(1) Spot pricking:
Hold the three-edged needle with the right hand, prick swiftly about 2 - 3 mm in depth for bloodletting. The needle is withdrawn immediately following bleeding. Or squeeze the punctured hole slightly to let out several drops of blood, then press the hole with a sterilized dry cotton ball until the bleeding stops.
(2) Clumpy pricking:
Prick around an affected small area, squeeze slightly with the hand or use cupping to drive the decayed blood out. This method can remove pathogenic factors and stop pain. It is usually used for treating carbuncles and obstructive syndrome, etc.
(3) Pricking:
Find the reaction point of disease first for pricking, pinch up the local skin with the left hand, prick about 2 mm in depth into the reaction point with a three-edged needle and push the needle up swiftly for bloodletting.

Cautions
It is advisable to make necessary explanations for the patient 
Sterilization of the area for operation must be done strictly.
The pricking should be slight, shallow and swift; it is inadvisable to induce excessive bleeding; cares should be taken to avoid pricking the large blood vessels.
It is inadvisable to apply this method to the treatment of the patients with poor constitution or pregnant women or the patients with susceptibility to bleeding.