Reply To: Acupuncture Bootcamp
This really has to do with safety and comfort. Typically, children under 7-8 years old can’t lie still for TCM-style acupuncture, so it makes sense to needle the point, achieve deqi, and take the needle out.
I’ve needled babies, under 7 years old, 10 years old, teenagers …all the way to 90 years old. Babies and under 7 I don’t retain. Over 7 years old, depending on the maturity level, I can retain the needles but I need to stay in the room the whole time. Even so – I’m always asked the same question every two minutes, “How much longer?” It’s the ever-annoying child-parent question, “Are we there yet?” but in the acupuncture clinic! Haha
Retention for children up to teenage-hood can be closer to the 15-minute mark. Again…children get fidgety and 20 minutes is almost too long. Most teenagers can handle 20 minutes or longer.
Here’s some food for thought: Japan was given acupuncture in the sixth century. They never had a cultural revolution. Their acupuncture is, albeit influenced by the blind, the ‘original’ acupuncture. They use both hands to needle (a pushing hand and a needle hand), and they don’t retain! According to stories, when Mao Zedong decided to rebirth Chinese medicine, TCM-acupuncture was born – with needle retention. One is not better than the other and each have their advantages and disadvantages. In-situ (needle retention) method is very effective for treating multiple patients at a time.
I hope this makes sense and answers your question. For the exam, always remember to go back to thinking about safety:
1. Is needle retention safe for a 4-year old? No. They could move and hurt themselves.
2. Is using tacks safe for a 4-year old? No. They could rip it off when they get home and eat it.
etc, etc.