The early needles used in acupuncture were made from sharpened stones, progressing to bones, bamboo until the fine steel needles in use today. Originally practitioners re-used the needles after sterilisation, which is often still practised in China today, in the west there are more exacting standards and the norm tends to be the use of disposable needles already sterilised by the manufacturers, they are stored in a secure place after use and later diposed of by incerating.
Needles will vary in both length and thickness, commonly they are between 1/2 an inch to 3 inches long and the acupunturist will rely on skill and experience to choose the approprate size. As a general rule of thumb fine needles are used for areas of thin skin and larger needles for more fleshy areas, also longer thin needles will be used when applying just under the skin on the scalp or face.There are also some specialist needles that may be used, such as copper-coiled handled needles that are used in Moxabustion , and various other forms that are used to tap gently on the skin to release very small quantities of blood.

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