針先と針体の研究

臨床家の針の実態

抄録

How many acupuncturists could confidently give an affirmative answer to the question, “Are the needles which you are using safe?”
The technique which we work hard to refine in the clinic daily is the foundation upon which tomorrow's clinical results rest. The first condition for the realization of these results is that we be sufficiently provided with safe (including needle handle, body and tip) satisfactory needles.
I have been interested and not a little uneasy about the condition of needle tips and bodies of the needles provided us by the manufacturers. This is because I cannot accept the fact that broken needles and other such accidents occur only as a result of unskillful use of the needles, especially when we encounter such cases as needles broken upon first use. Such dangerous accidents as these occur as a result of insufficient study on the part of the manufacturers concerning the proper conditions of needle tips and bodies, as well as a shirking of responsibilities in instructing the manufacturers as to requisites on the part of the practitioner.
I collected 5 needles each from 10 presently practicing acupuncturists and using a newly purchased microscope examined the bodies and tips of these needles. Results revealed that the condition of the needle tips in 60% of the cases was poor and that in 50% of the cases the needle bodies were marred by cuts or scratches.
With the knowlege of these facts we practitioner should demand improvement of the needle bodies from the manufacturers and at the same time take it upon ourselves to examine needle tips using microscopes or other equipment, and correct deficiencies.