Acupuncture needle quality needs to be improved

RESEARCHERS looking at surface conditions and other physical properties of the two most commonly used stainless steel acupuncture needle brands said the quality of needles need to be universally improved to increase safety and avoid potential problems such as pain and allergic reactions.

The study*, published in Acupuncture in Medicine (13 February), found that although manufacturing processes have improved, surface irregularities and bent needle tips have not been entirely eliminated.

Lead investigator Professor Mike Xie, director of the Centre for Innovative Structures and Materials at RMIT, said acupuncture was a safe treatment overall but the research showed it could be made even safer.

“In China, Chinese medicine including acupuncture, accounts for 40% of all medical treatment, while in Western countries, acupuncture is one of the most frequently used complementary therapies,” he said.

While extensive research on acupuncture has demonstrated its safety and benefit for a range of conditions, Professor Xie said more needs to be done to enhance the comfort and safety of patients undergoing acupuncture treatment worldwide.

“Our findings show that acupuncture needle manufacturers should review and improve their quality control procedures for the fabrication of needles,” he said. “In particular, needle tips should be properly formed, sharpened and cleansed.”

China, Japan and Korea are the main suppliers of acupuncture needles, with China providing up to 90% of the world’s acupuncture needles.

Surface irregularities

In the study, scanning electron microscope images were taken of 10 randomly chosen needles from each brand, with further images taken after each needle underwent a standard manipulation – the equivalent of using them on human tissue – with an acupuncture needling practice gel.

The images revealed significant surface irregularities and inconsistencies at the needle tips, particularly in needles from one of the brands.

Metallic lumps and small, loosely attached pieces of material were observed on the surfaces of some needles. Some of these fragments disappeared after the acupuncture manipulation.

Co-author Professor Charlie Xue, director of the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Research Program in the Health Innovations Research Institute, and head of the School of Health Sciences at RMIT, said the metallic residue could be deposited in human tissues, causing discomfort and potentially allergic reactions such as dermatitis.

“While acupuncture needle induced dermatitis has been extremely rare, it is important to minimise the potential for such reaction through further improvement of the needles used in human practice,” Professor Xue said.

Malformed needle tips could cause bleeding, bruising, or strong pain during needling, which are more commonly reported following acupuncture treatment. An off-centre needle tip could result in the needle altering its direction during insertion and manipulation, consequently damaging adjacent tissues.

“While none of these potential pNike Air Max