9. Acupoint catgut embedment 

This method aims at continuously stimulating acupoint by embedding catgut into the acupoint to treat disease. The instruments required are disinfectant materials, syringe, tweezers, embedding needle (Fig. 6-32), needle-holder, number 0 - 1 catgut, O. 5% - 1% procaine hydrochloride, surgical scissors and dressing, etc.

Methods

There are three commonly used methods.

(1) Punctured embedment of catgut: After sterilization, 1 – 2 cm sterilized catgut is put on the anterior part of the lumbar puncture needle with the tweezer, and the style in the posterior. The thumb and index finger of the left hand stretch or pinch skin over the selected region and the fight hand inserts the needle into the required depth. When acu-esthesia appears, the syringe is pushed while the catgut is embedded into the tissue or the muscles. A piece of sterilized gauze is put over the needled region.

No. 9 syringe may be used as the tube for No. 28 filiform needle of 2 cun without tip used as needle to embed 1 - 1.5 cm of No. 0 catgut into the acupoint. The method is the same as that mentioned above.

In using special embedding catgut,  0. 5% - 1%  procaine hydrochlofide is used as anesthetic after

regional sterilization. 1 cm catgut is attached to the opening of the embedding needle. Both ends are held by forceps. The left hand holds the needle and the right hand holds the forceps. The needle is punctured into the skin obliquely at the angle of 150-400 with the gap of the needle turned downward. When the gap of the needle goes into the skin, the right hand loosens the forceps and the left hand continues to insert the needle to completely embed the catgut into the skin. The needle is thrust 0.5 cm more and then withdrawn. After the withdrawal, the needled region is pressed by a cotton ball or a piece of gauze for a while, and then is covered by a piece of gauze to protect the wound (Fig. 6-33).

(2) Triangle embedment: A mark is made by gentian violet 1 - 2 cm beside the acupoint on both sides. After sterilization of the skin, O. 5%- 1% procaine hydroehloride is used for intradermal anesthesia ( Fig. 6 - 34 ). The needle with catgut is inserted into the acupoint selected. Both ends of the catgut out of the skin are cut off.

The suture needle with catgut is held by a clamp to insert from one side of the anesthesia point and come out from the other side ( Fig. 6 -34).

The skin between two sides is kneaded up and the catgut at both sides is cut at the skin. The skin is pressed to relax. Dressing is put on for 3 -5 days. Each time 1 -3 acupoints can be selected. The embedment is generally done once every 20 -30 days.

(3) Incised embedment: 0.5% procaine hydrochloride is used for infiltration anesthesia on the selected acupoint, after sterilization, the skin is incised 0.5 - 1 cm. Forceps is put deep into the acupoint from superficial fascia to muscular layer to seek sensitive point and massage for several seconds with an interval of 1 -2 min. Then 4 -5 pieces of catgut of 0.5 - 1 cm are embedded into the layer. The incision is sutured by silk thread and covered by a piece of sterilized gauze. The stitches can be taken out after 5 -7 days.

Clinical Application

The method is mainly used to treat chronic diseases such as asthma, stomachache, diarrhea, enuresis, facial paralysis, pain of the waist and leg, flaccidity, epilepsy, sequelae of poliomyelitis and neurosis, etc.

Note

Embedment therapy should be done on acupoints on the regions with thick muscles such as back, waist and abdomen. The selection of acupoints should be simple and concise. The embedment is done on 1 -3 acupoints each time and once every 2 -4 weeks.