Introduction
Fire needle therapy involves the rapid insertion of a needle heated to red-hot into acupuncture points to treat diseases. It is also known as burning needle or roasted needle.
As early as in the “Ling Shu: Official Needle” it is recorded: “Those who use the burning needle will relieve obstruction.”
“Shang Han Lun” also discusses the indications and contraindications for fire needle therapy.
“Qian Jin Yi Fang” states: “For treating boils and abscesses, the needle must be extremely hot.”
“Zhen Jiu Da Cheng” summarizes the experiences of using fire needles for treatment before the Ming Dynasty, which can be referenced. This method has the effect of warming the meridians, dispelling cold, and activating the collaterals, thus it can be used clinically for treating symptoms such as cold and dampness leading to abscesses.
1. Brief History
| Dynasty | Works | Name | Indications |
| Qin-Han | “Nei Jing” | Burning Needle | Obstruction syndrome, cold syndrome, meridian and bone diseases |
| Han | “Shang Han Lun” | Burning Needle | Exterior symptoms of cold damage |
| Sui | “Zhen Jiu Jia Yi Jing” | Quenching Needle | Obstruction syndrome, cold evil |
| Tang | “Qian Jin Yao Fang” | White Needle | + Surgical wounds |
| Song | “Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing” | Fire Needle | + Internal diseases such as heart disease, asthma |
| Ming | “Zhen Jiu Ju Ying” | Fire Needle | + Surgical pus, treating tumors |
| Qing | “Wai Ke Zheng Zong” | Fire Needle | + Scrofula |
2. Effects
1. Expel cold and dampness, warm the meridians and relieve pain. Fire needle can warm and open the meridians, stimulate the body’s Yang energy, promote Qi and blood circulation, harmonize the meridians, facilitate Qi flow, and alleviate pain caused by cold and dampness.
2. Unblock meridian Qi, disperse lung cold and relieve asthma. Cold evil and cold drinks harm the lungs; fire needle can warm and transform lung cold evil, unblock lung Qi, allowing lung Qi to disperse and descend, thus relieving asthma. Acupuncture points: Dazhù (大杼), Fengmen (风门), Feishu (肺俞).
3. Assist Yang to transform Qi, eliminate masses and disperse nodules. Masses refer to swellings or lumps retained in the body or on the surface; fire needle can promote Qi and blood circulation, assist Yang to transform Qi, facilitate Qi flow, and eliminate masses. For hemangiomas, lipomas, and fibromas: local acupuncture points.
4. Tonify Yang and replenish deficiency, raise Yang and support sinking. Spleen and stomach Yang deficiency → gastric prolapse. Treatment: Zusanli (足三里), Neiguan (内关), Pishu (脾俞), Zhongwan (中脘). Middle Qi deficiency → sinking Yin.
Treatment: Qihai (气海), Guanyuan (关元).
5. Promote tissue regeneration and drain pus. Fire needle promotes the movement of Qi and blood, invigorates the righteous Qi, and when the righteous Qi is abundant, it can expel pus and toxins. It can treat unbroken or already formed abscesses.
6. Disperse phlegm and eliminate scrofula. Fire needle can warm and open Yang Qi, disperse phlegm, unblock Qi and blood, eliminate accumulation and resolve stasis, thus treating scrofula.
7. Assist Yang to transform Qi and relieve numbness. Fire needle can warm and assist Yang, guiding Yang to the collaterals, allowing Qi to reach and blood to flow, thus relieving numbness.
Common types: Qi deficiency with generalized numbness; stroke with hemiplegia; liver stagnation and spleen deficiency with numbness in hands and feet; local numbness due to trauma to the meridians; operation: fine fire needle dispersing technique.
8. Warm and unblock the meridians, dispel wind and relieve itching. For local proliferative skin diseases: coarse fire needle puncturing locally. For generalized itching: fine fire needle puncturing at Quchi (曲池), Xuehai (血海), Fengshi (风市), etc.
9. Promote Qi and blood circulation, relieve spasms and cramps. Suitable for facial muscle spasms, often due to liver blood deficiency and wind-phlegm obstructing the collaterals, leading to loss of nourishment to the muscles and wind disturbing the meridians.
10. Conduct heat externally, clear heat and detoxify. According to the theory of “using heat to expel heat” and “fire can expel stagnation,” fire needle can treat heat toxins retained internally, which resist cold and cool medicines, such as mastitis, herpes zoster, and mumps.
11. Strengthen the spleen, promote dampness, and warm the middle to stop diarrhea. Fire needle has the function of enhancing Yang Qi, regulating the organs, and restraining leakage, which can treat chronic enteritis. Acupuncture points: Zhongwan (中脘), Tianshu (天枢), Changqiang (长强).
