Overview
Cervical fasciitis is a disease which attacks the neck and shoulder. Clinically, it is mainly manifested as pain on the neck and shoulder, limitation of activity, or numbness on the skin. In TCM, it is included in "arthralgia-syndrome". It is caused by attacking of wind, cold, damp and heat pathogens, or caused by sprain of the neck and shoulder, or caused by parasitic infection. It is mainly treated by activating the blood circulation, dredging the meridians and alleviating pain.

Treatment
1. Bingfeng (SI 12)
Ask the patient to sit in flexion with slightly bending head. The point is in the centre of the suprascapular fossa, when the arm is lifted, it is at the site of the introcession. After routine sterilization, puncture perpendicularly 0.3-0.5 cun with a 1.5 cun filiform needle until getting arrival of qi. Stimulation is done strongly and continuously, and the needling sensation should be conducted to the neck and shoulder. Then withdraw the needle, a piece of plaster that has the function of alleviating affection by pathogenic dampness and pain is applied. Puncture Jianyu LI15 1.2 cun, tonification method is applied. The needle is retained for 20 minutes. Puncture Dazhu BL11 perpendicularly 0.5 cun, reduction method is applied. The treatment is applied once every other day, 10 days for one course, and 10 days' interval between every two courses.

2. Ashi Point
Ashi points on the neck and shoulder are selected. After routine sterilization, a 1.5 cun filiform needle is inserted in perpendicularly and quickly to the subcutaneous fat layer. Thrust the needle downward 0.2 cun with a 45°angle, then turn to the 15°angle, or insert the needle close to the skin until getting arrival of qi, and then the needle is retained for 30 minutes. For those having acute or severe conditions, the treatment is applied twice every day; for those having mild conditions, the treatment is applied once every day. 9 days for one course, 3-5 days interval between two courses.

Note
Acupuncture therapy could improve symptoms and alleviating pain for cervical fasciitis. Getting good needling sensation is critical.