Chinese medicine: from rural hospitals to top three hospitals in Kyoto

Chapter 1256 Secret Tales of the Mountains and Wilderness (Part 2)

"It should be, but it's different from regular acupuncture and moxibustion."

Master Liu said, "I heard that the 'medicinal needle' isn't empty; it seems to be filled with some kind of special medicinal powder. When you insert it, the powder stays in the acupoint."

"'Thunderfire Moxibustion' doesn't use moxa sticks. It involves pounding several herbs into a paste, making a wick, and then lighting it for indirect moxibustion. The heat is intense and the penetration is strong, but it doesn't damage the skin. These are all sayings passed down from the older generation, and very few people have actually seen them."

Zhuang Qiwen pondered for a moment and said, "The needle contains medicinal powder, which is released slowly after being inserted into the acupoint... This is somewhat similar to the modern medical practice of 'acupoint embedding' or 'acupoint injection,' but it uses pure Chinese medicine powder and traditional needles, which is very innovative."

"If 'Thunderfire Moxibustion' can truly be combined with specific herbs to produce a stronger warming and penetrating power, it may indeed have a miraculous effect on deep-seated cold and stubborn numbness."

Zeng Yunhui then asked, "Master Liu, with such amazing medical skills, why don't you pass them on to more people, or open a clinic in town? You could benefit more people."

Master Liu sighed: "Old Master Lei has a rather strange temper; he's very stubborn."

He said it was a craft passed down from his ancestors and masters, and not just anyone could learn it; it depended on fate and temperament.

As he spoke, Master Liu sighed: "In the past, some people wanted to learn from him or ask him to come out of the mountains, but he refused. He said that people outside the mountains are complicated and his methods are only for honest people in the mountains. Besides, his methods sound a bit... a bit mysterious. The doctors in the town's health center don't really believe in them. They call them 'superstition' and 'folk remedies'."

"So, it's only when people from a few nearby villages suffer from that kind of persistent numbness and have no other choice that they secretly go to him."

Chen Yang listened silently.

There are often reclusive masters in folk traditions who possess extraordinary skills but remain hidden in the mountains for various reasons. Their skills are often shrouded in mystery and may even be intertwined with certain folk customs or beliefs. How to objectively view and scientifically explore these folk medical heritages is indeed a complex issue.

After walking for about an hour and a half, we crossed a mountain ridge and a secluded valley appeared before us.

Several old mud-brick houses are built against the mountain. In front of the houses, there is a small flat area where some vegetables and herbs are planted. Behind the houses is a lush forest, and a stream flows by the houses. The environment is so quiet that it is almost isolated from the world.

"This is it."

Master Liu pointed and said, "Old Master Lei lives here. It's just him and his wife. Their son and daughter are all working away from home."

As he spoke, Master Liu stepped forward, patted the iron ring on the courtyard gate, and called out loudly, "Uncle Lei! Is Uncle Lei home? I'm Little Liu from Willow Grove!"

After a while, the wooden door creaked open a crack, and an elderly man with gray hair, a vigorous spirit, and a ruddy complexion poked his head out. He looked to be around seventy years old and had sharp eyes.

The old man was wearing a traditional Chinese jacket and straw sandals, resembling the appearance of a mountain dweller from olden times.

"Xiaoliu? What brings you here?"

Grandpa Lei's voice was loud and clear. His gaze swept over Chen Yang and the others behind Master Liu, and his brows furrowed slightly: "Who are these gentlemen?"

“Uncle Lei, these are traditional Chinese medicine experts from the provincial capital. They are providing free medical consultations in Hewan Town and have saved many lives! They heard that you have a unique skill in treating arthralgia, so they came here specifically to visit and learn from you. They just want to exchange ideas.” Master Liu quickly explained, his tone respectful.

"An expert from the provincial capital?"

Grandpa Lei sized up Chen Yang and his group, his gaze lingering particularly on their young faces. His expression remained blank. "I don't have anything worth learning here. These are just some rustic, unsophisticated methods, nothing fancy. You can go back now."

