Operation Procedure and Precautions of Lingnan Fire-Needle Therapy in Osteoporosis Model Rats

Our research is dedicated to exploring the therapeutic effects and the mechanisms of acupuncture in the management of age-related and chronic conditions. Specifically, I'm investigating the impact of Lingnan fire-needle therapy on osteoporosis in rodent models. The existing literature on osteoporosis treatments is predominantly focused on pharmacological interventions.

Our protocol aims to fill the gap by examining a non-pharmacological approach, Lingnan fire-needle therapy, for its potential in improving bone health. Compared to conventional treatments, the Lingnan fire-needle therapy offers a non-invasive, drug-free alternative with minimal side effects. It integrates traditional acupuncture with the unique application of heat, potentially enhancing therapeutic outcomes for osteoporosis.

Our findings could provide empirical evidence supporting the use of fire-needle acupuncture in osteoporosis treatment, thereby enriching the body of research on integrative medicine, and offering new insights into the integration of traditional practices in modern healthcare. In the future, our laboratory will concentrate on elucidating the molecular and cellular pathways through which fire-needle acupuncture exerts its effect. We aim to extend our research to include a broader range of geriatric and chronic diseases, further validating the therapy's efficacy and applicability.

To begin, position the ovariectomized menopause model rat on a non-slippery mat and locate the acupoints for the treatment. Using a pet electric clipper, shave the acupuncture sites and mark them with an oil-based marker. With the left hand, hold the rat's tail and gently pull back.

Open the port of the rat coat with the right hand and carefully let the rat burrow into it. When the rat reaches the middle of the coat, hold both sides of the rat's shoulder blades with the right hand, and pull out the rat's forelimbs with the left hand. After tightening the ties on the front of the rat coat, position the hind limbs of the rat outside the coat.

For the swing-type suspension, fix two S-hooks into the knot on the back of the rat coat and hang them on the iron frame to suspend the rat. Sterilize the local area of the rat three times with 5%iodophor, followed by 75%alcohol. Use hemostatic forceps to hold a cotton ball soaked in 95%alcohol and light it with a lighter.

Then with the right hand, hold the acupuncture needle between the thumb, forefinger, and middle finger. Hold both the needle tip and the body of the needle onto the flaming cotton ball until it turns red. Next, holding the needle vertically above the acupoint, quickly puncture the point and pull out within one second.

Finally, press a sterile dry cotton ball to the needle hole to prevent bleeding. Compared with the normal group, a large number of trabecula were lost in the femur cancellous matrix in the model group. However, there was a large increase in the thickness of trabecula in the center and periphery of the cancellous bone of the femur in the fire needle group as compared to the model group.