Reflection and recommendation on the current status of acupuncture direction selection and reporting.
10.13703/j.0255-2930.20240626-k0001
- Author:
Hongbo JIA
1
;
Yibing LI
1
;
Kangchen LEI
1
;
Wenyi GE
2
;
Wei LIU
1
;
Songjiao LI
1
;
Shuwen SHI
1
;
Yutong DONG
1
;
Congcong MA
1
;
Li LI
3
;
Jian LIU
3
;
Xiaonong FAN
3
Author Information
1. First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of TCM, Tianjin 300193, China; National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin
2. Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin Academy of TCM.
3. First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of TCM, Tianjin 300193, China; National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin 300193; Tianjin Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin 300193; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin 300193; Level-3 Laboratory of Dose-Effect Relationship of Acupuncture, National Administration of TCM, Tianjin
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
acupuncture direction;
acupuncture operation;
quantification of acupuncture manipulation;
reporting standardization
- MeSH:
Acupuncture Therapy/standards*;
Humans;
Acupuncture Points;
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic;
Meridians
- From:
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion
2025;45(8):1187-1194
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) regarding acupuncture direction published from January 1st, 2013, to November 7th, 2023 were searched in China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, and VIP Chinese Journal Database. As a result, 21 RCTs were included. The problems identified included conceptual misunderstandings regarding acupuncture direction, incomplete selection strategies, confounding research factors, and inaccuracies in reporting. Based on the findings, four strategic approaches for enhancing therapeutic efficacy through acupuncture direction were summarized: aligning needle direction with the meridian pathway, directing the needle toward the lesion site, orienting the needle toward adjacent acupoints, and targeting special anatomical structures. Two additional strategies were proposed for optimizing the procedure: simplifying acupuncture operations and directing the needle toward safe anatomical sites. Recommendations were made to improve the rationality of research factor settings and the completeness of acupuncture operation reporting. Furthermore, three methods for reporting acupuncture direction were discussed: reporting the tip-pointed position, reporting the insertion angle and orientation, and reporting azimuth and polar angles, aiming to promote greater standardization and completeness in acupuncture practice and reporting.
