I Can Hear the Heart's Voice of Traditional Chinese Medicine-Chapter 245 - 111: Learning Acupuncture from Elder Zhou

Faced with Elder Zhou's generous praise, Lu Xuan didn't know how to respond, so he could only grin foolishly.

He had only mentioned his photographic memory to Ji Xiuwen and didn't want too many people to know.

Ji Xiuwen knew him too well; though he liked to join in the fun, he could keep his mouth shut, and ordinarily, he wouldn't spread such things.

Of course, his achievements in acupuncture over less than ten days were not solely due to his photographic memory; there was also a group of teachers who quietly contributed with their advice and strategies.

Without them, it wouldn't have been ten days—even ten months wouldn't have achieved such a level.

Not to mention anything else, even one acupuncture point could give Lu Xuan a headache.

Zhou Jiande glanced at Lu Xuan. Seeing that Lu Xuan did not become pretentious because of the praise, Zhou Jiande nodded to himself and began to explain the Acupuncture Needle Technique in detail:

"The Acupuncture Needle Technique refers to the entire process from inserting to withdrawing the needle, with high skill and standardized operational requirements. There are four methods of needle insertion.

The finger-cut insertion method, also known as the claw-cut insertion method, uses the thumb or index fingernail of the pressing hand to press on the acupoint. The right hand holds the needle, with the needle tip close to the edge of the fingernail, and inserts into the acupoint. This method is suitable for short needle insertion."

As Zhou Jiande explained while needling, Lu Xuan listened attentively. In terms of acupuncture, what he lacked most was technique. To put it plainly, it was still a matter of too few needling experiences, a lack of proficiency, and not having someone to guide him hands-on, making his technique somewhat casual, lacking standardization.

Of course, being casual isn't necessarily bad. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Like when Zhou Jiande inserts a needle, his technique seems casual, but behind that casualness lies decades of experience.

But Lu Xuan's casualness was truly casual.

At this time, even Zhou Jiande's two students, who had just finished setting up the electroacupuncture for a patient, gathered around. After giving Lu Xuan a thumbs-up, they started observing seriously.

The arrival of the two did not affect Zhou Jiande, who continued to explain the second method of needle insertion: "The second method is the clamping insertion method. Watch closely: use the thumb and index finger of the left hand to clamp a cotton ball, enclose the needle tip, aim at the acupoint, and as the thumb and index finger press down, the needle-hand follows suit, inserting the needle into the acupoint. This method is suitable for long needle insertion.

The third method is the expansion insertion method. Use the thumb and index finger of the pressing hand to stretch apart the skin around the acupoint, tightening the skin to facilitate insertion. This method is suitable for acupoints on loose skin areas.

Then there's the pinching insertion method. Use the thumb and index finger of the pressing hand to pinch the skin at the acupoint, and the needle-hand inserts the needle from the upper end or side of the pinched area. This method is suitable for acupoints on thinner skin, such as the Yintang on the face. This method works best for such cases."

Four acupoints, four needle insertion methods, each technique different. Lu Xuan knew of these four methods but was observing a master acupuncturist demonstrate them up close for the first time, becoming utterly captivated.

Elder Zhou's technique was not only standard but pleasing to watch, unlike Lu Xuan's rough insertion technique, which resembled that of a half-learned quack.

"Did you remember?"

"If you didn't, I'll demonstrate them again."

Lu Xuan possessed a photographic memory. Even if Zhou Jiande inserted needles quickly, Lu Xuan observed everything clearly and etched these actions firmly in his mind.

However, Zhou Jiande's two students had a harder time. Facing Zhou Jiande's gaze, they could only shake their heads helplessly.

They did see and understand, but remembering it wasn't something achievable in just one or two times.

This nodding and shaking of heads made Zhou Jiande first realize the gap that talent could create.

His two students had watched him demonstrate needle insertion countless times, yet when it came to actual needling, they couldn't do it to such a standard.

Sometimes they even forgot the differences between these four insertion methods when asked.

But Lu Xuan could remember after hearing it once—this talent was indeed formidable.

Nonetheless, Zhou Jiande didn't know whether Lu Xuan truly remembered or just faked it, so he decided to let Lu Xuan try.

You can tell if it's remembered after inserting just one needle.

"Dr. Lu, try using the four insertion methods on the remaining acupoints."

Lu Xuan understood Zhou Jiande's intention. At this time, not only did he not lose confidence, but he also felt eager to try. He remembered things firmly and learned quickly. Although Zhou Jiande only demonstrated once, Lu Xuan felt he had grasped at least sixty percent, with the remaining forty percent needing to be honed through repeated practice.

Following Zhou Jiande's demonstration, Lu Xuan quickly located the acupoints and inserted the needles.

Grabbing the needle, finding the acupoint, inserting the needle—a smooth process without pause, and in no time, the four acupoints quivered under Lu Xuan's needle work.

Zhou Jiande looked at Lu Xuan in astonishment, his eyes full of disbelief.

Did he really see it just once?

If he hadn't seen Lu Xuan insert needles before, he would suspect the young man in front of him was hiding his true capabilities.

The four needle insertion methods, though not as proficient and smooth as Zhou Jiande himself, were, in his eyes, already mastered by Lu Xuan to about seventy percent. The rest would naturally come with increased proficiency.

Is there truly a prodigy in this world?

Zhou Jiande exclaimed silently. He had thought that when Lu Xuan said he remembered, it was just youthful bravado, and he didn't actually grasp much. Unexpectedly, Lu Xuan's needling technique had already reached a standard of seventy percent.