[Analysis on mechanism of acupuncture with three needles at Hegu (LI 4) and its clinical application]

Inverted horse acupuncture (acupuncture with three needles) at Hegu (LI 4) is different from triple needling, a traditional needling method. Based on DONG's warming yang and tonifying qi by simultaneous acu-puncture at Linggu (Extra) and Dabai (Extra), we palpate points along the large intestine meridian of hand-yangming, and Linggu (Extra), Hegu (LI 4), and Dabai (Extra) are pricked perpendicularly to smooth triple energizer directly. Thus, functions of zangfu organs are holistically adjusted and clinical effect is better. We believe that Hegu (LI 4) is located on the radialis side of the forefinger, and changeable according to the body function states. While Linggu (Extra) and Dabai (Extra), two radialis points of the second metacarpal,are related to Hegu (LI 4) when it is moving pathologically. According to Sizongxuege (a verse about the four general acupoints), Hegu (LI 4) is effective for face and mouth diseases, which reveals the close relationship between the acupoint and head and face. Acupuncture with three needles achieves better long-term effect than simple acupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) for face and mouth diseases, including mimetic convulsion.