Choose the right needle
No single needle type suits every patient and treatment. The choice depends on the patient, the treatment approach and the practitioner’s preferences.
Needle length and diameter depend on the technique and the part of the body being treated. Shorter needles are generally used for the face and ears, while longer, thicker needles are commonly chosen for the back and buttocks.
Common acupuncture needle diameters range from 0.12 to 0.40 mm. Chinese acupuncture techniques are often associated with thicker needles, while Japanese techniques commonly favour finer needles.
The stated needle length refers to the needle body and excludes the handle. The most common lengths are 25 mm and 30 mm.
HEGU has supplied acupuncture needles since 1993. The range includes different needle types and plastic, steel and copper handles to suit a variety of practitioner requirements.
The three common needle styles are described below.
Chinese-style needle
The traditional Chinese-style acupuncture needle has a fine stainless steel body and a copper wire handle with a loop at the top. The loop is formed from three or four strands and supports manipulation during treatment. The needle tip is rounded.
Japanese-style needle
The guide tube was developed by Japanese acupuncturists to help guide and position the needle tip.
Japanese-style needles typically have a plastic handle and a conical tip. In versions where the handle is sealed to the guide tube, twisting the handle releases the needle for insertion. Japanese-style needles are also available without a guide tube.
Korean-style needle
Korean acupuncture needle manufacturers developed the spring handle during the twentieth century. This construction is relatively simple and efficient to manufacture.
Needles with a spring handle are commonly referred to as Korean-style needles. Their needle tips are conical.
Regulatory information
Practitioners are responsible for knowing and following the local laws and regulations governing their scope of practice for acupuncture and dry needling.
Acupuncture needle manufacturing and labelling must meet defined standards and requirements. HEGU needles are sterile, disposable, CE-marked medical devices manufactured and labelled according to the Medical Devices Directive 93/42/EEC (MDD). They are labelled for single use and carry an expiry date.
For single use only.