Display Your Needles at Healthfairs
Posted on April 30, 2008 - Filed Under General |
When I first started acupuncture, I was approached by a high school teacher who taught health careers. They had a month long module on alternative care and she wanted an acupuncturist to come in and speak to her class.  I realized that I really wanted a way to show the students what acupuncture needles looked like compared to a syringe needle. I couldn’t just pass them out and I didn’t want to have to walk around holding them. I wanted the students to have the ability to really see what the needles looked like.
I went out to my local craft store and for about $5.00 (10 years ago) I purchased a small frame suitable for a shadowbox. I have since priced these and in my area the retail price runs $10 on up.
I opened the shadowbox and placed a diabetic syringe I had gotten from a friend who is diabetic. I also placed the end of a syringe that I had gotten from my vet to give fluids to my cat.  Finally I put several acupuncture needles. I used some different brands, as well as different lengths to show how there are many different kinds. I used the velcro pieces that were included in the shadowbox kit to hold them down. After about 6 years, the velcro started to wear out and I used some thin double sided tape.
I also fastened some descriptions of what each needle was so that the students would know what was what.
I use this case whenever I go to health fairs. It means I don’t have to have needles sitting out on my table to be shown or potentially stolen. It allows people to get a good look at exactly what an acupuncture needle looks like compared to a syringe. Because the needles were behind glass, they did not need to be inside their wrapping so that everyone could get a good look at them.
If you are considering doing a health fair (and it’s a great way to market your business) I highly recommend taking the half an hour to an hour it took to create this particular shadowbox.
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2 Responses to “Display Your Needles at Healthfairs”
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Great idea, Bonnie! Thank you for sharing your ideas- keep them coming!
-amy
Hello, I am an Acupuncture Physician in Orlando, Florida.
Using a shadow box is a great way to show the people, especially kids what acupuncture needle are like in comparison to syringe. Thanks for you great idea.