Where can I buy Acupuncture?

The ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture is an alternative medical practice that has risen in popularity over the last several decades in the West. Today, many in the U.S. turn to the medical and physiological benefits of this tradition. For those looking to explore this field of alternative medicine, whether as a practitioner or a patient, understanding more about the tools of the trade used in acupuncture can be beneficial. Learning about the needles and accessories used in acupuncture can clarify and demystify the purchasing process. Once consumers are ready to make an informed acupuncture purchase, they can take advantage of a range of purchasing channels, including offline, brick-and-mortar retailers, or online retail sites such as eBay.

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an ancient practice at the core of Chinese Traditional Medicine that involves the insertion of fine needles into specific points throughout the body. The goal of acupuncture is to stimulate the flow of the body's energy by correcting imbalances in the body. Although the Chinese perceive acupuncture as related to Chi, the body's vital energy, many scientists believe that the process releases endorphins into the body, which act as natural painkillers, increase blood flow, and stimulate brain activity.

Acupuncture Needles and Accessories

Acupuncturists use a range of tools to ensure the health and safety of their patients. These include needles, as well as accessories that ensure the safe application of acupuncture principles and the sanitary use and disposal of instruments.

Acupuncture Needles

Acupuncture needles are the central tools in the practice of acupuncture. Needles vary in length from 0.51 to 5.1 inches, or 13 to 133 millimeters. Shorter needles are used on bonier areas such as the face and hands, and longer needles are used on the parts of the body that have more flesh. Needles also vary in diameter, typically ranging from 0.006 to 0.018 inches, or 0.16 to 0.46 millimeters. Acupuncturists usually choose the diameter of a needle based on the sturdiness of a patient's build.

Acupuncture Needle Design

The design and materials used in the creation of acupuncture needles are essential to the quality of an acupuncture experience. Manufacturers of well-made acupuncture needles concentrate on creating a fine, smooth, centered tip, using materials with hypoallergenic and resilient properties, and introducing design components that make them easier to use and more reliable. The following table lists various characteristics commonly found in acupuncture needles along with their descriptions.

Consumers looking for acupuncture needles may find an array of products with these various characteristics or most of them. The quality and characteristics of needles should be confirmed at point of purchase with a seller.

Sharps Containers

Many practitioners use disposable acupuncture needles instead of reusable ones. Disposing of needles, however, requires the use of proper accessories that ensure disposed needles cannot penetrate the skin of anyone except the original patient. For that reason, many acupuncture professionals turn to sharps containers. The containers are made typically from rigid polypropylene, which ensures the needles do not pierce the container.

The sharps containers are made from a rigid polypropylene hard plastic material and often bear medical warnings on the exteriors. A sharps container also usually has two levels of containment: a temporary closure for when needles are still in use and a permanent closure for when they are ready for disposal.

Acupuncture Trays

Acupuncture trays are the same types of trays used by other medical professionals. They are typically made from stainless steel for sanitation purposes. A tray may be a small rectangular or oval-shaped tabletop tray or a tray on a stand with rollers. Trays are used to hold needles and other accessories during the acupuncture process.

Acupuncture Models and Charts

Many practitioners keep acupuncture models and charts on hand to use as references during the acupuncture process. An acupuncture model is typically a human form made from rigid plastic and placed on a stand for easy viewing. The figure bears markings indicating the primary channels and acupuncture points on the body. Models can have a bilateral design, with a full-skin rendering of the human form on one side and a subcutaneous rendering on the other. An acupuncture chart is a printed rendering of the human form. Both models and charts may be color-coded to indicate different channels, and are excellent training tools.

How to Buy Acupuncture Equipment on eBay

eBay has a wide range of acupuncture accessories. To begin searching through this array of options, use the search bar found on every page of the eBay site. You can enter a keyword term that narrowly describes the product you want, such as " 25mm acupuncture needle" or, get an overview of a category by using a general term, such as " acupuncture needle."

As you review listings, take the time to evaluate sellers by looking at their previous listings and feedback on their seller pages, accessible by clicking on a seller's highlighted name in a listing. You can also communicate directly with a seller and ask any questions you may have about an acupuncture product.

Conclusion

Acupuncture is a tried and true practice that has delivered pain relief and somatic balance to patients for the millennium. With the coming together of modern technology and this ancient practice, consumers today have access to a range of quality acupuncture equipment in the marketplace. Items such as surgical grade stainless steel needles and electronic acupuncture machines are available in a wide variety through eBay. By learning about the characteristics of the various tools and then leveraging the user-friendly features on the site, consumers can use eBay to find the quality products they need to run a practice and to perform safe and healthful acupuncture.