"Ahem, how about this, Xiao Zhuang, which acupoints do you want me to needle? Needle me first, and once I feel it's okay, then I'll needle the commander, alright?"
Knowing that no one could persuade the old man when he was in a bad mood, Dr. Dou decided to try the acupuncture himself first. If Zhuang Rui's skills were poor and he pricked himself until he bled, then Zhuang Rui would probably be too embarrassed to give the old man acupuncture again.
Almost all the members of the expert team arrived at Ouyang Gang's courtyard. A doctor wearing glasses spoke up first, "Dr. Dou, let me do it. I've studied acupuncture with Instructor Zhou..."
Zhuang Rui was surprised to find that there were Dean Zhou's students here. However, judging from their expressions, they probably all thought he was just there to attract attention. So Zhuang Rui kept quiet and waited for them to finish their discussion before he started giving acupuncture. Facts speak louder than words.
"No need, I can do it..."
Dr. Dou waved his hand and said, "To put it simply, acupuncture is about promoting blood circulation and clearing the meridians. It treats corresponding symptoms by stimulating acupoints. Even if the skill level is not high, at most it will only cause bleeding. As long as you don't prick vital acupoints, there generally won't be any major problems."
However, the leader was too old to withstand the ordeal, which is why Dr. Dou disagreed with Zhuang Rui's decision to give him acupuncture. Dr. Dou didn't care about getting a few needles herself.
"Xiao Zhuang, come on, should we prick the acupoints on your back or your legs?"
As Dr. Dou spoke, he took off his white coat. He didn't believe that Zhuang Rui would dare to insert needles into important acupoints on the head and face after attending a few acupuncture classes.
"Dr. Dou, I've only learned one acupuncture point, the Yanggu point. This point can stimulate the nerves and has the functions of improving eyesight and calming the mind. My grandfather often suffers from tinnitus, so maybe it will help..."
Zhuang Rui's words surprised Dr. Dou. What the young man said made sense, and his medical reasoning was quite logical. It seemed he had put in some effort.
Moreover, Zhuang Rui mentioned wanting to treat the old man's deafness and tinnitus. Regardless of his acupuncture skills, it was a filial act from a younger generation, not something he intended to do to attract attention.
Thinking of this, Dr. Dou's expression softened. He walked to the stone bench in the middle of the courtyard, sat down, pulled open the fabric on his wrist, and said, "Alright, let's needle the Yanggu acupoint then. Xiao Zhuang, come on..."
When they saw that Zhuang Rui was about to get acupuncture, everyone gathered around the stone table, and even the old lady who was playing with her great-grandson came over.
However, the old lady wasn't very confident in her grandson. Looking at the silver needles in Zhuang Rui's acupuncture kit, she said, "My dear grandson, don't stick them all in, these needles aren't short..."
The old lady's words made Dr. Dou, who was sitting steadily in the chair, shiver involuntarily. This was no joke; if a silver needle more than ten centimeters long were inserted, wouldn't it pierce through the wrist?
Stealing a glance at Zhuang Rui, Dr. Dou was also a little scared. These days, it's not that you don't know anything, it's that you're the kind of person who's all talk and no action.
"Grandma, how could that be? It only went in about a centimeter at most. You're underestimating me..."
Zhuang Rui smiled and opened his acupuncture kit. He took out a plum blossom needle and then used an alcohol burner the size of a toothpick box that he had brought with him to heat the needle tip. He then wiped it clean with gauze soaked in medical alcohol before aiming it at the Yanggu acupoint on Dr. Dou's wrist and beginning to insert the needle.
To be honest, Zhuang Rui's actions restored the rosy color to Dr. Dou's face, which had been a bit pale. Regardless of Zhuang Rui's skill level, the disinfection measures before acupuncture were absolutely impeccable.
Chapter 804 Miraculous
"Xiao Zhuang, it seems you've really put in a lot of effort..."
