Bloodletting puncture for emergency cases

Bloodletting puncture is mainly used to shed a few drops of blood from the superficial vessels in a specific area along the channel involved in a disease. The puncture is done with a three-edged needle to promote the blood flow. Medical acupuncturists have employed this method to treat heat stroke, bacterial infection of the lower extremities, angioneurotic headache and amenorrhea.

Heatstroke: A 40-year-old male patient came for treatment in July 2007. He had fainted while working in the field. Diagnosis showed that his breath was weak, and he didn’t respond to the attempts to revive him. His BP was 3/5 Kpa; heart beat was 50 times/minute, and pulse was weak. It was diagnosed as a case of heat stroke. The regimen was to cause resuscitation and replenish the Spleen and Qi. Three-edged needle was used to prick specific points. The patient was soon resuscitated.

Following that, a three-cun-long filiform needle was used on specific points with reinforcing method to replenish the acquired substance. Note: The Du meridian channel originates from Changquan and travels along the spine upward to the top of the head, playing the role of monitoring Yang-Qi of the body.

While puncturing Du meridian point is aimed at yielding strong stimulation, invigorating the transmitting function of the nervous system, the bloodletting puncture at Shixuan is for removing pathogenic heat and causing mental resuscitation.  

Bacterial Infection of Lower Extremities: An 18-year-old male patient came for treatment on July 19, 2003, with a complaint that three days back he was bitten by a poisonous insect on his left lower limb. Examination showed that 10 cm below popliteal fossa was a red-swelling mass, which pained sometimes. His tongue was coated with white fur and his pulse was rapid. The diagnosis established it as a case of poisoning. So, one bloodletting puncture was done in the centre of the wound, and four punctures around the wound. The patient felt relieved. This treatment was repeated after 18 hours.

Note: The spread of poison results in damage to muscles, which in turn blocks the flow of blood, causing local swelling. Bloodletting puncture may act to resolve the swelling and edema of the tissue. Angioneurotic Headache: A 27-year-old female patient came for treatment on July 7, 1994. She said she had a severe headache. The symptom was accompanied by insomnia, bitter mouth, and scanty dark urine. It was identified as a case of flaming up of the liver-fire, and a liver-qi. So, specific points were punctured to remove pathogenic fire and stop pain.  To consolidate therapeutic effects, bloodletting treatment was also given, and three days later, the patient recovered.

Note: The patient’s mental activity was spoiled. In such cases, the above points are punctured by bloodletting of few drops to invigorate the central nervous system. (This study was done by HaoShu- Jiang, Laizhou Municipal Health Centre for Women and Children, Shandong Province, China) The author is Head of the Department of Acupuncture, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi