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Folliculitis is a purulent inflammation of the hair follicle. When it involves acute purulent infection of the deeper follicle and surrounding tissue, it is referred to as a boil. Multiple adjacent follicles and surrounding tissues can merge to form an abscess, presenting as a red, swollen, and painful lump, often caused by Staphylococcus infection. It primarily occurs in the skin and subcutaneous tissues, commonly on the back or neck.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) diagnosis, it belongs to the category of heat syndromes. The treatment principles are to clear heat and detoxify, invigorate blood circulation, and dissipate swelling. Initially, the focus is on clearing heat and detoxifying, while later stages emphasize invigorating blood circulation and dissipating swelling. Fire needle therapy is a traditional TCM treatment method that has the effects of unblocking meridians, invigorating blood circulation, clearing heat and detoxifying, and reducing swelling and dissipating masses. Fire needle treatment utilizes the strong heat to open the external pathways, drawing out pathogens from the body, thereby clearing heat and detoxifying.
According to incomplete statistics, in 2023, over 60 cases of folliculitis, boils, and abscesses were treated, and after one session of fire needle therapy, the feedback on efficacy was excellent. The vast majority of patients with early to mid-stage folliculitis and boils were essentially cured after one treatment, with no need for a second visit.
One patient, an 89-year-old with type 2 diabetes, presented with a scrotal abscess measuring 18cm x 5cm x 12cm, with surrounding redness, elevated skin temperature, a fluctuant sensation upon touch, and pain, consistent with the characteristics of an abscess. Fire needle therapy was applied for the first time, utilizing strong heat to open the external pathways, drawing out a large amount of yellow purulent discharge, approximately 150ml. Additionally, a skin ulcer debridement procedure was performed, using a large amount of povidone-iodine and saline for alternating rinsing until the exudate turned blood-red, followed by external application of Si Huang San (Four Yellow Powder). After five days of treatment, the abscess disappeared, skin temperature normalized, there was no fluctuation, no pain, and the patient was cured.
This treatment received high praise and recognition from the patient. For such a large scrotal abscess in a diabetic patient, if fire needle therapy had not been used to effectively draw out the pus, the patient would likely have faced surgical incision and drainage, which is particularly problematic for diabetic patients due to poor wound healing, causing significant harm and inconvenience to elderly patients. This highlights the efficacy of fire needle therapy.
Advantages of Fire Needle Therapy for Treating Boils and Abscesses
1. Minimal trauma: Compared to traditional surgical incision and drainage, fire needle therapy has a smaller wound, less pain, and can completely remove the cyst wall, effectively preventing recurrence.
2. Significant efficacy: Fire needle therapy can directly act on the lesion, promoting the absorption and resolution of inflammation, and accelerating wound healing.
3. Simple operation: Fire needle therapy is an external treatment method that is easy to perform, cost-effective, and easy to popularize.
In summary, fire needle therapy for skin boils and abscesses has advantages such as simplicity of operation, minimal trauma, and significant efficacy. However, during the actual treatment process, strict adherence to aseptic operating principles is necessary, and appropriate treatment methods should be selected based on the specific conditions of the patient. When performing fire needle therapy, attention should also be paid to certain operational details. For example, the treatment site should avoid major nerves, large blood vessels, and important organs; the fire needle puncture should be shallow, and pressure should be applied with dry cotton balls to stop bleeding after needle insertion. Additionally, the fire needle must be heated until red hot, and the insertion should be quick to minimize patient discomfort. For three days after treatment, the needle sites should be kept dry.
(1) Changzhou Community Hospital, Huangpu District
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday
8:00—12:00 14:00—17:00
Address: No. 1, Huangchuan Fourth Street, Changzhou Street, Huangpu District
(2) Shenjing Community Health Service Station, Changzhou Street
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, Sunday
8:00—12:00 14:00—20:00
Address: No. 2, Anxin Qian Street, Shenjing, Changzhou Street, Huangpu District
(3) Changzhou Community Health Service Station, Changzhou Street
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday
8:00—12:00 14:00—18:00
Address: No. 69, Junxiao Road, Changzhou Street, Huangpu District
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