novel for you Chapter 1257 Secrets of the Mountains and Wilderness (Part 2)
Chapter 1257 Secrets of the Mountains and Wilderness (Part 2)
After a moment's hesitation, Grandpa Lei stood up, went into the house, and took out an old wooden box and a small pottery jar.
Upon opening the wooden box, one finds dozens of specially made needles. The needles are slightly thicker than ordinary acupuncture needles, hollow, and have tiny side holes at the tips. The needles are well-preserved, gleaming with a dull, dark luster.
"This is a 'medicine needle'."
Grandpa Lei took out a needle: "This needle is specially made; it's filled with a medicinal powder that I prepared."
As he spoke, he opened the earthenware jar, which contained fine, grayish-brown powder that emitted a complex spicy aroma. Upon closer inspection, one could detect the scents of musk, cinnamon, frankincense, myrrh, aconite, processed aconite root, strychnine, and other notes, along with some indescribable herbal fragrance.
"The powder mainly consists of potent herbs that are pungent, warm, and have the properties of promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, dispelling cold and dampness, and relieving pain. There are also a few detoxifying herbs. All of them have undergone special processing to reduce toxicity and enhance their medicinal properties."
Grandpa Lei said, "When using it, you should select different acupoints depending on whether the patient has severe cold, dampness, or blood stasis. Insert the needle, gently rotate it, and the medicine powder will slowly seep into the acupoint from the side hole of the needle tip. It will stay there and take effect slowly. It may take three to five days or up to half a month for the medicine to dissipate."
Zhuang Qiwen picked up a medicine needle and examined it carefully, then smelled the powder, feeling deeply shocked.
This is indeed an extremely bold approach to "acupoint sustained-release drug delivery," delivering potent medication directly to the affected area, bypassing gastrointestinal absorption and systemic distribution, potentially improving local efficacy and reducing systemic toxicity. However, the risks are also extremely high, requiring extremely high standards for the accuracy of acupoints, the compatibility and processing of the medicinal powder, and the sterilization and aseptic technique of the needles.
"What about 'Thunderfire Moxibustion'?" Xia Hongliang asked impatiently.
Grandpa Lei then took out several small paper rolls from the house, unfolded them, and inside was a dark brown paste mixed with some fine particles.
"This is a medicinal wick made by mixing moxa wool with a few herbs that I have prepared—such as Clematis chinensis, Clematis armandii, Clematis armandii, and Zaocys dhumnades—as well as a little bit of sulfur and saltpeter (trace amount), and then mixing it with honey. After lighting it, you can apply it to the painful point or acupoint through a thin slice of ginger or garlic."
"The firepower is intense, the penetration is strong, and it can reach right to the bone."
Grandpa Lei gestured: "Ordinary moxibustion is for warming and unblocking, but my 'Thunder Fire Moxibustion' is for 'warming and unblocking' plus 'breaking through,' specifically for dealing with deep-seated cold and dampness stagnation. When moxibustion is performed, the patient will feel the heat penetrating straight into the bone, and may even experience a stinging sensation. The skin will remain red for a long time after the moxibustion, and sometimes small blisters may appear, but the effects are also quick."
Yu Shiyun listened intently and couldn't help but ask, "Sir, how do you determine which treatment is suitable for a patient? Or perhaps both?"
Grandpa Lei said, “Good question. ‘Medicinal acupuncture’ is more about attacking and expelling stagnant ‘blood stasis’ and ‘toxins’, while ‘Thunder and Fire Moxibustion’ is more about warming and dispersing deeply hidden ‘cold’ and ‘dampness’.”
"If the patient's pain is fixed, like being pricked by needles, with dark skin, ecchymosis on the tongue, and a choppy pulse, then 'medicinal acupuncture' is used more often; if the pain worsens with cold, the area feels cold, the tongue is pale with a white and greasy coating, and the pulse is deep and tight, then 'thunder and fire moxibustion' is used more often. The two are often used together, with the medicinal acupuncture first 'breaking up the knots' and then the thunder and fire moxibustion 'warming and unblocking', the effect is better."
After a pause, the old man added, "Of course, not everyone can use it. Those who are too weak, pregnant women, those with bleeding tendencies, or those with skin ulcers cannot use it. You must ask clearly and read carefully before using it."
Chen Yang nodded: "The old man has considered everything very thoroughly. Every treatment has its indications and contraindications; the key is to grasp them properly."
