Distinctive TCM Acupuncture Technique – Fire Needle Therapy
Fire needle therapy, known in ancient times as “chuan ci” (焠刺) or “burning needle”,
is a method that involves quickly inserting a needle that has been heated to red-hot into acupuncture points to treat diseases.
The Ling Shu (灵枢) states:
“Chuan ci refers to using a burning needle to treat bi syndrome.”
Based on the theory of “using heat to draw out heat” and “fire can disperse stagnation”,
fire needle therapy can treat heat syndromes caused by internal heat toxins that resist cold and cooling herbs,
achieving multiple effects such as acupuncture, cauterization, and bloodletting,
with functions of warming, unblocking, tonifying, clearing, and dispersing.
Clinical Applications
1. Warming and tonifying Yang Qi, used for conditions such as cold limbs, lower back and knee soreness, impotence, nocturnal emissions, edema, frequent urination, and women’s cold pain in the uterus due to kidney Yang deficiency; conditions of spleen and stomach deficiency with cold, and cold damp diarrhea; chest Yang deficiency, cough, and asthma.
2. Removing necrotic tissue and promoting new growth: treating breast abscesses, carbuncles, thrombophlebitis, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, joint effusions, sprains and swelling, blood stasis headaches, ulcers, etc.
3. Dispelling cold and eliminating dampness: opening the pores to expel external cold and damp pathogens, while also directly warming and assisting the body’s internal Yang Qi to dispel internal cold. Treating chronic cold conditions and blood stasis due to cold.
4. Dispelling wind and alleviating itching: dispersing external wind, extinguishing internal wind, promoting blood circulation to relieve itching, treating eczema, neurodermatitis, and other pruritic skin diseases.
5. Dissolving masses and reducing swelling: dissipating lumps, accumulations, and masses, treating scrofula, goiter, phlegm, nodules, breast lumps, and acne.
6. Relaxing tendons and alleviating spasms: relieving various spasm conditions, treating hand and foot spasms.
7. Clearing heat and detoxifying: using heat to draw out heat, relieving local heat toxins. Treating heat bi syndrome, mumps, waist fire, erysipelas, breast abscesses, and boils.
Procedure: Select appropriate needles, disinfect the area, heat the needle until the tip turns white, and quickly puncture. Key points: needle red, accurate point, quick puncture, rapid withdrawal.
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Contributed by | Chen Rui
Reviewed by | Wang Bin
Proofread by | Party Office
Edited by | Tian Jianjun
Published by | Tian Jianjun