In the traditional Bhutanese medicine the golden needle therapy is very popular. The golden needle is a nail like golden thick needle, used to treat many disorders. Many patients actively ask the traditional healer to be treated with the golden needle. The golden needle therapy is seen by many Bhutanese patients as something quite special.

IOCOB visited in 2008 a traditional healer to inquire about this method. We thougt the method might be related to Chinese medicine, were golden needles are used also. But it appeared to be quite different. Golden neelde therapy is cauterization: the  golden needle is heated and on certain points, unrelated to acupuncture points, the heated needle is applied. Not piercing through the skin, but only touching the skin. This it is not acupuncture, but cauterization. The therapy is a 2nd line therapy, if herbal remedies are not sufficient.

De golden needle therapy:

The selected points:

These points have a strong resemblance wth classical acupuncturepoints, such as Yin tang, DM 20 and gallblader points.

The therapy does not only consist of cauterization, also prayer is a part of the therapy. Buthanese traditional healers have to study traditional religious text for some years, before they start with the traditional healing course. This course has a duration of 3 years.

In Bhutan traditional healers work side to side with normal medicine in hospitals. The MD's refer to the traditional healers in cases like chronic disorcers, such as reumatoid artritis. 

The traditional healers work with herbal remedies, golden needle therapy, praying and rituals, and blood letting. All these interventions are done in the context of Buddhist ritual. Bhutanese herbal medicine is quite similar to that of Tibet. Originally, herbal powders were swallowed down with warm water, but since more than a decade, the herb mixtures are now produced as pills or capsules. The specific formulas used in Bhutan differ somewhat from their Tibetan counterparts in that there are local influences on the selection of herbs, but most of the key herbs are the same, as the altitude and climate conditions are similar to that of Tibet.

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Alicia - de la Vega 07-10-2011 12:27:03 I experienced this while my trip to Bhutan last April. Because I am very fond of acupunture, I asked my guides if I could go to see one as I had a bad knee. They took me to this medical centre in Thimpu where, firstly, the family doctor saw me and put some points on my skin. We went to see the nurse and quite frankly, I didnt expect the size of the needle but was relieved when they explained they only scratch the skin. So they prepared the material by burning the needles and proceeded while praying mantras to the "god of medicine" as they said to me. At the local pharmacy they provided herbal pills to be taken morning/evening for +/- 1 month. My surprise was when I wanted to pay for the treatment and they did not accept as wealth services are free in the country as for the Gross National Happiness system. They didnt have to, because I am a foreigner, but that is the kindness of these great country. My knee does not hurt anymore, and I have 5 little points. It did not work that well on my elbow, but they did better than the doctor of my country!