Volume 1, Special Edition | Current Japanese Acupuncture and Moxibustion 2010

Japanese Minimal Acupuncture

inserted parallel to the skin surface for a length ofNoboru Mitsuhata
Tokyo Eisei Gakuen College

Currently, the most popular form of acupuncture
therapyuses

filiform

needles

inserted

afew

centimeters so that the needle tip reaches the muscle
layer, but there are also other therapy forms, where theneedle is inserted only up to the subcutaneous layer orabout 2-3 mm. After that, a little cushion is placed
between the needle handle and the skin and the entire
intradermal needle covered and fastened with adhesive
tape (Figure 2). Although there are differences basedon symptoms and hygienic conditions, the needles aregenerally retained for periods of time varying from afew hours to a week.

does not penetrate the skin at all and stimulates only
the skin, which are nevertheless able to produce
therapeutic results for a variety of symptoms. Amongthese therapy forms those that stimulate superficial
skin layers, namely the "intradermal needle therapy",
the"thumbtack

needletherapy"or"pediatricacupuncture therapy" use specially shaped needles.
Here I would like to introduce the application of theirwidespread use among Japanese acupuncturists.
1. Intradermal needle therapy
Intradermal needles were developed around 1952
by Kobe Akabane based on his daily clinical experience
with needles for mild stimulation of the skin surface
over a prolonged period of time. These needles have athickness of approximately 0.14 mm and a length ofabout 5 mm. The handle of these small, thin needles isformed either in the shape of a small ring (ring type) or
as a plate (flat type) and designed in such a waythat
they do not advance further into the body by error(Figure 1).

This treatment form is often combined withordinary treatment using filiform needles, but there isalso research4) into the independent use of intradermal
needle therapy for osteoarthrosis of the knee orperiarthritis humeroscapularis and similar complaints
relating to the locomotor system. Again, there havealso been case reports dealing with the treatment ofobstetric diseases5), depression and other conditions.
Moreover, thanks to the simplicity of the insertion
method physicians perform this intradermal needle
therapy in conjunction with the prescription of Kampo
medicines and report it to be effective7).
2. Thumbtack needle therapy
Thumbtack needles are also considered to be a formof intradermal needle, but are thus named, because
their shape which resembles that of thumbtacks(Figure 3). Thickness of the needle is about 0.2 mm andlength about 1 mm. The insertion technique for theseneedles is similar to that of intradermal needles andthey are also fastened with adhesive tape, but in some

The needle handle is grasped with a pair oftweezers, the portion of the skin where the needle shallproducts the needles are already incorporated in thetape.

be inserted stretched a little and the needle then92

The Journal of Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (KAIM)

Volume 1, Special Edition | Current Japanese Acupuncture and Moxibustion 2010

maldigestion or diarrhea and similar gastrointestinal
symptoms, enuresis etc. 11-15).

Since the insertion technique is even simpler thanthat of the intradermal needles, thumbtack needle
therapy has been frequently used in sports andreportedly achieved a significant inhibition of thedevelopment of muscle soreness following sports

4. Conclusion
Currently the use of filiform needles constitutes theusual form of "acupuncture therapy" and is, I believe,

events8).
Reportedly, they also havebeen used for theassociated with an established image of "inserting"needles or being pricked. However, about 2,000 years

treatment of collateral symptoms like low back pain etc.
in patients on maintenance dialysis9) and to promote

ago the "round-pointed needle" (round needle) or the"spoon needle" were acknowledged among the nine

lactation in puerperal women10).

classical needles mentioned in China. Cearly they were

3. Pediatric acupuncture therapy

not meant to be inserted. Treatment forms using suchslight stimulation of the skin as intradermal needle

It is not clear when pediatric acupuncture therapy
was first performed as a special treatment form, but it

therapy and pediatric acupuncture therapy areperformed as an integral part of modern Japanesewas mentioned in texts dating back about 250 years11).

acupuncture and moxibustion therapy. Thus, thisToday specialized pediatric acupuncture therapy isperformed mainly in the Kansai region. Moreover,activities are conducted promoting skin stimulating

should make clear that acupuncture therapy is not
restricted to the practice of inserting needles to a depthof a few centimeters into the body.

