I Can Hear the Heart's Voice of Traditional Chinese Medicine-Chapter 246 - 111: Learning Acupuncture from Elder Zhou (Part 2)

If this were the result of years of training, Zhou Jiande wouldn't be so surprised. But Lu Xuan was able to achieve this level after just watching it once—if that's not talent, then what is?

It's important to realize that his two students, after watching the demonstration at least a dozen times, still couldn't grasp even half of it.

The most fearsome thing about people is comparison—it's only when you compare that you know the difference.

Zhou Jiande instinctively turned his head to glance at his two students. Although they hadn't mastered much, they did have some insight. Lu Xuan's needling technique had already far surpassed theirs.

Previously, Lu Xuan was actually no different from them, his needling technique was extremely rough.

At this moment, the two of them were flushed with embarrassment, unable to hide their awkwardness under Zhou Jiande's gaze.

Zhou Jiande could also see that they were greatly discouraged. Initially, he didn't plan to say anything, knowing that some setbacks could be beneficial for them. But after thinking it over, he still offered some comfort: "You don't need to belittle yourselves; after all, Dr. Lu is a resident doctor at the United South Chinese Medicine Association. It's normal for him to learn quickly. Once you have the same qualifications to diagnose there, you might be able to understand just by watching it once, too."

Though Zhou Jiande said this, he was actually questioning his own words internally.

What he was considering was, if not Lu Xuan, how many of the other resident doctors at the United South Chinese Medicine Association could reach this level just by watching once?

Probably very few; otherwise, what was the point of his decades of hard work?

Lu Xuan was able to achieve this because of his high talent, which is much more important than acquired effort.

"Compared to needle insertion, enhancing needle sensation, namely needling and achieving Qi, is relatively more difficult."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Jiande's two students exchanged glances and quickly asked, "Teacher, even if we don't have as high a talent as Dr. Lu for needling practice, after some time, we can grasp most of it. But as for achieving Qi, we have never understood its subtleties. Could you explain it to us in detail? How difficult is it, and where exactly are the challenges?"

"It's hard to describe just how difficult it is."

Zhou Jiande pondered for a moment and said, "During the acupuncture process, correctly grasping the angle and depth of insertion is crucial for enhancing needle sensation, improving therapeutic efficacy, and preventing accidents. The angle and depth of needling have a significant impact on acupuncture's effectiveness, especially on achieving Qi. If Qi is not achieved in acupuncture, it loses its effect naturally.

Manipulating the needle, also known as moving the needle, involves applying specific techniques after inserting the needle into the acupoint to induce needle sensation in the patient.

Achieving Qi, also known as needle sensation, occurs when patients experience sensations like soreness, numbness, distension, or heaviness due to needle insertion, which may spread along certain regions or directions while practitioners feel a sinking and tense sensation under their fingers.

If Qi is not achieved, the practitioner feels emptiness under the needle, and naturally, the patient does not experience sensations like soreness, numbness, distension, or heaviness.

The 'Biao You Fu' states: "When light and smooth, Qi has not arrived; when deep and tight, it has arrived. Qi's arrival is like a fish swallowing bait; Qi not arriving is like the profound depth of a secluded hall." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

The presence or absence of Qi and the speed which it arrives directly affects the therapeutic outcomes and prognosis of acupuncture treatment.

Generally, fast Qi arrival leads to good efficacy, slow Qi arrival leads to poor efficacy, and if Qi is never achieved, the treatment may be ineffective with an unfavorable prognosis.

The 'Spiritual Pivot Benshen Chapter Nine Needles and Twelve Sources' explains in detail: "If the Qi does not arrive after needling, it doesn't matter how many times it's done; once the Qi arrives, it should be removed... The key to needling is that Qi arrives and is effective, the effect as certain as the wind driving clouds, as clear as the sight of the blue sky."

The 'Golden Needle Poem' also says: "Quick Qi, quick effect; slow Qi, slow effect."

Therefore, the presence or absence of Qi is a critical aspect of needling, and is key to acupuncture treatment."

At this point, Zhou Jiande smiled and said, "Achieving Qi through needling is not something that can be mastered overnight. You should first focus on mastering needle insertion; achieving Qi requires a lot of practice and the possibility of mastering it in a short time is low.

