Manaka Technique

Japanese Theory

Dr. Yoshio Manaka's wooden hammer is an adjunctive Japanese Acupuncture technique.

The information presented below discusses basic theory behind the technique, guidelines
for applying the technique and examples of clinical use. Some of the techniques listed
here require significant amounts of training to be performed correctly and should only be
performed by practitioners who have been trained properly.

General Information:

Daishin = hammer needling

Shindo Hiketsushu, 16th century practioner, wrote Mubunsai a text describing a

method where all 365 points on the body were located in the abdomen

He used a hammer made of ebony and gold needle with a blunt end for treating all
disorders of the body

General Technique:

Palpate abdomen for indurations a/or hard areas

You may also treat the back by finding the area of pain and using the opposite
point on the abdomen

Decide whether the induration is deep, near the middle or on the surface

Place the needle on the point at the depth of the induration

Hold it between the index and middle fingers with thumb supporting

Tap the needle the prescribed number of times (generally in sets of 18, using the
patients pulse or the following metronome frequencies as a pattern

Yang Channel Rate Yin Channel Rate

GV 104 CV 104

GB 120 LV 108

SI 120 HT 126
TH 152 PC 176

ST 132 SP 132

LI 108 LU 126

UB 112 KD 120

Specific Techniques:

Dr. Ken Shiroda's Whole Body Treatment w/Hammer:

Useful if the abdomen is cold in the Kidney area below the navel a/or the patient
has cold a/or deficient signs

This is many times caused by an excess in the subcostal area

Palpate around CV 12

Locate the most tender point

Place the needle and according to the patient's pulse, tap 18 times

If no change, apply moxa to KD 1 (Okyu, Chinetsukyu or Ibuki)

General Whole Body Treatment

For each area find the most tender points and tap 18 times

With patient supine, palpate the base of the occiput at the most tender point

With patient supine, palpate for pressure pain at the Huatuojiaji points, then the
inner and outer UB meridian respetively

With patient prone, palpate the rib cage including the lower border of the sternum

Palpate around the pubic symphysis area - esp. for gait issues, sciatica

Palpate down each of the large muscles of the legs

Tap each jing well point on the fingers and toes

Knee Pain (sets of 18)

Palpate around the knee, selecting and treating the sorest points
 Can also just treat in a circle around the knee

Headaches (sets of 18, according to pulse or channel frequencies)

LV Yang/Counterflow Qi Type - UB 60 & LI 4

Frontal Type - UB 10, GB 20, GV 23, GV 20, LI 4, LV 2

Unilateral or Migraine Type

GB Channel Related (channel reactivity) - GB 20, UB 10 & points along

the GB channel

LV Channel Related (subcostal/channel reactivity) - LV 3, LV 4, UB 18, PC 6

Respiratory Issues (sets of 18, according to pulse or channel frequencies)

Early stages of a cold - UB 12, GB 20, GV 16, LU 5 a/or LI 4

Asthma (esp. in children) - GV 12, GV 4 - for adults you can add Dingchuan a/or LU
7

Acute Asthma Attack - CV 22, KD 25, KD 26, KD 27

Nasal Issues (sets of 18, according to pulse or channel frequencies

Rhinitis - GV 20, GV 23, GB 20, UB 12, ST 36, LI 10, LI 4

Dr. Yoshio Manaka modified the traditional "front mu" acupuncture points based
on his research and clinical experience. Manaka's mu points are most often used
within Japanese Acupuncture treatments. The information presented below
discusses basic theory behind the technique, guidelines for applying the technique
and examples of clinical use. Some of the techniques listed here require significant
amounts of training to be performed correctly and should only be performed by
practitioners who have been trained properly.

Classical Mu (Alarm) Acupuncture Points

Lung LU 1 Urinary Bladder CV 3

Large Intestine ST 25 Kidney GB 25

Stomach CV 12 Pericardium CV 17
Spleen LV 13 Triple Heater CV 5

Heart CV 14 Gall Bladder GB 24

Small Intestine CV 4 Liver LV 14

Manaka Mu (Alarm) Acupuncture Points

Lungs LU 1 to LU 2 area

Percardium PC 1

Heart, Pericardium CV 17

Heart KD 23

Heart At the sides of CV 14

Liver LV 14 to GB 26 (usually right subcostal region)

Gallbladder GB 24 to GB 29 region (often one or both sides)

Stomach Both sides of CV 12 (including ST 21)

Spleen GB 26 to SP 21 region (often one or both points)

Kidneys KD 16 (occasionally GB 25)

Triple Warmer ST 25 (sometimes slightly lateral to ST 25

Upper Warmer CV 17

Middle Warmer CV 12

Lower Warmer CV 5

Small Intestine ST 26 (sometimes slightly lateral to ST 26)

Large Intestine ST 27 (sometimes slightly lateral to ST 27)

Urinary Bladder KD 11

Sources and More Information

 The information on our site is drawn from our own lecture notes and clinical
experience. The following lecture notes were used within this section:

Iuliano, Diane: New England School of Acupuncture, Extraordinary Vessel

Techniques Lecture Notes

Kuwahara, Koei: New England School of Acupuncture, Advanced Japanese

Techniques Lecture Notes

Sources and More Information

The information on our site is drawn from our own lecture notes and clinical experience.
The following lecture notes were used within this section:

Iuliano, Diane: New England School of Acupuncture, Extraordinary Vessel

Techniques Lecture Notes

Kuwahara, Koei: New England School of Acupuncture, Advanced Japanese

Techniques Lecture Notes