(1) Four-Point Around the Umbilicus

Point: Four points around the umbilicus (located one cun lateral, left and right respectively to the umbilicus).

Technique: Use a No.28 or No.30 needle, 1.5 cun long. Puncture the four points in an order of upper, lower, left and right, the needle being inserted 0.5 to 1 cun deep in an adult, and 0.3 to 0.5 cun deep in children. For diarrhea due to deficient cold, insert the needle slowly and rotate for half a minute; and for diarrhea due to excess heat, puncture the points quickly and rotate the needle for 10 seconds, with no retention.

(2) Puncturing the Buttock with Deep Insertion

Point: Sensitive point on the buttock (located on the point three finger-widths below the midpoint between the superior anterior and

superior posterior iliac spine, approximately on the upper border of

piriformis).

Technique: The patient should be in a lateral position with the knees flexed. The practitioner presses the skin to find the tenderest point (there are sensitive points on each side, but more on the left side). After locating the point, insert a 3- or 3.5-cun needle into the point swiftly and straight to the bone membrane. Then lift the needle   slightly away from the bone membrane and manipulate it with large amplitude for one or two minutes. Retain the needle for 20 minutes   while lifting, thrusting and rotating it three times.

(3) Puncturing Tender Points

Points: The points are located 5 cun directly below Yinlingquan (SP9) and 1 cun posterior to the tibia, which will produce a different  sensation or pain when pressed.

Technique: Insert a l.5- or 2-cun needle straight into the point.   Reducing technique is used for excess syndrome with acute onset; and reinforcing is used for deficient syndrome. The treatment is given once a day, retaining the needle for 30 minutes and manipulating the needle once every 10 minutes.

(4) Shallow Puncturing of the Points on the Four Limbs

Points: Taibai (SP3), Taixi (KI3), Quchi (LI 11), Zusanli (ST 36),  Yinlingquan (SP9) and Quze (PC3).

Technique: Insert a one-cun needle straight into the points, 0.2 cun deep on Taixi (KI3), Yinlingquan (SP9), Quze (PC3) and 0.6 cun deep on Quchi (LI 11) and Zusanli (ST 36), retaining and rotating it for two minutes. This method is used for diarrhea due to summer heat-damp.