Types of Acupuncture Needles

Acupuncture may seem like torture to the needle-shy---like a visit to the doctor's office for a shot, many times over. But acupuncture needles are very thin, and very different from syringe-type needles. Acupuncture needles vary in size and type, but none of them should cause pain.

History

• The first recorded mention of acupuncture is from the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, the earliest known medical textbook. In ancient Chinese acupuncture, practitioners used nine types of needles to stimulate Meridian points to try to bring a patient's Qi, or life force, into balance. The nine types of needles were of different lengths and widths, useful for different ailments. The earliest acupuncture needles were made of stone, but silver and gold needles existed, too.

Types

• As of 2009, most acupuncture needles are made of stainless steel and are disposable, though some practitioners do use silver or gold needles. Only six of the original nine types of needles are in general use today. The differences between these six types are in length and width of the needle, as well as the shape of the head. Another type of needle is used for electro-acupuncture. This kind will carry a mild electrical current through it to stimulate the desired point.

  Acupuncture needles are solid, so they're much thinner than a syringe-type needle. They also have rounded tips, so they don't cut through muscle like other needles, decreasing the pain associated with penetration.

Size

• Acupuncture needles are extremely thin---some resemble a strand of hair. Widths vary from .012 to .35 millimeters. The length varies more widely, from 7 millimeters to 8 centimeters. Your practitioner will choose the size of needle based on the desired affect of the acupuncture and the point to be stimulated.

Considerations

• The size of acupuncture needle may also be chosen based on the style of acupuncture your practitioner uses. In general, the Traditional Chinese Medicine style uses thicker and longer needles. This is to bring about a "de qi" sensation in the patient, which is a feeling of heaviness or numbness. In contrast, Japanese-style acupuncture uses thinner needles and doesn't penetrate as deeply.

Warning

• The FDA has approved acupuncture needles as a Class II medical device, which means there are special controls in place governing their approved use. According to these controls, acupuncture needles must be sterilized and are approved for single use only. Think carefully before going to a practitioner who doesn't use disposable needles. You could be setting yourself up for a serious infection.