This old man seemed aloof, but after getting to know him, I found that he wasn't conservative at all; he just didn't trust some people.
Seeing that Chen Yang and the others were listening attentively, asking professional questions, and being humble in their attitude, Old Master Lei, whose interest in the conversation was growing, simply said, "Talking without doing is useless."
"It's perfect timing. A couple of days ago, a young man from the next village hurt his back while quarrying stones. He didn't pay much attention to it at the time, but now it's become a chronic injury. His back is painful and stiff, especially on rainy days. He's tried applying plasters and taking painkillers, but nothing works. He's scheduled to come over this afternoon. If you're not afraid of getting dirty or noisy, you can see how I can help."
Everyone was overjoyed upon hearing this, as it was a rare opportunity for on-site learning! They quickly assured each other that they were not afraid.
Sure enough, not long after, a man in his thirties, with a strong build but a slightly hunched gait, entered the yard and called out, "Uncle Lei."
The man's surname was Wu, and he was a worker at the quarry.
Grandpa Lei told him to take off his shirt and lie face down on the bench prepared in the yard. The man's waist muscles were stiff, his skin was slightly dark, and there were several obvious tender points when pressed.
Grandpa Lei first inquired carefully about the course of the injury and how the patient felt, then examined the tongue coating and took the pulse.
"This is a typical case of chronic lumbar muscle strain combined with cold and dampness stagnation. The blood stasis had not dissipated when the injury occurred, and the person had been working in a damp quarry for many years, which allowed cold and dampness to invade and combine with the old blood stasis, resulting in stubborn arthralgia. Acupuncture or moxibustion alone is not enough; both must be used together."
The old man asked Wu Hanzi to point out the most painful spot, and selected three acupoints: Yaoyangguan, Shenshu, and Dachangshu.
Then, take out the medicine needles, wipe the skin and needles with homemade herbal wine, and quickly insert the three medicine needles into the acupoints. Gently twist them for a moment, and then pull them out.
There was a very fine powder residue at the needle puncture site, which was quickly absorbed by the skin, leaving only a red dot.
Wu Hanzi groaned and said that he felt a bit of swelling and pain when the needle went in, and then it seemed that a warm current spread from the puncture site.
Next, Grandpa Lei took out some ginger, sliced it thinly, pricked several small holes in it with a needle, and applied it to the acupuncture points where he had just been acupunctured.
Afterwards, the old man lit the "Thunderfire Moxibustion" wick and, through a slice of ginger, began to apply the moxibustion to the acupoints.
As the wick burned, the flame was blue-yellow and made a slight crackling sound. The smoke carried a strong, spicy herbal aroma. The heat penetrated the ginger slices, and Wu Hanzi, who had initially gritted his teeth to endure it, soon couldn't help but groan, "Hot! So hot! It feels like there's fire burning in my bones!"
Grandpa Lei remained unmoved, steadily holding the wick and moving it constantly to ensure the heat penetrated evenly.
Each acupoint was treated with moxibustion for about five minutes, until the skin at the moxibustion site became flushed and slightly sweaty.
After the moxibustion, Wu Hanzi was covered in sweat, but the stiffness and soreness he had felt seemed to have eased considerably, and he was able to straighten his back a little more.
"Don't touch cold water or do heavy work for three days after you go back. Come back again in a week."
After giving his instructions, Grandpa Lei gave the man a small packet of topical medicine powder, instructing him to mix it with alcohol and apply it to the painful area.
The man left, thanking him profusely.
Throughout the treatment, Mr. Lei's technique was skillful and effortless, demonstrating extremely precise control over the timing and the patient's response.
Chen Yang and the others watched intently, deeply moved.
This primitive, direct, and even somewhat "brutal" treatment method embodies a profound understanding of the pathogenesis and a bold and effective application of external treatment methods.
"Grandpa, your skill is truly amazing."
Chen Yang sincerely praised: "In particular, the idea of delivering potent medicine directly to the affected area through acupoints, and the courage to use strong moxibustion to warm and unblock deep-seated cold and dampness, have been very inspiring to us."
Grandpa Lei waved his hand: "What special skills? Just some old methods."
"The methods used in your city hospitals are standardized, safe, and the mainstream approach. My methods are unorthodox, and can only be used at specific times and for specific people. If not handled properly, it can lead to trouble."
The old man's words were sincere and clear-headed; he was neither arrogant because of his exceptional skills nor carried away by the recognition of others.