The fire needle therapy refers to a treatment method where specially designed needles are heated until red and then quickly inserted into acupoints or specific areas according to certain needling techniques. This method utilizes the heat and warmth to stimulate the body, promoting Yang energy, dispelling cold, and unblocking Qi and blood to achieve therapeutic effects, falling under the category of warming therapies.
The fire needle therapy was established in the “Huangdi Neijing” (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon), which first clearly recorded the fire needle, indicating that during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, there was already a systematic understanding of the fire needle therapy’s name, needle tools, needling techniques, indications, contraindications, and more.
The greatest characteristic of fire needle therapy is that it combines the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion. In practice, fire needles require only steady, precise, and quick insertion, generally not needing the supplementary or draining techniques, making fire needles simpler and easier to use than filiform needles. Due to the significant stimulation from fire needles, they can achieve effects similar to leaving filiform needles in place for extended periods without actually leaving them in, and the treatment intervals for fire needles are longer than for filiform needles, thus saving patients the trouble of frequent visits, resulting in lower time costs for treatment.However, the main drawback of fire needles is the significant pain they can cause, which may deter some patients. Yet, as long as the practitioner is skilled and the needle tools and insertion sites are appropriately chosen, the pain from fire needles can be alleviated, and after several treatments, the vast majority of patients can ultimately accept fire needle therapy. Regarding pain, the Ming Dynasty physician Gao Wu compared fire needles with moxibustion: “Moxibustion directly burns the skin, causing prolonged pain; fire needles, though initially intimidating, provide quick relief with just one insertion, resulting in less prolonged pain. This indicates that moxibustion can cause prolonged discomfort, while fire needles only cause brief pain with a single insertion.” This comparison refers to the ancient method of direct moxibustion, while modern moxibustion often uses indirect methods, which are less effective than the ancient techniques. In summary, compared to the complications of acupuncture and moxibustion, the momentary pain from fire needles is generally tolerable.Based on my years of clinical experience, I would like to share with you a unique external treatment method in TCM—Electric Fire Needle Therapy.The Electric Fire Needle Therapy is a method developed based on the fire needle technique, utilizing electric heating needles instead of fire needles.
Its characteristics include ease of operation and mastery, with the depth of needling adjustable according to the needs of the affected area. Electric fire needles not only achieve the therapeutic effects of fire needles but also provide some of the benefits of direct moxibustion, being widely used for over 40 different conditions in internal medicine, external medicine, pediatrics, otolaryngology, and dermatology, particularly effective for pigmented nevi, common warts, and also showing good efficacy for conditions such as bi syndrome, hemiplegia, dysmenorrhea, gastric ptosis, and hypertension. 《 Guidelines for Electric Fire Needle Operation in TCM
1.Needle Installation:
① Insert the required model of the special needle into the clamp of the needle holder and tighten the clamp nut.
② Hold the needle holder vertically and insert it into the positioning sleeve inside the compression spring, gently pressing while rotating to easily install it, then tighten the cover.
2. Depth Positioning: Press the needle insertion button to determine the required insertion length for clinical needs, then lock the positioning nut. The depth of needling varies for each person based on the depth of the lesion. The principle is “better to be shallow than deep, stop when the condition is reached, better to miss the point than the meridian, better to miss the meridian than the pain,” with painful points being essential insertion points. Points such as Fengfu (Wind Palace), Yamen (Mute Gate), and areas below the medulla oblongata require shallow insertion, while the chest and abdominal cavity should not be punctured too deeply to avoid pneumothorax or damage to internal organs and important structures. The maximum insertion depth should be above the periosteum for areas with bone structure beneath.
3. Temperature Setting:
1 First, set the temperature switch to maximum, quickly heat the needle until red,
2 then adjust the temperature control knob to the desired clinical temperature, gently press the needle insertion button, and observe the needle’s state: slightly red, red, or bright white (the bright white state is equivalent to a high temperature of around 1000 degrees). A slightly red electric fire needle is comparable to a needle heated by an alcohol lamp, while the slightly red state is the commonly used temperature. There is no need to worry about the electric fire needle being at a low temperature (as the electric fire needle heats continuously, with a small distance for needling and short time, the temperature loss is minimal). The needle is not single-use; the electric fire needle is automatically sterilized at high temperatures, making it safer. Just disinfect the white positioning ring with 75% alcohol.
4. Sequence of Using Electric Fire Needles:
① Mark the acupuncture points with a positioning pen.
② Disinfect the skin at the acupuncture points.
③ After determining the depth, turn on the switch to heat the needle.
④ After needling, turn off the power; it is best to complete the procedure within 5 minutes. After cooling, it can be reused. The shorter the treatment time, the less oxidation and consumption of the special needle, and the longer the lifespan of the electric fire needle.
5. Indications, Contraindications, and Safety:
Indications: All conditions treatable by traditional acupuncture, fire needles, etc., with efficacy several times greater than that of filiform needles.
Contraindications: Early-stage unknown tumors, coagulation disorders, pregnant women, patients with eye conditions, high fever, scar constitution, and those unable to control their mental state.
Safety: Safe voltage, separation of needle and electricity, making it safer!
6. Regularly calibrate bent needles and polish the needle body with fine sandpaper.