1. Three Edged Needle Therapy
The three-edged needle is developed from the lance needle of the Nine Needles created in the ancient times.
The needle is shaped in a round handle, a triangular head and a sharp tip.

2. Indication
To promote the smooth flow of qi and blood in meridians, dispel blood statsis and eliminate the heat.
Advisable to treat blockage of the meridians,
blood stasis,
excess syndrome and heat syndrome such as
high fever,
loss of consciousness,
sore throat,
local congestion or swelling.

3. Manipulations Spot pricking/collateral pricking:
to treat disease by pricking the small vessels with three-edged needle to obtain a little bloodletting. During the operation hold the handle with right hand, prick swiftly about cun deep and remove needle immediately. Then press the punctured hole with a dry cotton ball until bleeding stops. This is a most widely used method in clinic

4. examples BL 40 (Weiahong) to treat lumbago due to blood stagnation
LU 11 (Shaoshang) to treat sore throat
PC 3 (Quze) + BL 40 (Weiahong) for acute vomiting
Taiyang (Extra) OR apex of ear for acute conjunctivitis.

5. 2) Clumpy Pricking
prick around a small area or a reddened swelling, then press the skin to make the decayed blood escape.
This method is mostly used for carbuncles (cluster of boils under skin), erysipelas (bacteria caused skin infection), etc.

6. 3) Pricking
Pinch up the local skin with the left hand, prick the skin 0.5cun deep with the needle to make it bleed. If there is no bleeding, press the punctured part until bleeding occurs. This method is mostly used to treat multiple carbuncles of the neck,
Try to find the red spots at the both sides of the vertebra, and then prick them till bleeding occurs.

7. Precautions
1) Aseptic operation is applied to prevent infection. 2) For spot pricking, the operation should be slight, superficial, and rapid. Bleeding should not be excessive. Avoid injuring the deep large arteries. 3) Pricking shall in no case be applied for those with weak constitution, for pregnant women and those susceptible to bleeding.