[BAI Weijie's experience in treatment of knee osteoarthritis with Liu's filiform fire needle technique].

This article describes Professor BAI Weijie's specialized approach to treating knee osteoarthritis using a traditional Chinese medicine technique called "Liu's filiform fire needle." Knee osteoarthritis is a common condition causing pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility in the knee joint. Professor BAI views this condition through the lens of traditional Chinese medicine, believing that wind, cold, and dampness represent the surface symptoms, while deficiency of the liver and kidney systems represents the underlying cause. The core problem is seen as an imbalance between muscles and bones. The treatment approach has two main features. First, it uses careful diagnostic methods based on meridian sinew theory to identify precise problem areas and select specific acupuncture points. The practitioner combines points around the knee (such as Fuxi, Xiyangguan, and Xiguan) to regulate tendons, points on the thigh and hip (Futu, Zhibian, and Juliao) to relax knotted tendons, and ankle points (Taixi and Kunlun) to nourish the kidney and strengthen bones. Second, it employs the Liu's fire needle technique, which involves heating needles and using specific insertion methods—deep insertion and swift movements—to promote energy flow, enhance circulation, and eliminate disease-causing factors. The treatment philosophy emphasizes simplicity, using fewer but more precisely selected points with specialized needling techniques that directly target the problem area. This approach offers a distinctive traditional Chinese medicine pathway for managing knee osteoarthritis. Patients interested in this treatment should seek a qualified acupuncturist trained in fire needle techniques and meridian sinew theory.

This clinical paper presents Professor BAI Weijie's approach to knee osteoarthritis using Liu's filiform fire needle technique combined with meridian sinew differentiation. The methodology emphasizes identifying focal lesions through meridian sinew theory for precise point selection. Treatment protocol includes three point combinations: (1) Fuxi (BL38), Xiyangguan (GB33), and Xiguan (LR7) to regulate meridian sinew; (2) Futu (ST32), Zhibian (BL54), and Juliao (GB29) to release tendon adhesions; (3) Taixi (KI3) and Kunlun (BL60) to nourish kidney yin and strengthen tendons. Shu-stream points supplement treatment for joint pain relief. The fire needle technique involves quantified needle heating, deep insertion, swift penetration, and specific manipulation to activate meridian qi and enhance circulation. Clinical philosophy prioritizes minimal point selection with maximal specificity, directly targeting pathology. No sample size, control groups, or quantified outcomes are reported in this experience-based clinical summary. The approach offers practitioners a specialized TCM framework integrating fire needling with meridian sinew diagnosis for KOA management.