Acupuncture needle usage
Acupuncture needles used for therapeutic aims is the theme during the Congres The Journey of the Needle. Plotted on a timeline the Bian stone and the Percutaneous Electrolysis are to my knowledge the extremes at this moment in time. The Bian stone (left side picture) marks the early beginnings and is depicted as the precursor of Acupuncture crafts and dates back to before 2500 BC. The one on the right is the most sophisticated and recent development in acupuncture needle use: Percutaneous Electrolyse Therapy
Bian stone [1]
Bian stones are pointed stones that were historically used in traditional Chinese medicine. They are generally considered to be a precursor to acupuncture, utilising heated pointed stones (instead of acupuncture needles) in the treatment of back and neck pain. The stones are made from a variety of materials found along the coastline of Shandong,China.
Bian stone therapy is one of humanity’s oldest medical practices. The Bian-stone technique refers to the use of stone-based equipment to perform massaging, heating and other operations. The devices are called bian stone tools. Bian-stone includes both the bian-stone technique and the tool. When used in medical institutions for therapeutic purposes, it is referred to as Bian-stone treatment.
Before acupuncture and moxibustion appeared, ancient Chinese people selected certain kinds of stone and ground it into a therapeutic tool that featured a sharp tip or an edge. Such shapes allowed the stone to be applied to the human body in different ways. The puncturing and pressing methods eventually evolved into acupuncture, while the heated-stone application evolved into moxibustion.
Percutaneous Electrolysis Therapy [2]
Or EPTE is an innovative technique that involves applying a modulated direct electrical current directly to damaged soft tissue via an acupuncture needle , inducing the tissue’s recovery. Percutaneous Electrolysis Therapy induces our body’s own healing reaction in the treated area. The whole procedure is performed under guidance of echo.
Johanna Biemans
Variations in needling: www.needling.org
