Acupuncture needles are hair-thin, flexible, and designed to glide into points that are empty of nerve, bone, organs, and vessels, but full of potential vitality and energy.
The Chinese term for acupuncture point translates to “vital hollow” implying a space or opening rather than a point on the skin. The acupuncture points are generally located in-between structures such as bones, tendons, nerves, and fascial trains.
Acupuncture needles are sterile, single use, and disposable. They are an FDA class II medical device, to be used by trained and licensed medical providers.
Acupuncturists do not use hypodermic needles, which are larger, hollow and do not bend, and are designed to pierce through structures to pull or add fluids. An acupuncture needle could never puncture an artery, and any competent acupuncturist would never cause nerve, organ or joint damage.
The system of Chinese medicine is based on the human body being a reflection of nature, and treatment involves restoring balance to our inner nature. When there is imbalance the body needs some stimulus to get back to functionality. Acupuncture needles simply stimulate the body’s own healing mechanisms.
This article was originally published on the Blue Fire Healing Arts blog on Sept 7, 2016