Abstract
Objectives : Study about needle retaining time. Methods : We reviewed the ancient and the present text of China with using the China academic journal(CAJ) of China national knowledge infrastructure(CNKI) Results & Conclusions : 1. Needle retaining time is important in acupuncture, because the therapy effect is influenced by it. 2. The time of needle retaining is up to those conditions like different disease, viscera and bowels(臟腑), meridian and collateral(經絡), obtaining Qi(得氣), seasons, constitution of the patients and acupuncture tools. In ${\ll}$Hwangdineijing(黃帝內經) ${\gg}$, needle retaining time is called by 'Zhiruzhichu(直入直出)', 'Jichu(疾出)', 'Liu(留)', 'Buliu(不留)', 'Jiuliu(久留)' and 'Liu ${\bigcirc}$ hu(留${\bigcirc}$呼)', and the time was shorter than nowadays. 3. The respiration number was counted to check needle retaining time but we can't find out any evidence. Recently in China, 'obtaining Qi(得氣)' and 'Qi arrival(氣至)' is used to check it. 4. Looking into clinical researches, different diseases need different needle retaining time. For example, 20~30min is appropriate time for musculoskeletal system. 60min is for circulatory system, 10~20min is for peripheral facial nerve paralysis. Insomnia and some stubborn diseases need longer time. Cold and heat(寒熱), deficiency and excess(虛實) are always influences the needle retaining as well. 5. It is important to figure out the most effective needle retaining time for different disease with the base of connection between needle retaining time and effect.
