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

2 thoughts on “Acupuncture Needles”

Leave a comment