Fire needle therapy has a very strong warming effect on the meridians. The renowned acupuncturist Professor He Purin has classified it as one of the warming methods in the three methods of treatment, due to its unique efficacy in treating limb pain, making it very popular among patients.
1. Fire Needle Therapy for Cervical Muscle Spasm Fire needle therapy involves using specially made needles that are heated until red and then quickly inserted into specific acupuncture points or areas of the body to achieve therapeutic effects. The principles include dispelling wind and cold, warming the meridians, and selecting points such as Ah Shi points, Xuan Xu (Suspended Abdomen), and Jian Jing (Shoulder Well). The procedure involves standard disinfection, igniting an alcohol lamp, bringing the lamp close to the acupuncture point with the left hand, and holding the needle like a pen with the right hand, quickly inserting the red-hot needle into the point, then immediately withdrawing it, followed by pressing a disinfected cotton ball on the needle hole to ensure closure. Avoid water for three days, with treatments twice a week for two weeks as a course.2. Fire Needle Therapy for Shoulder PeriarthritisShoulder pressure points include: coracoid process, supraspinatus insertion, rotator cuff insertion, posterior upper arm, infraspinatus, and long head of biceps tendon intertubercular groove.Point selection: Ah Shi points. Method: Locate sensitive points above the biceps on the affected shoulder and at the anterior and posterior edges of the deltoid, usually 3-6 sensitive pressure points, mark them, and disinfect. Use a tungsten steel fire needle heated to a bright white on an alcohol lamp, quickly prick the marked reaction points. Generally, prick 3-5 points per session, inserting about 1 inch deep without leaving the needle in place. Treatment is done once every 5-7 days, typically requiring 3-5 sessions for recovery. Some patients may require additional sessions. After fire needle treatment, the area should not come into contact with water for 5 days, and functional exercises should begin the day after treatment.3. Fire Needle Therapy for Rheumatoid ArthritisPoint selection: Jia Ji (夹脊穴), local Ah Shi points. 1.3.2.3 Fire needle method: The Shi-style fire needle technique uses a mini alcohol lamp to heat the needle. The practitioner holds the alcohol lamp in the left hand and the needle in a brush-like grip in the right hand. First, heat the base of the needle, then slowly lift it to heat the tip until bright white, and quickly insert and withdraw. Treatment is done once every other day, with 10 sessions constituting one course. 1.3.2.4 Precautions: After each needle, immediately press the needle hole with an alcohol cotton ball to prevent bleeding, and avoid rubbing. After fire needle embedding treatment, do not wash or wet for 3 days to prevent infection. During treatment, avoid raw, cold, and spicy foods.4. Fire Needle Therapy for CornsFire needle therapy is very effective for treating corns; after heating the needle red, it is directly pricked, usually healing in two sessions, with some severe cases requiring 3-4 sessions. Ensure proper disinfection, and avoid water on the needle hole for three days.5. Fire Needle Therapy for NeurodermatitisFire needle therapy is used for neurodermatitis. Since commercially available fire needles are relatively thick, patients may find them uncomfortable. I use a 0.5 mm needle, heating it red or white on an alcohol lamp, and then scatter prick the lesions, ensuring disinfection with alcohol. This method is effective for both localized and generalized neurodermatitis, with many patients experiencing significant relief from itching after just one treatment. Although it may be slightly painful, it is much more tolerable than the itching, and some patients even request additional pricks for more relief. I treat smaller areas on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while larger areas are treated twice a week. Generally, after 10 to 20 treatments, most patients can achieve recovery.6. Fire Needle Therapy for Chronic Erysipelas of the Lower LegTwo patients experienced acute episodes of chronic erysipelas, treated with various antibiotics and herbal medicines. I tried fire needle therapy with good results. The method involves disinfecting the lesion area with 75% alcohol, heating a fine needle red on an alcohol lamp, and pricking the lesion to a depth of 0.5 inches, followed by cupping for 10 minutes (using 3-5 small cups, as large cups are not suitable and may fall off). A significant amount of light yellow viscous fluid is drawn out, and the patient experiences light yellow fluid seeping from the needle hole for several hours post-treatment. Treatment is done daily for 3 days, then every 3 days thereafter. Antibiotics are not used during treatment. Patients report reduced swelling the day after treatment, and after 5-7 sessions, they recover. During treatment, patients should rest, elevate the affected limb at a 30-40 degree angle, drink plenty of water, and keep the lesion area clean.7. Fire Needle Therapy for Breast MassesBreast masses can vary in size and shape, often poorly defined from surrounding tissue, and are movable without adhesion to the skin. Pain and enlargement typically occur 3-4 days before menstruation, with pain reducing or disappearing afterward, and the mass shrinking. After routine disinfection of the lesion, a medium-sized