Chinese medical practitioners created the “Nine Needles” thousands of years ago and developed the theory of “Nine Needles” in clinical practice. The “New Nine Needles” is a bold innovation by Professor Shi Huaitang, based on the ancient “Nine Needles,” resulting in nine types of acupuncture instruments. Although the New Nine Needles are derived from the ancient Nine Needles, there are significant differences in the instruments, techniques, and clinical applications. The New Nine Needles include the Magnetic Round Plum Needle (Ci Yuan Mei Zhen), Fine Needle (Hao Zhen), Plum Blossom Needle (Mei Hua Zhen), Triangular Needle (San Leng Zhen), Beryllium Needle (Bi Zhen), Sharp Hook Needle (Feng Gou Zhen), Tapered Needle (Niao Zhen), Chuan Needle (Chuan Zhen), Round Benefit Needle (Yuan Li Zhen), and Fire Needle (Huo Zhen). Today, let Dr. Li Shangqing from the Acupuncture and Tuina Department of Zhangdian District Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital guide us through the wonders of the Magnetic Round Plum Needle.
Dr. Li Shangqing, a PhD in Acupuncture and Tuina, is a disciple of Professors Ji Laixi and Men Jiuzhang. He has long engaged in clinical exploration, forming a treatment model that combines acupuncture and herbal medicine with internal and external treatment methods. He is skilled in using Fine Needles, Fire Needles, Sharp Hook Needles, buried thread acupuncture, and herbal treatments for various diseases, particularly adept at treating neck, shoulder, waist, and leg pain, rheumatic pain, headaches, facial paralysis, facial muscle spasms, dizziness, stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation, hiccups, allergic rhinitis, asthma, tinnitus, shingles, psoriasis, menstrual disorders, and chronic non-bacterial prostatitis.Dr. Li introduces that the Magnetic Round Plum Needle integrates the ancient Yuan Needle, Plum Blossom Needle, and magnetic therapy, possessing functions such as unblocking meridians, invigorating blood circulation, regulating Qi, and strengthening the body. Its therapeutic scope is extremely broad. It is a unique acupuncture method that stimulates the body’s meridians and acupoints through tapping and pressing techniques to treat diseases. The tapping technique is the most basic and commonly used stimulation method for the Magnetic Round Plum Needle. Depending on the condition, pressing and tapping intensity may also be adjusted to achieve tonification or sedation. Generally, each acupoint is tapped 5-20 times, with the speed and strength of the technique determined by the thickness of the muscle at the acupoint, while also considering the patient’s constitution for differential diagnosis and treatment. If bruising appears on the skin after tapping, there is no need to panic; it will resolve on its own in a few days.
The Magnetic Round Plum Needle has a very broad treatment range, with the following being some of the indications:1. Internal medicine conditions: stomach diseases, acute and chronic gastroenteritis, chronic colitis, diarrhea, neurasthenia, sequelae of stroke, etc.2. Surgical conditions: soft tissue injuries, shoulder periarthritis, cervical spondylosis, blood stasis and swelling pain caused by trauma, varicose veins, rheumatic and rheumatoid arthritis, lumbar disc herniation, neurodermatitis, etc.3. Gynecological conditions: uterine prolapse, infertility, etc.4. Pediatric conditions: pediatric diarrhea, enuresis, etc.5. Ear, nose, and throat conditions: tinnitus, hearing loss, etc.6. Health care: hair darkening and beauty.
The Acupuncture and Tuina Department of Zhangdian District was established in the 1960s and currently has over 30 consultation rooms, with 11 Chinese medicine practitioners, including 1 chief physician and 1 PhD in acupuncture and tuina. The department conducts various traditional Chinese external treatment methods, integrating medical treatment, teaching, research, rehabilitation, beauty, and health care, with unique clinical efficacy and TCM characteristics. The acupuncture specialty is strong, with obvious advantages in traditional Chinese medicine, well-equipped facilities, strong research and teaching capabilities, and a good team spirit and clinical diagnostic and treatment skills. The department offers various traditional external treatment methods based on TCM meridians, including Fine Needles, Electroacupuncture, Abdominal Needling, Jin San Needles, Scalp Needling, Floating Needling, Cupping, buried thread acupuncture, acupoint injection, herbal acupoint application, traditional tuina, new medical bone-setting, Long’s bone-setting, TCM muscle manipulation, herbal compress, navel moxibustion, indirect moxibustion, warm needle moxibustion, reed tube moxibustion, governing moxibustion, moxibustion box, ear acupuncture, and bloodletting therapy, among other TCM specialty treatments.