Seeing how skillfully Zhuang Rui had prepared, Dr. Dou felt relieved. She figured that a simple acupuncture at the Yanggu acupoint wouldn't cause any problems. Even if Zhuang Rui's skills were terrible, it would only result in a little bleeding, and the old lady's story shouldn't happen.
"I studied with a PhD in acupuncture at medical school. Haha, I'm just showing off my limited skills in front of all you experts, but I'm sure it won't have any adverse effect on Grandpa's health..."
Zhuang Rui looked up and smiled faintly. He knew what these doctors were thinking. What he was doing was a bit inappropriate. If something went wrong, the doctor would be the one who suffered. If it worked, it would, to some extent, cost them their livelihood.
However, Zhuang Rui was telling the truth. He did know a doctoral student at the medical school who was researching the use of silver needles with different magnetic properties to compare the effectiveness of acupuncture.
However, that guy was a bit eccentric, and his research direction was not recognized by his supervisor and classmates. So when he saw that Zhuang Rui recognized his research, he immediately regarded Zhuang Rui as a confidant. In less than two months, the two became very close.
That guy handed over his research notes and clinical records to Zhuang Rui. Otherwise, Zhuang Rui wouldn't have had the idea of giving his relative acupuncture. After all, it's a bit hard to explain why the same needle could produce different effects.
"Come on, don't be afraid, acupuncture requires a lot of practice..."
Upon hearing Zhuang Rui's words, Dr. Dou offered him encouragement. He admired the young man even more, realizing that Zhuang Rui was quite different from the spoiled brat he had initially imagined.
"good……"
Zhuang Rui nodded in response and then focused his attention on Dr. Dou's wrist. He used his thumb and forefinger to gently rub the silver needle and insert it into the Yanggu acupoint, which he had already located.
When the silver needle had penetrated about one centimeter into the skin, Zhuang Rui stopped and asked, "Dr. Dou, how do you feel?"
"Hmm, a little sore and numb. You've found the acupoints well, no deviations..."
Dr. Dou laughed when he heard this. This young man was really interesting. He actually asked questions like a doctor. However, Zhuang Rui's needle insertion technique was still a bit clumsy. He used a bit too much force when twisting the needle.
However, Dr. Dou did not say these words. Compared to someone who was learning acupuncture on his own out of hobby, Zhuang Rui had already done very well. In terms of acupuncture technique, Zhuang Rui was even better than some newly graduated TCM students who had just started their internships.
"Dr. Dou, how are you feeling now?"
Zhuang Rui held the silver needle between his two fingers and gently twisted it. However, the silver needle did not penetrate deeply; it only moved within the acupoint. While twisting the silver needle, Zhuang Rui separated a wisp of spiritual energy, which entered the Yanggu acupoint along the silver needle.
Fearing that Dr. Dou might sense something too obvious, Zhuang Rui released a very thin wisp of spiritual energy, much weaker than the energy he used on his own family, almost imperceptible.
"Huh? It feels a bit cool, hmm, very comfortable. The Yanggu acupoint has this effect?"
Just as the spiritual energy entered his body, Dr. Dou's eyes suddenly lit up. He vaguely sensed a cool sensation coming from his Yanggu acupoint, like placing an ice cube on his hand in the hot summer, which made all the soreness and numbness disappear.
Moreover, as Zhuang Rui manipulated the silver needles, Dr. Dou felt his pores open all over his body, experiencing a comfortable sensation as if he were soaking in a hot spring, expelling toxins from his body.
However, this time was extremely short, disappearing without a trace after only a dozen seconds, making Dr. Dou even wonder if it was just his imagination.
Zhuang Rui didn't want to reveal his abilities, so before Dr. Dou could react, he reached out and pulled out the silver needles.
"Cough cough... Xiao Zhuang, could you... give me another acupuncture?"
Dr. Dou's words surprised the other doctors nearby. They had thought the head of the medical team would find some reason to prevent Zhuang Rui from giving the leader acupuncture, but Dr. Dou actually said those words, and there was a hint of pleading in her voice.
