FOREWORD

Wrist-ankle acupuncture (WAA) is a modem acupuncture technique invented and developed by Professor Thang Xinshu and his colleagues. The theory of wrist-ankle acupuncture is quite different from that of traditional acupuncture and has a unique system of its own. It is a needling technique in which the filiform needles are inserted just through the skin on only 6 needling points of the wrist or ankle, and then advanced subcutaneously, to treat various diseases of the corresponding zones of the body where the symptoms and signs are located. It has been successfully applied in the past thirty years of clinical work to treat an extensive range of ailments. Its amazingly quick and satisfactory therapeutic effect, particularly in relieving pain, would definitely give you confidence in your practice of acupuncture.

Wrist-ankle acupuncture has been put into practice for just thirty years, but it has been well accepted by acupuncturists and the general population because of its advantages such as having a wide range of indications, good curative effect, simple manipulation, ease of understanding, safe usage and no side effect. It has become an important component of acupuncture science, and also exerted a deep influence on the development of traditional acupuncture.

In order to meet the needs of the international doctors in studying wrist-ankle acupuncture, international training courses of wrist-ankle acupuncture have been held in Changhai Hospital since the late 1980s. These courses have trained many acupuncturists from various countries.

This book is the crystallization of the clinical and teaching experience of the authors. Focusing on applicability, in writing this book, efforts have been made to elucidate the manipulation skills of wrist-ankle acupuncture, and methods of clinical application were emphasized. A great amount of case records based on the authors own clinical experience were used, and an elaboration of a group of pictures showing the manipulation skills was designed.

There can be no doubt that a thorough study of this book will be very helpful in the clinical work of all those who share an interest in acupuncture. It is our hope that this special technique will reach the widest possible range of acupuncture practitioners.

Thou Qinghui, M.D.
Lirig Changquan, M.D., Professor, Director
Thang Xinshu, Professor

Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Changhai Hospital
Shanghai, 200433, China January, 2002