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The “Nine needles” in The Vital Axis
No one knows when exactly acupuncture was first used in medical treatment, but it definitely is well before recorded history. Unearthed relics show that ancient people used sharpened stones, bamboo and animal bones to perform the needling techniques. Nowadays, most modern physicians use sterile and disposable metallic needles of various lengths and thicknesses, so that they can be applied on different part of the body. In Chinese acupuncture practice, the commonly used needle size is 1.5 inches (40 mm) in length.
Since the needles are long, fine and soft, strong and skillful hand manipulations are needed to ensure the needles insert smoothly and precisely into the skin with little pain. Proficient acupuncturists have trained themselves to hold the needle freely. They are capable of inserting and removing the needles quickly, and also twirling or rotating the needles flexibly. They are also required to practice needle technique on their own bodies so as to experience the exact feeling of manipulation and stimulation that the recipient gets. Extensive training and practice is needed to become skillful in needle manipulation.
>Basic insertion techniques
>Techniques for enhancing needling stimulation
>Precautions in Chinese acupuncture treatments
>Additional techniques in acupuncture treatments