After saying that, he was about to close the door.

Master Liu panicked and quickly blocked the door, saying, "Uncle Lei, Uncle Lei! Don't rush to close the door! Director Chen and the others are truly skilled doctors, not those officials who look down on us country folk."

"They've even saved an elderly person with a failing heart in town! They used traditional Chinese medicine methods! They genuinely want to understand our folk medical skills, and maybe they can even help you promote your unique skills and cure more people!"

Then, Master Liu told him some things about Chen Yang.

Chen Yang stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and said sincerely, "Grandpa Lei, I am Chen Yang, and I apologize for disturbing you. Our purpose in coming to Jiangdong is to understand and learn about the characteristics and strengths of traditional Chinese medicine in various places, especially the valuable experience of rooting ourselves in the people."

"We have heard that the old man has a unique method for treating stubborn numbness and pain, and we are eager to learn from it. This is not out of curiosity or skepticism. If it is inconvenient for the old man, we will not force him. We can just ask him a few questions from outside the door."

Chen Yang spoke sincerely, neither servile nor arrogant, showing both respect for his seniors and the candor between doctors.

Grandpa Lei paused in closing the door, then looked at Chen Yang carefully again. Seeing that his eyes were clear and his demeanor was calm, not feigning anything, his expression softened slightly.

"You...can you really save elderly people with heart failure? What prescription do you use?" Old Master Lei suddenly asked.

Chen Yang gestured to Zhuang Qiwen.

Zhuang Qiwen stepped forward and briefly explained the diagnostic approach and prescriptions used to rescue the elderly patient with heart disease the day before. He particularly mentioned the restorative and anti-collapse effects of large doses of aconite and red ginseng, as well as the potent effect of lepidium seed in draining lung fluid and the risk control.

As Old Master Lei listened, a strange light flashed in his eyes.

Old Master Lei was knowledgeable and naturally understood the danger and courage of this prescription. He also knew that someone who could use such a prescription was neither a quack nor one of those academics who only knew how to recite from the book.

After a moment of silence, the old man slowly opened the door: "Come in. It's a small place, please don't mind."

Everyone was overjoyed and quickly thanked Master Liu before following him into the courtyard.

The courtyard was very clean, with the stone mill and farm tools neatly arranged. Grandpa Lei's wife, a sprightly old lady, came out of the house upon hearing the commotion and was somewhat surprised to see so many people. Grandpa Lei said a few words, and the old lady enthusiastically went to boil water for tea.

The group sat down on the stone benches in the courtyard.

Grandpa Lei sat down and asked directly, "What do you think? My method is simple in some ways, but difficult in others. The key is to accurately diagnose the illness, use the right medicine, and the right technique."

Chen Yang said, "Grandpa, we mainly want to learn the thought process."

"Could you please explain which diseases your 'medicinal acupuncture' and 'thunder-fire moxibustion' are primarily for? How do you select acupoints and medications based on syndrome differentiation? What are the underlying principles?"

When Grandpa Lei saw that Chen Yang had asked the right question and wasn't just asking for a general "performance," his expression softened.

"I mainly treat three types of diseases."

Grandpa Lei held up three fingers: "First, there's the common 'old cold legs' and 'rheumatic bone pain' that people in the mountains suffer from, which worsens when exposed to cold and becomes unbearable when the weather changes; second, there's the pain left over after 'shingles' heals, which feels like being pricked by needles or burned, especially at night, and many medications can't stop it; third, there are some old injuries from falls and blows, where blood stasis doesn't dissipate and joints are stiff."

"My approach can be summarized in eight words: 'Treat the internal with the external, and supplement with unblocking.'"

Grandpa Lei's tone became serious. "The root of these illnesses lies in the blockage of 'cold,' 'dampness,' 'stasis,' and 'toxins' in the meridians and blood vessels. When qi and blood are not flowing smoothly, pain arises. Relying solely on medication is insufficient to reach the affected area; ordinary acupuncture and moxibustion are not strong enough to break through those stubborn 'knots.'"