from thin needles. Currently, the retention acupuncture method 置鍼法 is practiced everywhere in the world. Although “retention acupuncture method 置鍼法” and the “method of retaining the needle 留針する方法” seems similar at a glance, because they are different, one must choose the technique by knowing the situation, or else it would be ineffective.
3. Hansha shinpo 反射針法
1) If kofun 興奮 (tonifying)
To strengthen the function/effect, use 28 or 30-gauge 号 (Jp. go) needle, and apply moderate stimulation for a short time. Nenun 捻運 should not be light but not heavy, not fast but not slow, and maintain equal teisou 提挿.
(Dr. Seino’s commentary)
Teisou 提挿 is a manipulation that involves inserting the needle deep into the body and bringing it to the original level. Cheng Dan’an was mainly using this technique. Although this is similar to jyakutaku jyutsu 雀啄術 in Japan, they are different. In Japan, they have specified the depth of inserting and pulling the needle. In contrast, Cheng Dan’an did not specify any depth because his main objective was to induce a vibrating sensation.
2) If yokusei 抑制 (reducing)
Use 28-gauge 号 (Jp. go) needle when reducing the kofun 興奮 effect and give moderate stimulation for a slightly long time.
(Dr. Seino’s commentary)
Cheng Dan’an has divided a pathological condition into two types: kofun 興奮 and yokusei 抑制. To kofun 興奮, use a thinner needle (it’s much thicker than the needles in Japan but…) to stimulate for a short time; To yokusei 抑制, use a thicker needle to stimulate for a long time.
4. Yudo shinpo 誘導針法
Use 26 or 28-gauge 号 (Jp. go) needle, and give strong stimulation for a long time, and also use the “method of retaining the needle 留針する方法” for 1-2 minutes.
(Dr. Seino’s commentary)
This method uses thick 0.36 – 0.38mm needles to induce strong stimulation for a long time, and retain 1 – 2 needles until the aftereffect from the strong stimulation subsides. Most likely, Japanese patients would not be able to bear the pain and never come back. Mao Zedong 毛沢東 stated that needle is painful, and told the civilians to bear the pain because acupuncture is suppose to be very painful. Civilians in China continued to receive TCM acupuncture therapy without complaining as Mao Zedong’s words were absolute.
Reference:
Measurement comparison of Chinese and Japanese needles
42号 (Jp. go; Chinese unit) 0番 (Jp. ban; Japanese unit) 0.10㎜
40号02番0.12㎜
39号 01番0.14㎜
38号 1番0.16㎜
37号2番0.18㎜
36号 3番0.20㎜
35号 4番0.22㎜
34号5番0.24㎜
33号 6番0.26㎜
32号 7番0.28㎜
31号8番0.30㎜
30号 9番0.32㎜
29号10番0.34㎜
28号11番0.36㎜
27号12番 0.38㎜
26号13番0.40㎜
The format for Japanese and Chinese needle length and thickness are different. In Japan, needle thickness is represented as 1番, 2番, 3 番, etc. As the number increases, thickness increases. In China, it is represented as 40号, 39号, 38号, etc. As the number decreases, thickness increases. It is not clear as to why this is formatted as such – Dr. Seino suspects that this came from the Chinese not wanting to have the same terminology as the Japanese.
Cheng Dan’an introduced the needle technique that uses 26 – 30号 needles. In Japan, 1 – 3番 needles are mainly used, which is 36 – 38号 in Chinese unit. Compared to 0.32 – 0.40 mm in China, it is 0.16 – 0.20 mm in Japan. It might be hard to imagine just by looking at the numbers. However, when holding up the needle and flicking the needle body sideways with the fingers, Japanese needles will swing like a pendulum for a while, whereas Chinese needles will not move as such. Just from an appearance, the difference in thickness is apparent – the Chinese needle is almost as thick as the sewing needle.
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