(1) Retention
Retention means to hold the needle in the acupoint after the use of needling manipulations. For patients with a slow and weak needling sensation, retention of the needle may strengthen needling effect and induce needling sensation. Whether the needles should be retained or not and the duration of retention depend on the patients' conditions. For common diseases, the needles can be withdrawn or be retained for 10 - 20 minutes after the application of needling manipulations. But for some special diseases, the time for retaining the needle may be appropriately prolonged. At the same time, manipulations may be performed at intervals in order to improve the therapeutic effects.
(2) Withdrawal
For the withdrawal of the needle, press the skin around the acupoint slightly with sterilized dry cotton balls held by the left hand, rotate the needle handle gently and lift it slowly to the subcutaneous level with the right hand, then withdraw it quickly and press the punctured acupoint with sterilized dry cotton balls to prevent bleeding. After the treatment, the acupuncturist should count the number of the needles to make sure that all the needles are withdrawn.