Influenza is caused by a virus that attacks mainly the upper respiratory tract -- the nose, throat and bronchi and rarely also the lungs. The infection usually lasts for about a week. It is characterized by sudden onset of high fever, myalgia, headache and severe malaise, non-productive cough, sore throat and rhinitis. In TCM, Influenza is subdivided into wind-cold syndrome and wind-heat syndrome, which is treated by herbs for dispersing pathogenic wind from the superficies and ventilating the lungs.

Treatment
1. Dazhui (DU14)
The patient lays down on his side with legs flexed and both hands held occiput, bending neck and upper back forward as much as possible. Practitioner inserts a needle into Dazhui (DU 14) at depth of 1.5-2.0 cm and manipulates the needle with reducing method; while giving finger pressing along the Du meridian from Dazhui (DU14) to coccyx with another hand, till the patient has cool feeling in lumbar and sacral regions, which usually take 5 to 10 minutes and only once for each case.

2. Hegu (LI4)
Analgin is employed to be injected into Hegu (LI4) on both sides, 0.1-0.3 ml on each point for 1-2 times.

3. Fengchi (GB20)
The patient takes a sitting posture with head bending forward, and is treated with needles inserted into Fengchi (GB20) heading to tip of the nose at depth of 0.5 cun and then warming needle for 10-15 minutes, which is repeated for 2-3 times a day.

4. Zusanli ( ST36)
A needle is applied to Zusanli (ST36) on either side with reinforcing method and is withdrew after the needling sensation reaches to the dorsum of the foot, which is used only for once for prevention of the disease.

Note
The main purpose of acupuncture therapy is to relieve the symptoms of influenza such as fever and nasal obstruction. Dazhui (DU14), on which both needling and moxibustion can be applied, is key point for the condition.