Fire Needle Therapy
Introduction: Shingles that won’t go away, acne that comes and goes, have you ever tried the unique TCM “Fire Needle Therapy“?
Today, let’s delve into the world of fire needles and explore their mysteries…
What is Fire Needle Therapy?
Fire Needle Therapy is a treatment method that involves heating a specially made needle until it is red-hot and then quickly inserting it into specific acupuncture points and areas of the body.
In ancient times, it was also known as burning needle, quenching needle, white needle, burning needle, and martial needle. Fire needle therapy has been documented since the Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon).
Conditions Treated by Fire Needle Therapy
Lateral Epicondylitis, ganglion cysts, bursitis, osteoarthritis, gouty arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, herpes zoster, warts, frozen shoulder, spurs, acne, scrofula, psoriasis, low back pain, and ulcers, etc.
Note
Attention
Items
Considerations
Patients who are overly tense, hungry, fatigued, or intoxicated should avoid fire needle therapy to prevent adverse symptoms such as fainting, which could cause unnecessary suffering. Treatment should only proceed once these symptoms have alleviated.
Facial application of fire needles should be approached with caution. Ancient practitioners believed that fire needles should not be used on the face due to the potential for small scars. However, if fine fire needles or shallow needling techniques are employed, it can treat conditions without leaving scars, thus the prohibition is not absolute.
On the day of treatment, bathing is prohibited to prevent infection at the needle sites.
Please consult a physician for specific precautions!
After discussing so much, how do we perform it?
Don’t worry, we’ll arrange it right away.
Part 1: Needles
In clinical practice, different types of fire needles are selected based on the patient’s condition and symptoms, as well as the acupuncture points used, which can affect the therapeutic effect.
Fire needles can be classified into three types based on thickness:
First Type
Fine fire needles, with a diameter of 0.5mm, are primarily used for facial acupuncture points due to the rich supply of nerves and blood vessels in the face, which makes it sensitive to pain. Using fine fire needles can reduce discomfort; moreover, they are less likely to leave scars. They are also suitable for patients with weak constitutions and the elderly.
Second Type
Medium fire needles, with a diameter of 0.8mm, have a broader range of applications and can be used on most acupuncture points or areas except for the face and thin muscle tissues.
Third Type
Coarse fire needles, with a diameter of 1.1mm or more, are mainly used for needling pathological areas such as masses, lumps, and ulcers.
Part 2: Needling Techniques
The needling techniques for fire needles can be divided into four types:
Point Needling: Based on clinical symptoms and pattern differentiation, specific acupuncture points are selected along the meridians for fire needle application, or the most prominent tender points at the pathological site (Ah Shi points) are needled.
Scatter Needling: This technique involves needling the pathological area with fire needles in a dispersed manner.
Dense Needling: This technique involves densely stimulating the local pathological area with fire needles.
Surrounding Needling: This technique involves needling around the pathological area, with needle entry points often located at the junction of the pathological and normal tissues.
Part 3: Needling Method
Fire needle therapy primarily employs fast needling, where needles are usually not retained. The needle is quickly inserted and withdrawn, with the entire process taking less than one second.
Before insertion, the needle is heated until red-hot, and upon insertion into the acupuncture point or area, the heat stimulates the meridian qi, promoting blood circulation. The heat dissipates quickly, and even if the needle remains in the point, it no longer provides stimulation, thus fast needling is the main technique used in fire needle therapy.
Some patients may require needle retention, where the fire needle is left in the acupuncture point or area for 1-5 minutes, during which various tonifying or draining techniques may be applied, or the needle may be retained without manipulation until the body’s vital energy restores.
Part 4: Specific Procedure
Disinfection
Disinfect the selected acupuncture point or area with iodine to prevent infection. For ulcerated pathological areas, alcohol or saline can be used for disinfection.
Burning Needle
After disinfection, ignite an alcohol lamp, with the left hand moving the lamp close to the acupuncture point or area, while the right hand holds the needle like a pen, inserting the needle tip into the outer flame, determining the length of the needle to be heated based on the depth of needling.
Needling
When the needle is heated to a bright red, quickly and accurately insert it into the acupuncture point or area, and swiftly withdraw the needle. This process is very brief, requiring the practitioner to be fully focused and skilled.
Withdrawal
After the fire needle reaches a certain depth, it should be quickly withdrawn, and then a disinfected dry cotton ball should be pressed against the needle hole to close it, preventing bleeding or infection. If blood or pus needs to be expelled, ensure it is completely drained before wiping the needle hole with a dry cotton ball.
Needle Retention
Fire needle therapy primarily uses fast needling, with most cases not retaining the needle. However, when fire needles are used for tumor removal or phlegm resolution, needle retention is required, typically for 1-5 minutes.
Needling
Technique
Key Points
Redness
Accuracy
Speed
Part 5: Mechanism of Treatment
Fire needle therapy enhances the body’s Yang energy through thermal stimulation of acupuncture points and areas, invigorating the vital energy, regulating the organs, stimulating the meridian qi, warming the meridians, and promoting blood circulation.
Applying these effects clinically can tonify Yang, replenish deficiency, lift Yang, dissolve masses, promote tissue regeneration, expel pus, relieve numbness and spasms, alleviate pain and itching.
Thus, it can treat various diseases.
Conclusion
Fire needle therapy may be painful, but it has significant efficacy for certain conditions such as shingles and tennis elbow. As the saying goes, “better a short pain than a long one,” if you’re intrigued, why not give it a try!
References
He Purin. Mechanism and Clinical Application of Fire Needle Therapy. Modern Distance Education of Chinese Medicine. 2004, 2(10): 23-24
Editor: Zhu Lixia
Proofreader: Ma Ruixia
Reviewer: Ma Rui
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