(258) Q & A: Needling Time

[HB KIM]

Q: I have heard and read about varying times that needles should stay in a patient.  Is there a standard time that needles should remain in the patient?  Does the standard time vary according to the treatment strategy?


A:  According to Huang Di Nei Jing (Yellow Emperor Inner Classic), Qi circulates throughout the body 50 times a day.  One day is 1440 minutes, and if you divide 1440 by 50, the result is 28.8, which is 28 minutes and 48 seconds.  So 30 minutes is the standard amount of time to retain the needles according to classical theory.

However, the treatment time may be modified depending on many different factors such as: the acupuncture theory used, body constitution, excess or deficiency condition, hot or cold environment.