Had my first acupuncture session today-- Questions..! / Advice needed*

[Guest guest]

One more correction** I realize SP 10 is indeed on top of the knee, it was

just a little confusing cos of the picture I found in yin yang house, but

here's its description..

" With knee flexed, 2 cun above the superior medial border of the patella on

the bulge of the medial portion of quadriceps femoris (vastus medialis). "

-- so that means in the center part above the knee right?

 

Here's the picture I found, for your reference:

http://www.yinyanghouse.com/acupoints/sp10.html (just a little confusing at

first!...;-p)

 

 

On 10/15/05, wrote:

>

> oops, I meant to say LI (Large Intestines) 4 Meeting Valley, not " LV " ,

> sorry!

>

> On 10/15/05, JH wrote:

> >

> > Hi, I'm new to the mailing list and I'd like to ask some questions about

> > acupuncture.

> >

> > So, I just had my first acupuncture session today, and the area on the

> > front of my left shin started to have this numb/hurting sensation after the

> > treatment.

> > I'm thinking this may be related to the few points that around the leg

> > that my acupuncturist did for me. The ones on the feet are:

> > UB 40 Command Center

> > SP 10 Ocean of Blood

> > SP 6 Three Yin Interchange

> > First, I'm a little concerned because for the pain/numb sensation that I

> > have on the front part of my left shin, that was where I also noticed that

> > there was a drop of blood on the spot on top of my knee for one of the

> > points acupuncture points. So the one with that drop of blood noticed was

> > the leg with the pain sensation now. It is kinda like muscle ache, like what

> > you feel when you pulled a muscle, not strong pain, just sore and numb, you

> > know? Is this normal will it go away?

> >

> >

> > Second, I also noticed that he told me that one on top of the knee is

> > supposed to be SP 10 Ocean of Blood, but shouldn't that be near the side of

> > the knee.. not directly in front with one inch above knee cap, shouldn't it?

> > ***How much does these acupuncture point should vary from the standard

> > diagrams and versus different people?

> >

> > Third, this also applies for the point, LV 4-- Meeting Valley that he

> > did for me. I noticed that the two spots on my left and right is not really

> > at the same spot-- there is like half an inch to almost an inch difference

> > for each one on my hand, does that work still? Is there like an approximate

> > area of like half to an inch diameter for all acupuncture points that still

> > work? And shouldn't it be symmetrical for both sides of the body?

> >

> > Fourth, and lastly, is it normal to still have a small red dot on the

> > spot that was acupunctured, how big should it be, and how long should it be

> > for it to go away normally?

> >

> >

> > Any advice would help alleviate my concerns... Thank you!!!

> >

> > -Jan

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

> So, I just had my first acupuncture session today, and the area on the

> front

> of my left shin started to have this numb/hurting sensation after the

> treatment.

 

If it continues, contact your acupuncturist. This isn't a routine reaction

to

acupuncture, but can happen. It's possible that the needle hit a nerve,

but even if that's the case, this feeling should go away soon.

 

> So the one with that drop of blood noticed was

> the leg with the pain sensation now.

 

A drop of blood is very common, and is no big deal. Pain is less common,

and, as I said, if it continues, you should contact your acupuncturist.

 

> I noticed that the two spots on my left and right is not really at

> the same spot-- there is like half an inch to almost an inch difference

> for

> each one on my hand, does that work still?

 

Yes, it will still work, and it may have been intentional. LI4, (I saw that

you corrected the point name in a later email), covers a wide area, and

the location can be intentionally moved throughout that area depending

on what you're trying to treat.

 

Acupuncture points aren't always used exactly the same on each side of

the body, (assuming that we're talking about bilateral points. <g>)

It's common to use one point on one side of the body, and then rather

than used it's matched point on the other side of the body, use a different

point on the other side of the body. The points can work well with one

another this way, and sometimes, it just gives you the opportunity to

add additional points without using an excess of needles.

 

Acupuncture points are also located based on an individual's body,

rather than an exact measurement that you could use use a tape measure

to find. My arms are likely shorter than yours, for example, and so the

location needs to be adjusted based on my size vs. your size. We're

also not built exactly the same way on each side of our own bodies,

so the location needs to be adjusted accordingly.

 

Another factor in moving a point location a little bit is what might

be in that area. If I locate a point where there is a vein, for example,

I don't want to needle right into the vein. If I can move the

vein, go under it, etc., that location can still work, but sometimes,

it's best to just move the point location a little bit, to avoid

hitting something like a vein, tendon, a scar, etc.

 

> Fourth, and lastly, is it normal to still have a small red dot on the spot

> that was acupunctured, how big should it be, and how long should it be

> for

> it to go away normally?

 

Yes, it's normal to have a small red dot where the needle was inserted.

It should be tiny. We all heal at different rates, but I would expect the

dot to be gone in a day or 2.

 

If you think that you might have more of a reaction than normal, you

might ask your acupuncturist what type of needles were used.

Some needles have a coating, and while they're usually more

comfortable going in, some people do react to the coating. It that

might be what happened, your acupuncturist can simply use

non-coated needles for you. IMO, the high quality non-coated

needles are as painless as the coated needles. My current favorite

brand of needles is non-coated.

 

I hope that helps.

Jeri