coarse fire needle is heated to red on the outer flame of an alcohol lamp. The practitioner uses the thumb and index finger of the left hand to stabilize the mass, quickly pricking the center and surrounding areas of the mass with the heated needle, without leaving the needle in place. After pricking, immediately press the needle hole with a disinfected cotton ball to prevent infection. Treatment is done once every other day, with 20 sessions constituting one course.Many cases are caused by liver qi stagnation due to anger, spleen deficiency from overthinking, leading to phlegm dampness accumulation, resulting in damage to both liver and spleen, kidney deficiency, and disharmony of the Chong and Ren meridians, with yang deficiency and internal phlegm dampness. Fire needle therapy has a warming effect that aids yang, invigorates qi, and promotes blood circulation, eliminating accumulations. It can also assist in transforming phlegm dampness, thus resolving stagnation. Fire needle therapy is particularly effective for short-term conditions and masses with a diameter of less than 2.5 cm; for longer-term conditions or larger masses, the treatment course should be extended.8. Fire Needle Therapy for Ankle Sprains I frequently encounter patients with ankle sprains in clinical practice. As long as X-rays confirm no fractures, fire needle therapy can be applied. Most patients arrive with assistance but can walk out independently after treatment, demonstrating its effectiveness. The needle is heated red and pricked at the most swollen and painful areas of the ankle, with 4 to 8 pricks avoiding blood vessels, allowing the bruised blood to naturally drain out, after which a plaster can be applied, leading to recovery in 3 days.9. Fire Needle Therapy for Ganglion Cysts Ganglion cysts are cystic swellings that occur in tendon areas, usually on the wrist or dorsal side of the foot, varying in size and consistency, commonly seen in young women. They develop slowly, often presenting as a hemispherical mass on the wrist, with a fixed base and elasticity, mostly asymptomatic, but can occasionally cause discomfort or weakness, severely affecting normal life. Conventional treatments often include 1. external force to rupture, break, or squeeze the cyst wall for absorption, 2. puncturing with a thick needle to aspirate the gelatinous fluid, injecting hydrocortisone or prednisone, and applying pressure bandaging, 3. surgical treatment, which not only has a large wound area but also leaves scars on the hand or foot. All these methods have a high recurrence rate. In contrast, fire needle therapy for ganglion cysts is quick and has a low recurrence rate! Treatment method: The patient sits or lies down, exposing the affected area, disinfecting routinely, then using a coarse fire needle heated red on an alcohol lamp to quickly prick the base of the cyst, inserting and withdrawing quickly for 3-5 times to expel the thick gelatinous substance inside, then covering with a band-aid, with treatment every 15 days. Generally, 1-2 sessions are sufficient. Ganglion cysts fall under the TCM categories of “Wrist Tendon Knot” and “Tendon Accumulation,” often caused by overexertion or trauma, leading to obstruction of qi and blood flow in the area. Fire needle therapy aims to use external fire to support internal fire, enhancing the movement of qi and blood, dispersing accumulations, and unblocking the meridians for therapeutic purposes. Additionally, fire needle therapy can directly destroy the cyst wall tissue with its high temperature, preventing regrowth and thus reducing the likelihood of recurrence.10. Fire Needle and Cupping Therapy for Skin NumbnessPoints include the lateral thigh from L1 to L5, Jia Ji, affected area; facial points from Feng Fu to C7, Jia Ji, affected area; abdominal points from T10 to L2, Jia Ji, affected area; perineal points from L3 to sacral area, Jia Ji, perineal. Cupping is applied to the corresponding areas (excluding the face and perineum) for 15-20 minutes. After routine disinfection, the practitioner holds the lit alcohol lamp in the left hand and the self-made fire needle (a No. 2 steel sewing needle with the tip cut to make it flat, wrapped with tape at the end) in the right hand, heating the needle until it glows red, and quickly pricking the Du meridian, Jia Ji, and affected area. The sequence is: healthy side Jia Ji from top to bottom, Du meridian from bottom to top, affected side Jia Ji from top to bottom, and affected area from the periphery of numbness towards the center. The distance between points on the Du meridian and Jia Ji should be about 1 cm, and the distance between points on the affected area should be about 2 cm. The needle depth is about 0.5 mm. After the procedure, routine disinfection with iodine is performed. The pricked areas should not get wet, be scratched, or have plasters applied, and other treatment methods should be stopped. Treatments are performed every 3 days, with 6 sessions constituting one course. In a study of 126 cases, the cure rate was 79%, with an effective rate of 95%.11. Fire Needle Therapy for Varicose Veins In TCM, this is referred to as “Tendon Accumulation,” believed to be caused by prolonged standing, leading to poor circulation of qi and blood in the lower limbs, resulting in slow blood flow and stagnation of the vessels. Treatment focuses on regulating qi, invigorating blood, and unblocking the meridians. Types: (1) Liver qi