12. Tonify spleen Qi, stretch and nourish the meridians. Fire needle can assist Yang to transform Qi, making spleen and stomach Qi abundant, thus Qi and blood can be generated sufficiently, nourishing the meridians, enhancing muscle strength, and making muscles plump. Treatment for atrophy syndrome.
3. Needles
1. Material requirements: High temperature resistant, hard and straight
Material: Tungsten-manganese alloy
2. Structure: Needle tip – sharp and pointed; needle body – hard and straight; needle handle – heat-insulated and non-burning.
3. Models:
Model Diameter Indication Range
Fine fire needle 0.5mm Face, elderly, children
Medium fire needle 0.8mm Limbs, trunk, tender points, around lesions
Coarse fire needle 1.1mm Lesion sites such as sinus tracts, ulcers, etc.
4. Procedure
1. Determine acupuncture points: Select meridian points, tender points, and local lesions. Method: Pinch a “+” shape with the thumb.
2. Disinfection: 75% alcohol.
3. Heating the body needle: Ignite the alcohol lamp, hold the needle in a pen-holding manner with the right hand, insert the needle tip and part of the needle body into the flame, and determine the length of the needle to be heated red based on the required depth of insertion. The needle should be heated until it is bright red, as a red needle is more effective.
4. Needle insertion: While the needle is red, quickly and accurately insert it into the acupuncture point and swiftly withdraw it; the entire process should take half a second.
5. Post-needle treatment: Press a cotton ball on the needle hole to alleviate pain and protect the hole.
6. Medical advice: Normal reactions on the day of fire needle treatment include redness and itching at the needle hole; avoid scratching, and do not bathe on the same day.
7. When using fire needles, do not insert too deeply to avoid injuring the meridians; do not insert too shallowly, or the disease will not be eliminated.
8. Fire needle therapy should not be used on the face or during hot and humid summer days.
5. Key Points of Operation
1. Key points of operation: Red, accurate, fast.
2. Ensure safety during operation to prevent burns and fire hazards.
3. Weak constitution patients should lie down.
4. Diabetic patients should use fire needles with caution.
5. Use fire needles on the face with caution. “Zhen Jiu Da Cheng: Fire Needle” states: “Fire needles can be used on all parts of the body, but should be avoided on the face.” This is because fire needle insertion may leave small scars; therefore, fire needles are generally not used on the face except for treating small patches of vitiligo, moles, and flat warts.
6. Fire needles should not be applied to areas with major blood vessels and nerves.
7. If redness or swelling persists at the site after needling, avoid bathing to prevent infection.
8. Fire needle therapy is not suitable for febrile conditions.
9. If itching occurs at the needle hole, do not scratch to prevent infection.
10. Needle hole treatment: If the needle is inserted 1-3 fen deep, no special treatment is needed. If the needle is inserted 4-5 fen deep, apply disinfected gauze and secure with tape for 1-2 days to prevent infection.
11. Pay attention to the depth and location; be cautious when using near blood vessels, internal organs, and joints.
12. If the patient is nervous, provide adequate explanation; do not force those who cannot accept it.
13. Patients with weak constitutions, those who have consumed alcohol, those with mental disorders, and those who do not believe in acupuncture should not be treated.
Indications:
Internal medicine: Arthritis, epigastric pain, allergic asthma, emphysema, facial muscle spasms, peripheral neuritis, etc.
Urology: Impotence, nocturnal emissions, etc.
Surgery: Boils, mastitis, tenosynovial cysts, scrofula, lipomas, hemangiomas, fibromas, phlebitis, vasculitis, varicose veins, etc.
Gynecology: Uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, vulvar spots, etc.
Dermatology: Neurodermatitis, herpes zoster, psoriasis, etc.
Cosmetic medicine: Acne, pimples, chloasma, small patches of vitiligo, moles, flat warts, stubborn ringworm, etc.
In recent years, the clinical application of fire needles
1. Fire needle treatment for herpes zoster
Use a 26-gauge 1.5-inch needle, heat it over an alcohol lamp until red-hot, quickly insert it into the lesions and immediately withdraw the needle, puncturing each vesicle once and applying purple medicine.
2. Fire needle treatment for shoulder periarthritis
Use a 20-22 gauge coarse needle or sewing needle, wrap the base with cotton thread, heat it over an alcohol lamp until it turns red and white, quickly and accurately insert it into the acupoint of the affected shoulder, then quickly withdraw the needle and cover the hole with disinfected gauze, once a week.
3. Fire needle treatment for incarcerated internal hemorrhoids
Gently press to locate the center of the hemorrhoid, use a 7-gauge injection needle heated until red, apply sulfur powder, quickly insert it into the center of the hemorrhoid, then immediately withdraw the needle, and apply gauze externally, followed by a sitz bath with Sichuan pepper water.