"Okay, but let's switch hands..."
Zhuang Rui nodded in agreement; he had already prepared his explanation.
"well……"
Dr. Dou quickly extended his left hand, wanting to savor the feeling again to see if it was just his imagination.
"Here it comes again..."
Dr. Dou was very focused this time. He found that after the needle was inserted, there was no cooling sensation, but when Zhuang Rui started to twist the silver needle with two fingers, that sensation reappeared.
This time, Dr. Dou felt it even more deeply. When that cool sensation appeared on the skin of her wrist, she felt like she was floating on air, her mind was very clear, and her ears seemed to have become more sensitive.
However, as Zhuang Rui removed the silver needles, the sensation quickly disappeared. After all, Dr. Dou had been eating grains for forty or fifty years and this was the first time he had received a very small amount of spiritual energy to transform his body, so the effect wouldn't be that significant.
Even Zhuang Rui didn't know that stimulating acupoints with spiritual energy was more effective than simply infusing spiritual energy into a person's body. The Yanggu acupoint was associated with deafness and tinnitus, so acupuncture with spiritual energy could indeed produce subtle changes in the body.
"Dr. Dou, how is it?"
Zhuang Rui put away the silver needles for the second time, deliberately looking at Dr. Dou with an expectant expression.
"It's hard to say, but when you were fiddling with the silver needles, I felt very comfortable and my mind was clear. According to acupuncture theory, this is indeed the effect that can be produced by stimulating the Yanggu acupoint. But isn't this effect a bit too obvious?"
Dr. Dou squinted, seemingly still processing the sensation from just now, a look of disbelief still on his face. He had been practicing medicine for decades and had seen countless doctors and patients, but what happened to him today was truly incomprehensible to him.
Anyone with a basic understanding of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) knows that TCM is based on the theory of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, and views the human body as a unified whole of Qi, form, and spirit. It explores the cause, nature, and location of diseases through the four diagnostic methods of observation, auscultation, inquiry, and palpation.
After the pathology is diagnosed, a variety of treatments are generally used, such as traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, massage, cupping, qigong, and diet therapy, to restore the body to a state of yin-yang balance and recovery.
Unlike Western medicine, traditional Chinese medicine does not have the harmful effects of chemical drugs on the body. However, it takes longer to see results than Western medicine. Generally, it takes multiple treatments to improve the condition. In Dr. Dou's experience, he had never heard of anyone like Zhuang Rui who could feel the effects after just one acupuncture.
Of course, the qigong healing practices that were rumored in the 1990s were eventually proven to be fraudulent charlatans. As for the guy who thought he had some real knowledge, he went to the United States to become a cult leader.
"May I see your needles?"
After thinking for a long time, Dr. Dou still couldn't figure it out. Although the theory of traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture emphasizes the harmony of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements to make the body's Qi flow smoothly, it is all done gradually and imperceptibly. How could it be something that people can feel directly?
So, Dr. Dou, who was completely baffled, focused his attention on the silver needles used by Zhuang Rui in acupuncture.
"Huh? What is this place?"
After receiving the silver needle from Zhuang Rui, Dr. Dou noticed a round, dark-colored metal particle about 1.5 centimeters from the needle tip. The particle had a very smooth surface.
To be precise, this should be called a filiform needle, which is specifically used to insert into muscles to stimulate acupoints.
"Dr. Dou, this was developed by that doctor. He believes that the Western theory of magnetic fields makes a lot of sense. Everyone's body has a corresponding magnetic field intensity. He wants to integrate traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture with magnetic phenomena... As for these needles of mine, they were specially made according to his ideas. That small round bead is a magnetic metal. Perhaps what you felt just now, Dr. Dou, was the magnetic field at work?"
Most of what Zhuang Rui said was true. Lying to these people was pointless, because the truth would be known simply by asking the doctor.
