Even supplementation and drainage

Also neutral supplementation and drainage (Obs.).

1. From Wondrous Response Classic (神应经 shén yìng jīng). An acupuncture technique in which drainage is followed by supplementation.

2. A method of manipulation that neither supplements nor drains and is intended only to obtain qì.

Method: After insertion, lifting and thrusting is performed with even lifts and thrusts and/or rotation is performed with even strength in both directions with a medium arc. When qì is obtained the needle is either extracted or retained. Needle pounding falls within the scope of neutral supplementation and drainage.

Application: This method is used for patterns in which neither vacuity nor repletion signs are prevalent or for vacuity-repletion complexes such as is often the case in joint pain. It is also suitable for repletion patterns in patients with weak constitutions. See needle manipulation (technique).