Acupuncture Needles

Acupuncture Needles

Different needles sizes compared to a dime

  • The needles are very fine and flexible, slightly thicker than a hair
  • Single use, stainless steel, and sterile
  • Disposed by way of a medical hazardous waste company
NEEDLE GAUGES
Korean/Japanese Gauge Chinese Gauge Thickness (mm) Thickness (inches) Color
00 0.12 0.0047 Dark Green
0 0.14 0.0055 Lime Green
1 40 0.16 0.0063 Red
2 38 0.18 0.0071 Ivory
3 36 0.20 0.0079 Blue
34 0.22 0.0087 Pink
5 32 0.25 0.0098 Purple
8 30 0.30 0.0118 Brown
28 0.35 0.0137
26 0.40 0.0157
NEEDLE LENGTHS
mm 13 15 25 30 40 50 60 75 100 125
inches 0.5 0.6 1.0 1.2 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 4.0 5.0

Treatments

  • It takes a few minutes to insert the needles
  • Once in, needle retention time varies (0-30 minutes)
    • Deqi is most important
    • Age, constitution, relative strength
      • very young, old, frail, tired, weak – less time
      • stronger, healthier – more time
    • Type of condition
      • deficient – less time
      • excess or musculoskeletal – more time
  • Needle techniques
    • The way the needle gets inserted and removed
    • Manipulations of the needle while in place
  • Needling order – general guidelines
    • Face and body first, then extremities
    • Top to bottom, and front to back
  • Needle removal order – general guidelines
    • Face and body first, then extremities
    • Top to bottom, and front to back

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