Chronic wounds (wounds that fail to heal through normal stages of repair) represent a largely hidden but significant health challenge. At Rozelle Acupuncture, we have supported patients with deep and wide surgical wounds, weeping leg ulcers, and spreading infections that have not improved after standard medical care.
Chinese Medicine has two specialised needling techniques traditionally used around non-healing wounds: the 'Turtle Technique' and 'Circling the Dragon'. We use both, in combination with moxibustion, in this setting.
The mechanisms usually proposed are increased local blood flow, release of substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide from peripheral sensory neurons, and reduced local inflammation. Those are studied mechanisms rather than demonstrated clinical effects: the clinical evidence in chronic wounds is limited to small studies and case reports, and we would describe our own experience the same way.
We work alongside medical wound care specialists and continue to recommend standard medical intervention as the primary treatment. A non-healing wound or a spreading infection is a medical problem first. Our role is to complement that care, not to replace or delay it.