Technique of Acupuncture

Abstract

Today, mostly filiform steel needles are used for acupuncture. The steel used is flexible and unbreakable. Gold and silver needles are applied very rarely and only in ear acupuncture. The diameter of the needles varies from 0.2 to 0.6 mm and is given often as the gauge (26–32):

Gauge	34	32	30	28	26
mm	0.22	0.26	0.32	0.38	0.45

In most cases needles 0.3–0.4 mm thick are used. The length varies from 1 to 10 cm and is often given in inches, the 1-in., 1½-in., and 2-in. needles being most common. Filiform needles consist of a tip, a body, and a handle. The length of the needles refers to the body. Often the wire webbing handle is made of silver. Double-webbed needles are better for easy manual stimulation and are called dragonhead needles.