methods based on the concepts of pediatricacupuncture therapy using a spoon that can easily be

In recent years, treatment with shallow needlingsometimes serves as a control (placebo) group during

applied by the parents.

clinical and basic research into acupuncture, but in

There are various systems of, and methods
employed, in pediatric acupuncture therapy (Figure 4),

Japan minimal acupuncture stimulation too is
considered to be effective, so that the above mentioned

all of which use only light tapping or stroking of theskin surface as stimulation and avoid penetration ofresearch design cannot really be considered a suitablemeans for detecting the effects of acupuncture.

the skin. The stimulated regions often include theentire body, but predominantly stimulated areas varydepending on the symptoms. Treatment requires

Reference1) Akabane K., Method of Hinaishin, Ido no Nippon

considerations to prevent overstimulation and isusually of short duration of about 10 minutes.

Sha, 1964
2) Suzuki S.

This kind of treatment is performed in children
from infancy to school age. It is used in particular for
fretfulness (pediatric neurosis), respiratory symptoms

moxibustion therapies (only in Japanese), Ido no
Nipponsha, 2006
3) Tanioka M.: The Daishi style pediatric acupuncture,accompanying

rhinitisorpharyngotonsillitis,

etal.:

Usefulacupunctureand(only in Japanese), Rokuzen Publishing, 2005

The Journal of Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (KAIM)

93

Volume 1, Special Edition | Current Japanese Acupuncture and Moxibustion 20104) Shinohara S.i, Clinical Effects of Acupuncture(Intradermal Needles) based on the Muscle
Meridians for the Complaints on the Joints andMuscles during Movements, The Bulletin of Meiji
University of Oriental Medicine, Vol.26, p65-80, 2000
5) Eda M., TANIGUCHI S.: Shortening of labor timeusing intradermal needles), (only in Japanese), Ido
no Nippon, No.592, p12-18, 1996) Murata K.: A case or recurrent depression – a trial
with intradermal needles), (only in Japanese), Ido
no Nippon, No.729, p62-67, 2004
7) Kawachi A., Intra-Dermal Needling approach tourinary calculus, Osaka journal of clinical11) Ozaki T et al.: Pediatric acupuncture therapy – thepractice of Yoneyama style pediatric acupuncture,(onlyinJapanese),

Clinicalacupuncture&moxibustion, Vol.16 No.2, p38-44, 2001
12) Okuda I.: Summary of pediatric acupuncture, (onlyin Japanese), Osaka journal of clinical acupuncture& moxibustion, Vol.14 No.1, p34-38, 1998
13) Yamagata Y.: Impressions of pediatric acupuncture,(only in Japanese), Osaka journal of clinicalacupuncture & moxibustion, Vol.14 No.1, p41-43,
199814) Sugihara Y.: Pediatric acupuncture starts with theacupuncture & moxibustion, Vol.21 No.1, 2005
8) Kaneko Y., Furuya E. et al., The Effect of Tack
Needle Treatment on Muscle Soreness after

education of the mother, (only in Japanese), Osaka

Traiathlon Race － Placebo-controlled Study －Journal of the Japan Society of Acupuncture and15) Ozaki T.: Examples of therapeutic effects using

Moxibustion Vol.56 No.2, P158-165, 2006
9) Okuno Y. et al.: Effects of acupuncture treatment inenuresis, (only in Japanese), Osaka journal ofpatients on maintenance dialysis – therapeuticexperiences using thumbtack needles in 32 patients,(only in Japanese), Journal of The Japan Society ofModern Acupuncture and Moxibustion Research,Vol.3 No.1, p19-27, 2003
10) Tatsunami T. et al.: Acupoint therapy for the promotionof lactation, (only in Japanese), The Japanese journal formidwives, Vol.50 No.7, p84-87, 199694

journal of clinical acupuncture & moxibustion,
Vol.14 No.1, p44-47, 1998
mainly pediatric acupuncture for the treatment ofclinical acupuncture & moxibustion, Vol.14 No.1,
p48-50, 1998
16) Japan College Association of Oriental Medicine:
Acupuncture and moxibustion techniques < Basics>, Ido no Nippon Sha, p98-104, 1992
17) Japan College Association of Oriental Medicine:
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