The effectiveness of using acupuncture to induce abortion is debated. Although there are many historical accounts of acupuncture being used to induce abortion, there is little evidence from medical literature that stimulation of the forbidden pregnancy points during pregnancy results in abortion. It is widely believed by medical experts that inducing abortion with acupuncture is not effective.[492]
1. Use only properly sterilized needles. Needles may be purchased with tubes which help guide the needle for insertion.
2. Locate points.
3. Wash hands.
4. Carefully clean skin with alcohol.
5. Do not allow the needle to touch anything prior to insertion. 6. Carefully insert the needles at the points.
7. Rotate the needle to and fro to stimulate the acupuncture point.
8. If using electrical stimulation, attach electrodes to needles.
9. If using moxa (specially prepared balls of mugwort burned on the ends of acupuncture needles) place a protective shield of aluminum foil under and around the needle to protect the skin from loose and falling ash. If the heat becomes uncomfortable, remove moxa. If moxa is used incorrectly, redness or a heat blister may appear on the skin.
10. Remove needles by carefully grasping the handle and pulling in the direction the needle was inserted, usually perpendicular to the skin. Gloves may be worn to help protect from disease transfer.
11. Using a cotton ball dipped in alcohol, each point may be dabbed immediately after removal of the needle to help prevent infection.
12. Carefully dispose of needles in a protective container or sterilize for future use.
BL54 - Zhi Bian – Gives strength to the lumbar region.
Location: On the buttock, three cun lateral to the midline, at the level of the fourth sacral foramen.
Moxa: 3 cones.
Needling depth: 1.5 – 2 cun.
Method: Perpendicular.
BL67 - Zhi Yin - Used to address difficult labor and retention of placenta.
Location: 0.1 cun posterior to the corner of the nail on the lateral side of the little toe on both feet.
Moxa: 3 cones.
Needling Depth: 1 fen.
Method: Perpendicular.
GB21 - Jian Jing - Promotes oxytocin. Expels retained placenta.
Location: Halfway between the spine at C7 and the outer edge of the shoulder.
Moxa: 3-5 cones.
Needling Depth: 3 - 5 fen.
Method: Perpendicular
GB41 - Zu Lin Qi - Used for breast pain and swelling, irregular menses.
Location: On the top of the foot, in the depression between the fourth and fifth metatarsals on both feet.
Moxa: 3 cones.
Needling depth: 3 fen.
Method: Perpendicular
GV1 - Chang Qiang - Used to regulate the menstrual periods.
Location: Midway between the anus and the tip of the coccyx.
Moxa: 3 cones.
Needling depth: 1 fen.
Method: Perpendicular
Jueyun - Terminating Pregnancy
Point - Used to interrupt pregnancy and induce labor.
Location: 2 cun and 3 fen below the umbilicus.
Moxa: 7 cones.
Needling depth: 2 – 5 fen.
Method: perpendicular.
KI1 - Yong Quan – Moves excess qi downward.
Location: One third of the way between the webs of the toes and the heel of the foot, between the second and third metatarsal bones.
Moxa: 3 cones.
Needling depth: 3 - 5 fen.
Method: Perpendicular
KI3 - Tai Xi - Used for irregular menses.
Location: At the midpoint between the prominence of the medial malleolus and Achilles’ tendon on both ankles.
Moxa: 3 cones.
Needling depth: 3 – 5 fen.
Method: Perpendicular
KI6 – Zhanohai - Used for amenorrhea and uterine prolapse.
Location: One cun below the medial malleolus at the junction of the red and white skin.
Moxa: 3 cones.
Needling depth: 3 - 5 fen.
Method: Perpendicular
LI4 - He Gu - Used for inducing labor, amenorrhea, and retention of a dead fetus.
Location: At the summit of the hill formed when the thumb and index finger are pressed together.
Moxa: 3 cones.
Needling Depth: 3 - 8 fen.
Method: Perpendicular
LR3 – Tai Chong – Used to regulate menstruation.
Location: Top of the foot, 2 cun towards the body from the webbing between the big toe and second toe.
Moxa: 3 – 7 cones.
Needling Depth: 5 fen – 1 cun.
Method: Perpendicular
SP1 - Yin Bai - Used in combination with SP 6 for irregular menstruation.
Location: On the medial side of the big toe, .01 cun from the corner of the nail bed.
Moxa: 3 cones Needling depth: 1 fen.
Method: Perpendicular
SP2 - Da Du – Used for constipation and abdominal distention.
Location: On the medial big toe, in the depression distal to the metatarsophalangeal joint, at dorsal plantar junction.
Moxa: 3 cones.
Needling depth: 2 fen.
Method: Perpendicular
SP4 - Gong Sun - Used for irregular menstruation, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and endometriosis.
Location: On the medial foot, in the depression distal to the base of the first metatarsal bone.
Moxa: 3 cones.
Needling depth: 4 - 8 fen.
Method: Perpendicular
SP6 - San Yin Jiao - Used for amenorrhea, retained placenta, and expelling a dead fetus.
Location: On the medial leg, 3 cun superior to the medial malleolus, on the posterior border of the tibia.
Moxa: 3 cones.
Needling Depth: 1 - 3 fen.
Method: Perpendicular
SP9 - Yin Ling Quan – Used for irregular menstruation.
Location: Inside of the leg in the depression at the meeting of the posterior tibia and the gastocnemius muscle on both legs.
Moxa: 3 cones.
Needling depth: 5 - 8 fen.
Method: Perpendicular
ST36 - Zu San Li – Nourishes blood circulation and used for reproductive system disorder - a special command point for the abdomen.
Location: With the knee flexed, 3 cun below the patella and one cun lateral to the tibia’s anterior crest.
Moxa: 3 cones.
Needling depth: 1.5 cun.
Method: Perpendicular.
Yoga
Give the order positively and firmly, telling the organ just what you wish it to perform, repeating the command sharply several times. A tapping or mild slapping of the part, or the part of the body over the affected part, will act to attract the attention of the cell group just as does the tapping of a man on the shoulder cause him to stop, turn around and listen to what you have to say…Irregular menstruation may be regulated, and normal habits acquired in just a few months by marking the proper date on the calendar and then each day giving oneself a gentle treatment along the lines, above mentioned, telling the cell groups controlling the function that it is now so many days before the expected time and that you wish them to get ready and do their work, and that when the time arrives everything will be normal. As you near the time, call the [cell] group’s attention that the time is growing shorter and that it must attend to its business. Do not give the commands in a trifling manner but as if you really mean them – and you must mean them – and they will be obeyed. We have seen many cases of irregular menstruation relieved in this way in from one to three months. This may sound ridiculous to you, but all we can say is try it for yourself.
492
Stephen Birch, “The Problem of Acupoint Contraindications in Pregnancy,”