Acupuncture and Moxibustion Set of Instruments in light blue plastic box with clear lid. Made in China. A: Needle, 1 1/3", coiled silver wire handle, tied to groove at right front of black molded plastic tray inset in box. B-L: Needles same as A; B: 2", C: 2 3/4"; D: 3 1/3", E: 3 7/8", F: 4 1/3", G: 5 1/2", H: 6", I: 6 1/2", J: 7", K: 7 1/2", L: 8" A-L:[hao zhen], filiform needles. A filiform needle is a most commonly used acupuncture needle, with lehgth ranging from 0.5 to 5.0 inches, clibre ranging from gauge 26 to gauge 32. A filiform needle is constructed by four parts: the handle, the root (the conjunction between the handle and the body of the needle), the body, and the tip or point. The different length of filifrom needles is used for different thickness fo muscles. The longest needle is for hip; the medium needles are for legs; the short needles are for arms; the shortest needle is for opisthenar or chest. This coiled silver wire handle is made for twisting and rotating quickly, and this kind of handle is used mostly. M: Needle, 4 1/3", bundled wire handle, tied to groove at left front of black molded plastic tray. N-R: Needles same as M; N: 3 7/8", O: 3 1/3", P: 2 7/8", Q: 2", R: 1 1/3". M-R are also filiform needles. The only difference from A-L is their handle, which is made for easy handle. A-R can be used only once. S: Acupunctue needle with two faces of different needle arrangment. Plastic handle and head. One side is called [mei hua zhen], plum-blossom needle. Five needles tied on one end of a rod. One side is called [qi xing zhen], sever-star needle. A disc fixed with seven needles attached to the end. It is used by knocking lightly on skin to relese pain and smooth channels and collaterals. It can be used repeatedly after sterilization. T-- X are called [pi nei zhen], subcutaneous needles. A subcutaneous needle is embedded subcutaneously and is fixed on the skin by taping the handle for therapeutic purpose, including two different shapes of needle: thumb-nail-shaped and wheat-grain-shaped. T & U: [mai li zing zhen], Wheat-grain-shaped needles (2), 5/8", tied to groove in upper right corner of black molded plastic tray. It maybe embedded subcutaniously at any part of the body. V & X: [tu ding xing zhen] or [xuan zhen], thumb-nail-shaped needles (3), 1/8" diam. It is usually embedded subcutaneously in the auricle. Y: [san leng zhen]. Three edged needle. It is 2 1/2" long with sharp point to make surface venous section to cause small bleeding by prompt prick for therapeutic purpose in treating such cases as fevers, impaired consciousness and sore throat. Z: "Gwasha tool", 2 1/2", flat diagonal blade used for scraping the skin. [xiao zhen dao]. It is used for the treatment of the sore of shoulders. AA & AB: Straight needles (2) with wire coil handles, 2 7/8", for bloodletting. Above needles can only be used once except the plum-blossom/seven-star needle. They are all made of steel so they will not be easily broken. If needles become rusty, they can not be used anymore. These needles are kind of old, which will reduce their efficiency. AC: Moxa. Packet of beige granular material, mugwort, used for moxibustion and burned on the skin; wrapped in clear cellophane AD-AP can be used repeatedly after high-pressured steriliztion. AD: Three edged needle for bleeding, 2 1/2", stamped "Made in England 16" AE-AP: Straight needles (12), 2 3/4", in clear plastic bag AQ: Light blue plastic box bottom, "No. 224" AR: Clear plastic box cover with gold stamped (silver underneath): Chinese characters and written in English "Instruments & Supplies for Acupuncture & Moxibusion; Made in China" AS: Black molded plastic box liner with thread tying down acupuncture instruments

1994.026.004