Local Bleeding Techniques in Master Tung’s Clinical Tradition
In this follow-up episode of Tung Talk, Shaun Goodman and Moshe Becker explore the clinical logic and techniques of local bloodletting in Master Tung’s acupuncture.
While distal bloodletting (e.g., occipital region) is well known in this system, this episode focuses on bleeding directly over the symptomatic area, especially in cases where local needling is avoided.
Key Highlights:
What is Local Bloodletting?
Unlike conventional needling, Master Tung’s system often avoids local acupuncture in painful or diseased areas. Instead, bleeding is used locally—either directly over the organ (for internal conditions) or at the pain site (in orthopedic cases).
Two Main Techniques Described
- Cupping with Bloodletting Pen – Inspired by Lee Kuo Cheng Jian in Taiwan:
- The practitioner taps the skin with a bloodletting pen to create small holes.
- A cup is then applied to extract blood from the area.
- Multi-prick without Cupping – Inspired by Hu Wen Zhi:
- Uses an intradermic needle to prick the area repeatedly.
- No cupping required, yet results in significant blood flow even when no visible veins exist.
Internal Applications:
- For liver conditions like hepatitis, bleeding is done directly over the subcostal region.
- Practitioners use this method when there are no visible luo channels but symptoms are localized internally.
Orthopedic Use:
This approach respects Master Tung’s philosophy of avoiding needling directly into pain but still engaging the area through bleeding.
This episode expands the practical scope of Master Tung’s system and offers modern acupuncturists new techniques for integrating bloodletting into internal medicine and pain management.
Local bloodletting is also applied for musculoskeletal pain—especially in areas where local needling is contraindicated or ineffective.