stagnation and spleen deficiency (2) Qi stagnation and blood stasis (3) Liver and kidney yin deficiency (4) Blood stasis obstructing the vessels Point selection: Ah Shi points, Xue Hai (血海). Method: For Ah Shi points, use fire needles to prick the varicose veins. For severe cases, apply a tourniquet above the lesion, then use fire needles to prick the lesion to expel the stagnant blood, releasing the tourniquet afterward, and then use a fine needle to prick the Xue Hai point.12. Fire Needle Therapy for Patellar Ligament Injury Nodules A patient presented with a large nodule the size of a jujube on the left knee after trauma for over a month. I was unsure what it would be called in Western medicine, but I believed fire needle therapy would be effective. After obtaining the patient’s consent, I began my fire needle journey, pricking the nodule over ten times, asking the patient to return in three days. The patient returned on the fourth day, and it was incredible; the original “jujube” was nearly invisible to the naked eye, feeling like just a small base.13. Fire Needle Therapy for Herpes Zoster The specific operational method for fire needle therapy is as follows:(1) The patient lies down with the herpes facing up, disinfecting the herpes and surrounding skin with iodine cotton balls, then gently drying with a disinfected cotton ball to fully expose the herpes for clear visibility.(2) Explain to the patient and encourage cooperation to alleviate fear.(3) Use a fire needle (or a straightened paperclip as a makeshift fire needle), heating one end over an alcohol lamp until red, then prick the tense, shiny area of the herpes wall, avoiding deep insertion. The herpes fluid vaporizes due to the high temperature, and occasionally, the sound of the herpes wall breaking can be heard. The patient experiences minimal pain, and after pricking, the skin at the prick site contracts and reddens. Smaller herpes lesions can be cleaned and dried after vaporization, while larger blisters may require multiple pricks, but the area pricked should not exceed the base, and any excess fluid should be wiped away with a disinfected cotton swab.(4) For numerous herpes lesions or extensive areas, it is advisable to prick in stages, starting with the tense, shiny herpes or larger blisters, continuing the next day with remaining lesions, and so on. If the patient has a poor constitution, intervals of 2-3 days may be necessary, along with supportive therapies such as BCG polysaccharide-nucleic acid injections to enhance immunity.(5) After fire needle pricking, disinfect the wound with iodine cotton balls, applying acyclovir ointment or other astringent medications.(6) Fire needle pricking is particularly effective for early-stage herpes when lesions are small.14. Fire Needle Therapy for Common Warts After heating the needle red on an alcohol lamp, the method involves directing the needle at the center of the wart, quickly burning until reaching the base; or quickly pricking the base of the wart to a depth of about 2/3 of the wart base in a cross pattern, turning the wart root grayish-white, which can fall off naturally in 7-14 days. During the burning process, the fire needle may need to be reheated multiple times. For filiform warts, pull the wart outward, then burn across the base, which can be removed in seconds, followed by iodine application and covering with a dressing, secured with tape. The area should not be wet until fully healed.15. Fire Needle Therapy for Facial Telangiectasia Using a 0.45*55mm fire needle, after heating it red, quickly prick the center of the red blood vessels, causing them to disappear immediately. Typically, about 10 vessels are treated per session. Patients should avoid washing their faces for 24 hours.16. Fire Needle Therapy for Tennis Elbow Treatment method: 2.1 Points: The patient lies supine with the elbow flexed to expose the affected area, or sits on a sofa with the forearm resting on the armrest. The practitioner supports the affected limb with one hand and presses the lateral epicondyle of the humerus with the thumb of the other hand, marking the size of the hard lump and pain for the next step.2.2 Procedure: After routine disinfection, the practitioner holds the lit alcohol lamp in the left hand and a medium-thick fire needle in the right hand, heating the needle tip 1-1.5 cm from the affected area until it turns from red to white, then quickly pricking the lesion, usually in a tic-tac-toe pattern with 3 pricks, spaced according to the size of the lesion. After pricking, disinfect the needle hole with an alcohol cotton ball and instruct the patient to keep the area clean and dry for 24 hours. Treatments are done every 3 days, with 3 sessions constituting one course. In this group, two courses were statistically evaluated; for patients with severe pain radiating to the forearm, additional fine needle pricks at San Li (手三里) and He Gu (合谷) points may be used; for those showing signs of qi deficiency and insufficient blood, internal herbal medicine may be prescribed, such as Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Decoction with modifications.17. Applications of Fire Needle Therapy for Pain Management Fire needle therapy has a long history, is simple to perform, and shows rapid results, especially in treating pain. In recent years, I have learned valuable experiences from Professor He Purin’s fire needle therapy and applied them clinically with great success. Here, I