What Are the Nine Needles?

The Nine Needles refer to nine types of ancient needles, including the Chán needle, Yuán needle, Dǐ needle, and others, primarily used in acupuncture therapy to assist in the treatment of diseases. Clinically, the Nine Needles usually refer to the Chán needle, Yuán needle, Dǐ needle, Fēng needle, Pī needle, Yuánlì needle, Háozhēn needle, Cháng needle, and Dà needle. They vary in length and serve different purposes. For instance, the Yuán needle is mainly used for pressing on the body surface, while the Pī needle is used for incision and drainage of abscesses. The other needles are primarily used for acupuncture or bloodletting in different body parts. Nine Needles therapy can dredge meridians, promote blood circulation to remove blood stasis, regulate qi flow, strengthen the body, and is helpful for alleviating diseases. However, patients should undergo acupuncture therapy at formal hospitals to better leverage the therapeutic effects of acupuncture and relieve diseases, avoiding complications such as infection, bleeding, pain, which may affect disease treatment. If abnormal symptoms occur during acupuncture therapy, patients should promptly inform their doctors and seek treatment to prevent the induction of other symptoms and maintain physical health. During treatment, patients should keep their skin clean, avoid scratching affected areas, wear cotton, loose, comfortable, and breathable clothing, and maintain a pleasant mood. At the same time, they should adopt a healthy diet, consume more vegetables and fruits, and eat less spicy foods such as chili peppers and mustard. Additionally, during treatment, patients should regularly return to the hospital for follow-up examinations. If the treatment effect is poor, it is recommended to combine it with other treatment methods to prevent disease progression.