TCM for epidemics: Niansha (pinch treatment)

Illustration of niansha [pinch treatment] from Fangyi chuyan (A Modest Proposal for Epidemic Prevention), Appendix, Jiuyi suxiao liangfa: Guasha tushuo (Rapid and Effective Emergency Treatment Methods for Epidemics: Guasha Treatment Explained in Pictures). Edition printed in 1918 (7th year of the Chinese Republic).

Fangyi chuyan (A Modest Proposal for Epidemic Prevention) is a treatise on epidemiology. It contains sections on the clinical treatment and control of epidemic diseases, and prevention and prophylaxis.

The text states: The locations for pinch treatment include the skin of the neck at the front part of the throat and the quchi (Pool at the Crook) and weizhong (Middle of the Crook) acu-moxa points. When carrying out pinch treatment, the doctor first pinches the skin at the front part of the patient's throat, and then the quchi points on the arms and weizhong points on the legs until the skin locally appears purple or purplish black. This treatment can be used against acute abdominal pain.

Heading: Niansha tu (Illustration of pinch treatment) Labels: Skin at the front of the neck. Large tendons on the left side side of the neck. Quche (Carpenter's Square) point. Weizhong (Middle of the Crook) point