What I Could See Only After I Could No Longer Use Acupuncture Needles ### A Day of Reflection on Self-Care and Professional Expertise July 10, 2026 (Friday) Reiwa8

As I was getting ready for bed tonight, a question suddenly came to my mind.

Since fracturing my left shoulder, I have been unable to perform acupuncture on myself.

This experience has reminded me that acupuncture truly requires the coordinated use of both hands.

Instead, when my knee hurts, I apply SEIRIN's PYONEX press needles.

They are the same press needles I often used with my patients.

I usually preferred the pink type, which provides a relatively stronger stimulation, and many of my patients liked it as well.

Tonight I found myself wondering, "How much scientific evidence actually supports these press needles?"

As I looked into the subject, I learned that SEIRIN has actively supported clinical research, including studies comparing genuine PYONEX needles with placebo devices, demonstrating a measurable therapeutic effect.

I think that is a remarkable achievement.

However, I have carried another question for many years.

When purchasing PYONEX on Amazon, a message asks whether the buyer is a healthcare professional.

In practice, however, the purchase is often completed simply through self-declaration.

Some customer reviews even say things like:

"I am not a healthcare professional, but I was able to buy them."

"My practitioner recommended them, so I bought them for myself."

Whenever I read comments like these, I cannot help wondering:

"Wasn't acupuncture originally meant to be practiced by trained professionals?"

At the same time, I also earned certification as a Sennenkyu Self-Care Supporter.

That program provides education so people can enjoy moxibustion safely at home, with products ranging from beginner-friendly items to more advanced equipment introduced step by step.

There are, of course, traditional moxa sticks and many kinds of warming devices, but people usually discover those through the official website or after developing a deeper interest.

Many of my patients asked me to order these products for them, and I gladly helped.

That process never felt inconsistent to me.

The world of acupuncture, on the other hand, is incredibly deep.

The disposable needles I practiced with as a student.

The silver needles I learned to use through the Toyo Acupuncture Society.

The countless specialized needles displayed by professional suppliers during seminars in Tokyo.

Every needle is different, and every school has its own techniques and philosophy.

That is why I reached one conclusion today.

The issue is not PYONEX itself.

Nor is it simply about one manufacturer.

The real question is how far self-care should be encouraged while preserving the professional expertise of acupuncture.

What responsibilities belong to manufacturers, licensed practitioners, and the people who use these products?

There may not be a single correct answer.

Only because I can no longer perform acupuncture due to my fracture have I been able to reflect quietly on questions that I might never have considered before.

Pain brings limitations.

But at the same time, it can also offer a new perspective.

That was the lesson this day gave me.

#Acupuncture #LicensedAcupuncturist #PressNeedles #PYONEX #SEIRIN #SelfCare #Moxibustion #TraditionalChineseMedicine #MedicalEthics #FractureRecovery #Rehabilitation #LifelongLearning #LearningAt68 #Note