Let me put it this way: fewer than 5% of acupuncture learners can master achieving Qi quickly. I've mentored many students over the years, probably over a hundred, but only three have become proficient within three years. With me, you haven't been learning long, so there's no need to rush."

Upon hearing this, the two of them breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed that among Zhou Jiande's students, their performance was still decent.

Of course, they may still fall behind compared to those three.

"Alright, you can give it a try."

The middle-aged man immediately protested: "Dr. Zhou, no way, you're turning me into a test subject!"

The patient refused, but Zhou Jiande wasn't bothered. He pointed to the two men's thighs and said: "Sit down, and try the needles on yourselves."

The two sat down immediately. Although they hadn't studied acupuncture for long, they were students of Chinese medicine and knew that the thigh acupoints are relatively easy to locate for self-study of acupuncture and generally don't pose much risk.

Each took out a needle box and began experimenting on themselves.

Zhou Jiande was quite attentive to his two students, and at that moment, his gaze was fixed on them, silently observing their practice.

Sometimes, talent is simply too important.

Although these two students had been with him for quite some time, their needle insertion was not as smooth as Lu Xuan's, and their manipulation and achieving of Qi were not as skilled. Otherwise, he wouldn't have them performing electroacupuncture.

Compared to traditional acupuncture, electroacupuncture is much simpler; precise needle insertion is sufficient, and roughness in other aspects matters little, having minimal impact on efficacy.

However, traditional acupuncture is different. Techniques, angles, and depths all need to be performed perfectly to maximize effectiveness.

If Qi is not achieved during needle manipulation, and patients don't feel soreness, distension, or numbness, it naturally loses its effect.

"Do your fingers feel anything?"

The two were quite embarrassed and shook their heads.

"What about your thighs? Do you feel any soreness, distension, or numbness? Since you're trying it on yourselves, it's actually the easiest to sense. It's not only through the fingers but also the area of insertion where you can feel soreness, distension, or numbness."

"Still nothing."

Finally, Zhou Jiande intervened: "How about now?"

One person looked up, an expression of amazement on his face: "Now I feel it."

Zhou Jiande glanced at him and said, "Remember this feeling; it's alright if the needle insertion is rough. As long as you can achieve Qi through manipulation, it's effective. But if you can't achieve Qi, no matter how standard the insertion, it's useless."

"Got it."

He repeated the same words and actions with the other student.

After finishing, Zhou Jiande turned to Lu Xuan: "Dr. Lu, you should try as well."

Lu Xuan, of course, didn't refuse. Just as he was about to roll up his trousers and try the needles on himself, Zhou Jiande raised a hand to stop him. Zhou Jiande bent over, rolled up his own trouser leg, and patted his thigh: "Try it on me."

"I don't know about this." Lu Xuan hesitated.

He didn't mind trying needles on himself, but using Zhou Jiande as a test subject made him feel uneasy.

However, Zhou Jiande didn't concern himself with these matters, instead smiling as he said, "I just want to see how high Dr. Lu's talent truly is. Needle insertion can be assessed with the eyes, but the speed of achieving Qi is difficult to determine by sight. The best way is for you to perform the manipulation on me to achieve Qi so I can feel it."

Seeing Zhou Jiande insisting, Lu Xuan couldn't refuse further.

Besides, what Zhou Jiande said was correct. Needle insertion can be identified with the eyes, but not the manipulation and achieving of Qi.

As Zhou Jiande suggested, using him as a test subject was the best choice.

"Go ahead!"

Zhou Jiande confidently patted his own thigh, inviting him to proceed as if giving him a blank cheque.

Though his age had left his skin less taut than a younger person's, it was exceptionally white; revealing that usually, Comrade Zhou Jiande took good care of himself.

"Alright."

Lu Xuan didn't overthink it and took an acupuncture needle from the needle box.

Zhou Jiande's expression became serious, and after a glance at Lu Xuan, he kept his eyes focused on Lu Xuan's hand holding the needle.

A skilled person's first move reveals their mastery.

Compared to his two students, Lu Xuan's hand holding the needle didn't tremble at all, a point that exceeded what those two students could do by far.

When those two just administered needles on him, their hands slightly trembled because he was watching them. Meanwhile, Lu Xuan, while needling on Zhou Jiande, maintained a calm that's rare to find.