OBJECTIVETo promote the study on standardization of needling depth of acupoints, ensure safety of needling, and promote internationally academic exchanges of acupuncture and moxibustion.

METHODSStudy, analyze ancient and present literature of acupuncture and moxibustion, and compare the differences in needling depth, measure unit, description methods, and the causes and trend, and indicate confusion at present, and put forward a proposition for establishing standardization of needling depth.

CONCLUSIONThere are a lot of confusions in needling depth of acupoints from the ancient times to the present, which produces severe unfavorable influence on standardization and international exchanges of acupuncture and moxibustion science, and it remains to be studied for the standardization as early as possibly.