HUO
ZHEN
Is your impression of acupuncture like this?
If I told you that acupuncture can actually look like this—
Would you feel scared?
……
Actually,
acupuncture therapy is not as frightening as we imagine
It is just one method of treatment
In TCM, there is another acupuncture technique
that requires heating the needle over a flame
So today, I will introduce you to Fire Needle Therapy
01What is Fire Needle Therapy?
Perhaps you have seen in various films and dramas, an old TCM doctor using needles—slowly taking a shiny silver needle from a needle case, first heating it over a flame, or even holding it in their mouth for a moment… Some say this is to disinfect using high temperature and saliva, but that is just one explanation.
Fire needle therapy is not simply about heating the needle back and forth; during the procedure, the doctor holds a lit alcohol lamp or an ethanol cotton ball in one hand and the needle in the other, heating it until it glows red or white. After heating, the needle is quickly inserted into the disinfected acupuncture point, with a swift in-and-out motion, or it can be left in place for 5 to 15 minutes before removal. After removal, a sterile dry cotton ball is pressed against the puncture site to reduce pain and prevent bleeding.
This requires the doctor to be quick and precise, and to determine the depth of the needle insertion and whether to leave the needle based on the patient’s condition, constitution, and the acupuncture site.
02What Conditions Can Fire Needle Therapy Treat?
So what issues can fire needle therapy address? Because fire needles are inserted into acupuncture points after being heated, they provide localized thermal stimulation, thus having effects such aswarming the meridians and dispersing cold, invigorating blood circulation, softening hard masses, and promoting tissue regeneration.
It is primarily used forbi syndrome, tennis elbow, cervical spondylosis, frozen shoulder, meat spurs, ganglion cysts, chronic colitis, epilepsy, impotence, urinary disorders, dysmenorrhea, abscesses, hemorrhoids, scrofula, snake bites, eczema, axillary osmidrosis, erysipelas, psoriasis, elephantiasis, varicose veins, wind-dampness, malnutrition, warts, and moles.
03Can Fire Needle Therapy Be Performed at Home?
Seeing that fire needle therapy can treat so many ailments, some may be eager to try it themselves, thinking it’s just about heating the needle and becoming a master!
Here, I would like to especially remind! In addition to following the precautions for acupuncture, one should also pay attention to:
1. Safety should be prioritized during the procedure to prevent burns or fire accidents.
2. Patients should be informed about post-treatment care for the acupuncture site; if mild redness, burning, slight pain, or itching occurs at the needle hole, it is normal and requires no treatment; keep the area clean, avoid scratching, and do not apply oily or greasy medications; avoid getting the needle hole wet on the same day.
3. Diabetic patients, those with keloid tendencies, or allergic constitutions should use caution. Patients with significant blood loss, coagulation disorders, or unexplained lumps should avoid this treatment.
So do not attempt fire needle therapy at home; if issues arise, seek help from a professional physician at a hospital!
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