Acupuncture Needles
The sterile, tiny needles used in acupuncture are made to puncture the skin with the least amount of discomfort possible. They are considerably thinner than the hypodermic needles used to draw blood or introduce fluids into the body. Their purpose is energetic and nerve stimulation rather than injection so they are solid, not hollow, and do not generally have a sharp cutting point.
Acupuncture needles are commonly made from stainless steel, which offers strength, flexibility, and resistance to corrosion, and some have copper tops, which helps cause a galvanic current, and so increase the effectiveness of the needle. Other materials like gold and silver are sometimes used for specific energetic purposes such as the Japanese style of Teishin which is a style where the needles aren’t inserted, and instead are held above the point, in order to connect to the energy, in a similar manner to how Reiki would.
Acupuncture needles vary in length and diameter to accommodate different parts of the body and types of treatments, they can range from .10mm to .35mm in diameter, and range from 3mm to 125mm long, the choice of width and length depends on what you want the needle to achieve, and the size of the patient.
The most common needles
The most common needles are around 0.25 to 0.30mm in diameter, and are used for the body points. These are used both superficially and deep, depending on the treatment plan and the style of acupuncture, and are very strong. The simplest way to test how strong these acupuncture needles are in your own clinic, is to grab the needle, near the “business end” firmly, holding the handle in the fingers of the other hand, and, keeping a strong grip on both ends, twist it into different shapes and in different directions for a few seconds. If the needle snaps, then it’s not a great quality needle, the best needles will stand up to this testing by only bending. Having strong needles is an important safety measure for body acupuncture, as, if the needle breaks if a muscle goes into spasm, this means a trip to see someone who can extract it using minor surgery. Sometimes this can be done by a minor surgery clinic, but usually it’s a trip to A&E, or even admission to hospital depending on the location.
Longer needles
With longer needles this safety consideration is even more important, as they are designed to go deeper into the body. For instance, 125mm needles can be either threaded through the fat layer, for fat reduction techniques, or inserted into the glute muscle and through to the hip joint. This all sounds quite alarming if you are needle phobic, but both are among the most comfortable types of needling, as there are few nerves involved with the threading procedure, and the glute muscles are used to constant pressure from sitting down, so have less sensitivity, and acupuncture in this area can actually relax the muscles, which in turn can ease sciatic and other pain.
Shorter needles
Shorter needles come in a variety of sizes for different uses. They range from tiny intradermal needles, which can be from 3mm to 7mm, and are designed to only pierce the skin. Intradermal needles are often used for cosmetic purposes, however they have a range of other uses, including for leaving them inserted and secured with medical tape, so the patient can take them out themselves, or in the ears where a shorter needle is all that is needed. The ones for the ears tend to come with plasters already attached and are generally referred to as “press needles” or “press tacks”. Leaving these needles in the skin is safe, as they have wide ends to stop them going completely into the skin, and to act as a handle, so you can grab them to take them out easily. The practice of doing this on the body isn’t common in the UK, as it’s difficult to get insured for, and for most patients, the process of lying on a table and taking time out of their day, is highly beneficial to the treatment.
Other shorter needles are ear studs, which are left in, which require special insurance and 13-15mm long needles used specifically in the ears.
Specialist Needles
There are other types of acupuncture needle created by people who practice some acupuncture methods that require them, such as the subcutaneous needles used by the FSNAE, and others. These groups design their own needle and find a manufacturer so they can practice their methods to the best effect.
There are other needles used for Bloodletting techniques which are wider or with 2 or 3 edges, these are used to cut the skin rather than push through it, but due to their small size, the wound heals extremely quickly and only the required blood amount is released. Another tool used for bloodletting is the “Plum Blossom Tool” or “Seven Star Hammer”, these consist of a small flexible hammer, and a removeable head, which is used as a kind of traditional microneedling technique, but also to release heat over an area and blood-let a large surface area for specific purposes such as varicose vein reduction, or encouraging hair re-growth.
Needle Features
Many people don’t actively realise that Acupuncture needles are all pre-sterilised in the modern day, in times before this was possible, people had to re-use needles and sterilise them themselves. Only 10 years ago, when someone I know was applying for an acupuncture licence, they were asked “Where is your autoclave for sterilising the needles?” by the officer inspecting the premises, as they hadn’t read up on modern processes. They are packed in sterile packaging, and dated, then stamped with a country specific safety mark. Ours in the UK changed when we left the EU, and this caused manufacturers in some countries to have to change their packaging and even methods to make sure they complied with UK requirements.
Handles of needles are usually made of either metal, or plastic. The plastic handle ones are generally for when you need the needle to be lighter, so for cosmetic use, or sometimes for ears. The cosmetic ones are often coated to make insertion more comfortable for the patient, and to drag less in the skin.
Innovations in Acupuncture Needles
The field of acupuncture has seen significant advancements in needle technology, in the last few decades, including coating the needles for cosmetic use, the advert of non-invasive laser needle methods, and lately, eco-friendly materials being used, for instance moxa or bamboo guide tubes which biodegrade, instead of sturdy plastic ones which go into landfill.
Conclusion
The vast range of acupuncture needles is a reflection of this age-old healing art’s adaptability and versatility. Both conventional needles and cutting-edge instruments like laser needles play unique roles in fostering health and well-being. Knowing these distinctions enables professionals to choose the best tools, to customize care, enabling them to meet the needs of each patient, guaranteeing efficacy, safety, and comfort. Whether you’re a patient or a practitioner, respect for this profound therapeutic practice is increased when you understand the subtleties of acupuncture needles.
Author:
Michelle Bebbington, Wilmslow, Cheshire (MAA RARA) – ARA Representative of the Acupuncture Association