Let us compare the cannulated needles of Western medicine on the left, used for transferring liquids into or out of the body, with the solid needles of Eastern medicine on the right, used in Acupuncture. In the first picture and from top to bottom: western cannulated needles 18G pink, 21G green, 23G light blue, 27G gray and respectively solid acupuncture needles 0.20×75, 0.30×60, 0.25×50, 0.20×25, 0.16×15, with the first number indicating the needle diameter and the second one the free needle length without the handle, all in millimeters. In the second image, each acupuncture needle has been inserted into the lumen of the cannulated needles, with the widest pink cannulated needle comfortably accommodating the first two acupuncture needles and still leaving room for more. Looking closely, both acupuncture needle points come out of the needle handle. This is probably the best explanation for the minimal tissue damage caused by acupuncture needles, with zero pain and only theoretical risk for infection.