present several cases to advocate for this method.Case 1: Liu, female, 61 years old, presented with persistent swelling and pain in the heel for a week, worsening with pressure, sometimes extremely painful, unable to bear weight. After seeking treatment elsewhere, X-rays showed bone spurs, but treatment for the spur was ineffective and pain worsened. Physical examination revealed significant tenderness over the calcaneal tuberosity, with a large area of tenderness, diagnosed as calcaneal fat pad inflammation. Fire needle therapy was applied to Chéng Shān (承山), Kūn Lún (昆仑), and local tender points, with treatment once a week for two sessions, resulting in symptom resolution, allowing normal walking. Follow-up after six months showed no recurrence.Case 2: Wang, male, 72 years old, unable to walk for over six months due to left knee pain. Physical examination revealed a limp while walking, with significant tenderness at the origin of the medial collateral ligament and joint capsule of the left knee, with X-rays showing no abnormalities. Diagnosed with left medial collateral ligament inflammation, fire needle therapy was applied to Xue Hai and San Yin Jiao, as well as 1-3 tender points at the origin of the medial collateral ligament and joint capsule. Treatment was done once a week for three sessions, resulting in symptom resolution and normal walking. Follow-up after six months showed no recurrence.Case 3: Li, male, 38 years old, presented with pain in the lower back and right hip after lifting heavy objects for over a week. No previous history of back pain. Physical examination showed difficulty walking, requiring assistance, with significant tenderness at the right L3 transverse process. X-rays showed no abnormalities. Diagnosed with right L3 transverse process syndrome, fire needle therapy was applied to the pain point towards the right L3 transverse process, with three pricks, followed by two pricks at Huán Tiào (环跳) point, and cupping for five minutes at the fire needle site. After cupping, the extracted fluid was wiped away with disinfected cotton, and follow-up after three days showed complete pain resolution.Case 4: Zhang, female, 26 years old, experienced soreness and pain in the right scapular area for over two years, sometimes radiating to the right upper limb. Physical examination revealed a pain point at the T4 level of the right scapular area, with significant discomfort in the right upper limb upon pressure. Diagnosed with right scapular rib syndrome, fire needle therapy was applied to the pain point three times (the pricking site is generally on the rib above the pain point, so it is essential to palpate and stabilize the rib with the left hand before pricking to avoid accidents), with treatment once a week for four sessions, resulting in symptom resolution. Follow-up after one year showed no recurrence.Note: Fire needle therapy has a very strong warming effect on the meridians, which is why the renowned acupuncturist Professor He Purin classified it as one of the warming methods in the three methods of treatment, due to its unique efficacy in treating limb pain, making it very popular among patients. In recent years, I have found through extensive practice that the traditional fire needle therapy often targets Ah Shi points, which are commonly the origin and insertion points of muscles, making them frequent sites of pain and the root cause of discomfort. By thoroughly understanding and mastering anatomical knowledge, one can accurately locate treatment points, making Ah Shi points more precise. In Case 1, in addition to treating the tenderness at the calcaneal tuberosity, the theory of “where the meridian passes, treat where it is affected” was followed by selecting Chéng Shān and Kūn Lún points to unblock local qi. In Case 2, in addition to treating the tender points, the same theory was applied by selecting Xue Hai and San Yin Jiao points to dispel stasis and unblock the meridians. In Case 3, in addition to pricking the L3 transverse process tenderness point to quickly relieve spasms, Huán Tiào point was also selected to promote qi flow in the lumbar region, leading to rapid pain resolution. In Case 4, although only Ah Shi points were selected, it is crucial to perform the procedure based on a thorough understanding of local anatomy, with special attention to medical safety during the procedure. Patients with avascular necrosis of the femoral head often ask: “How can I trust you? What if it doesn’t work?” Conversely, if you don’t trust me, how can I help you? If you don’t try, how can you see the results? Relying on discussions? On hypotheticals? Or on assumptions? Today you consider, tomorrow you hesitate; hesitating a thousand times is not as good as taking action once. For inquiries, contact WeChat 13610604677.
Disclaimer: This article is reproduced from the internet and published materials. If there is any infringement, please contact us for removal. The various prescriptions and remedies mentioned are for informational sharing only and do not constitute medical advice, recommendations, or guidance. Please use them under the guidance of a physician, and this platform does not bear any responsibility arising from this.
Warm reminder: Due to the recent WeChat update, please read this article and click “See Again”! This will help more people benefit from this article! A small effort can yield great merit! If you find it helpful, please share and like it↓↓↓