Today’s practice relies almost exclusively on single-use stainless-steel needles to eliminate cross-infection. Traditional methods such as red-hot firing (for fire-needling) or alcohol swabs are still seen in special situations, yet disposables—sharper and safer—dominate the market.
From primitive bian-stone to precision stainless steel, the needle’s long evolution mirrors Chinese medicine’s ideal of “mastering complexity through simplicity.” Whatever the material, the aim never changes: open the channels, harmonise yin and yang, and bridge classic doctrine with modern healthcare.