4. Fire needle treatment for low back pain
Divide into two groups for acupuncture points, one group at Weizhong (委中), Shenyu (肾俞), and Yaoyan (腰眼), the other group at Kunlun (昆仑), Qihaiyu (气海俞), and Zhishi (志室). Alternate between the two groups, applying electric current to the fire needle until the needle tip turns red, inserting 3-5 mm into the points, and quickly withdrawing.
5. Portable electronic fire needle for surgical conditions
Connect the power supply, turn on the electronic fire needle treatment device, hold the fire needle handle, press the switch until the needle tip heats up and turns red, then operate. Aim the fire needle at the center of the lesion and quickly burn to the base; for papillomas, pull the papillomatous tissue outward with tweezers, then place the fire needle horizontally after heating, cutting from the root, which can remove it in seconds. Xu’s method has been used to treat common warts, pigmented moles, papillomas, flat warts, keratoacanthomas, sebaceous adenomas, and corns.
6. Fire needle treatment for pigmented moles and warts
Using fire needles developed by Ansteel Automation with diameters of 0.5, 1.0, and 0.25 mm, heat the needle tip over a lamp until red, quickly burn the affected area, and repeat until completely burned off.
7. Fire needle combined with cupping for knee joint effusion
Commonly disinfect the affected area, use a fine fire needle heated to incandescence, quickly puncture at the highest point of the joint; if effusion occurs, puncture 5-7 times; if the effusion is thick and difficult to expel, use a coarse fire needle to puncture after heating, then use flash fire cupping, which can yield light yellow effusion, and bandage to stabilize the knee joint. After the effusion is eliminated, switch to local acupuncture points.
8. Fire needle treatment for lateral epicondylitis
Locate the tender points between the lateral epicondyle and the radial neck, disinfect, quickly insert the fire needle after heating, leaving it in for 1-2 minutes, and apply cupping for 10 minutes after needle removal.
9. Fire needle bloodletting for gout
Main points: Xingjian (行间), Taichong (太冲), Neiting (内庭), Xiangu (陷谷). For damp-heat accumulation, add Qiuxu (丘墟), Dadu (大都), Taibai (太白); for blood-heat stagnation, add Xuehai (血海), Ge Shu (膈俞); for phlegm-damp obstruction, add Fenglong (丰隆), Pishu (脾俞); for liver and kidney Yin deficiency, add Taixi (太溪), Sanyinjiao (三阴交), all on the affected side. Use coarse fire needles for foot points, and fine fire needles for other points. After disinfection, quickly insert the fire needle until it turns red, inserting 0.3-1 inch deep, 1-3 needles per point. For foot points, bleeding should be controlled to less than 100 ml each time.
10. Fire needle warming method for alopecia areata
Acupuncture points: Ashi points, Shenyu (肾俞), and Ganyu (肝俞). Use three-headed fire needles for Ashi points, and single-headed fire needles for the other two points, disinfect the area, and quickly puncture with the heated fire needle.
11. Fire needle combined with external application at Yongquan (涌泉) for recurrent oral ulcers
Expose the wound; if the wound is too large or numerous, first perform mucosal anesthesia, then puncture the wound with the heated fire needle, ensuring to clean without damaging normal mucosa, then apply a paste of Wu Zhu Yu (吴茱萸) mixed with vinegar to Yongquan, securing it with musk bone plaster for 24 hours.
12. Fire needle as the main treatment for stubborn facial nerve paralysis
Select facial points: Yuyao (鱼腰), Sizhukong (丝竹空), Cuanzhu (攒竹), Sibai (四白), Yangbai (阳白), Xiaguan (下关), Yingxiang (迎香), Dicang (地仓), Jiachē (颊车), Taiyang (太阳), and Touwei (头维); choose 5-6 points each time. For body points, select Hegu (合谷), Zusanli (足三里), and Taichong (太冲). Use single-headed fire needles to puncture the points, inserting 1-2 fen deep without leaving the needle; then use fine needles for acupuncture, applying even tonification and reduction methods.
13. Fire needle treatment for fluorosis
Acupuncture points: Jiaji (夹脊) and Ashi points. Fluorosis is a local disease, and the number of points selected depends on the individual and symptoms. Fire needles should be heated until bright white, quickly inserted and withdrawn, about 1 inch deep, followed by cupping (using warm herbal decoction), changing when it cools, for 30-60 minutes each time.
14. Fire needle treatment for spinal injuries and pediatric cerebral palsy
Some have used lighters and disposable 5ml syringes (with needles) for fire needle treatment of spinal injuries and pediatric cerebral palsy with definite efficacy.
15. For abscesses without heads, puncture to allow pus to flow out, do not press on the hole.
16. Fire needle application in beauty and mole removal has also achieved good results.
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