Sure enough, after hearing Zhuang Rui's words, Dr. Dou immediately asked, "What's that PhD's name? Which university does he attend?"
"Uh... his name is He Gang, from Peking University School of Medicine..."
Zhuang Rui provided all the information he was entitled to. He wasn't afraid of Dr. Dou checking it out. After all, traditional Chinese medicine had been studied for thousands of years, and no one dared to claim that they had thoroughly researched it.
Moreover, Dr. He also incorporated Western theories of magnetic fields, so even if they found the experiment to be unreliable, they could use the effects of magnetic fields to deflect blame.
There is no definitive conclusion in the West regarding the study of the human body's magnetic field. The wavelength of the magnetic field is different at different times. Zhuang Rui could easily say that perhaps the acupuncture he was doing just happened to coincide with the wavelength of the human body's magnetic field.
After leaving, Dr. Dou reported the matter and immediately contacted Dr. He, transferring him out of Peking University and into a military research institute, allocating substantial funds to help Dr. He improve his research.
However, a few years later, although Dr. He's research confirmed that magnetic fields could indeed affect or enhance the effects of acupuncture treatment, its efficacy was not as significant as Zhuang Rui's.
However, by that time, Zhuang Rui had stopped going around soliciting people for acupuncture, so Dr. Dou could only keep his questions to himself. Of course, that's another story.
"Xiao Dou, are you all right now? Let this kid give me acupuncture. Humph, this little brat dares to say I'm afraid of pain. Grandpa will give you a demonstration right now..."
While Zhuang Rui was giving Dr. Dou acupuncture, the little girl kept glancing at her grandfather, which greatly hurt the old man's pride. After seeing that Dr. Dou had acknowledged Zhuang Rui's medical skills, she immediately rolled up her sleeves and placed her wrists on the stone table.
Chapter 805 Seeing Through
Several doctors nearby, seeing that Zhuang Rui had disinfected the silver needles and was preparing to insert them into the leader's acupuncture needles, surrounded Dr. Dou and asked, "Dr. Dou, is this alright?"
Although Dr. Dou is the leader of this health expert group, everyone would have to take responsibility if something went wrong, so the other doctors were still a little uneasy.
"It's alright, Xiao Zhuang's acupuncture is very effective, there won't be any problems. Okay, you guys keep an eye on things, I need to report to the leadership. This method of combining acupuncture with magnetic field applications might really work..."
After explaining a few words to his colleagues, Dr. Dou left in a hurry. He was busy writing a report to include Dr. He's research in the relevant key subjects.
"Grandpa, how are you? Does it hurt?"
Zhuang Rui inserted the needle quickly. With a flick of his two fingers, the silver needle pierced into the old man's Yanggu acupoint. Then, wisps of spiritual energy seeped into the skin of Ouyang Gang's wrist through the silver needle.
Unlike when he gave Dr. Dou acupuncture earlier, the old man's bodily functions had deteriorated significantly, so Zhuang Rui used a much larger amount of spiritual energy. It was a rare opportunity to openly and honestly cleanse the old man's body, so Zhuang Rui did not hold back the spiritual energy he used.
"It hurts? Ah... are you done?"
Upon hearing Zhuang Rui's words, the old man paused for a moment. Looking at his wrist, he saw a gleaming silver needle stuck in it. He said, "You're done with this if you don't even feel anything? No, give me another one." Zhuang Rui laughed at this. Did this old man really have to draw blood to show his heroic spirit?
"Okay, then let's give one more injection..."
Zhuang Rui nodded in agreement, then had the old man switch hands and give him another acupuncture treatment, followed by a massage of his body with spiritual energy.
After the two injections, although the old man's white hair did not turn black, his complexion was noticeably more energetic than before.
"Commander, are you alright? Do you feel anything unusual?"
After Zhuang Ruiqi removed the needles, a group of doctors immediately surrounded the old man, asking him all sorts of questions.