As a distinctive external treatment method in the treasure trove of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), most people are unfamiliar with medicinal rod therapy and rarely understand its unique efficacy. In the Qing Dynasty, the “Medical Index Mirror” referred to it as “Zhen Ting,” explaining that “Zhen means vibration, and Ting means wooden rod.” This therapy combines effective herbal formulas with specially crafted wooden rods to stimulate acupoints, based on TCM theory and clinical experience. Through the stimulation of herbs and acupoints, it aims to regulate the body's yin and yang, unblock meridians, and invigorate qi and blood circulation.
What is Medicinal Rod Acupoint Therapy?
In detail, medicinal rod acupoint therapy involves using a specially made wooden rod dipped in prepared TCM liquid, integrating herbs, meridians, and massage into one. Various techniques are performed on appropriate acupoints on the human body. The wooden rods used are “a foot and a half long, round like a coin, or a rolling pin can also be used.” Typically made from hard woods such as pear or jujube wood, these rods are shaped and sized differently depending on the area being treated, with smooth surfaces. The herbal formula used is customized according to individual needs and often contains ingredients that promote blood circulation, alleviate pain, dispel wind and cold, and relieve dampness. These herbs are usually soaked in rice wine and then filtered for use. The acupoints selected are typically located at points of pain or where tendons converge.
The “Spiritual Pivot: Meridians” clearly states the principle of selecting acupoints as “where there is pain, there is an acupoint,” meaning that the site of pain or tenderness serves as the acupoint without being limited to traditional meridian points. Medicinal rod acupoint therapy has the effects of circulating along meridians, reaching internal organs, dispelling wind and dampness, warming and dispersing cold, harmonizing qi and blood, promoting blood circulation, and reducing pain. As described in the “Medical Index Mirror: Essentials of Surgical Heart Methods,” “when injured, qi and blood stagnate, causing swelling and hardness; by using this rod to gently strike above, below, and around the injury, it allows qi and blood to flow freely, gradually reducing pain and swelling.”
This therapy is effective for neck and shoulder pain, rheumatic joint pain, and various internal diseases, offering the advantages of simplicity, no complications, rapid results, and a short course of treatment.
The Effects of Medicinal Rod Acupoint Therapy
When soft tissues such as muscle attachment points, fascia, ligaments, and joint capsules are injured, they send pain signals through reflex actions, causing related muscles to contract and tense up, even spasm, as a protective response to reduce movement and alleviate pain. If not addressed promptly, injured tissues can lead to adhesions, fibrosis, or scarring, exacerbating pain and muscle spasms, eventually forming secondary pain foci and worsening the condition.
Medicinal rod acupoint therapy effectively alleviates pain and muscle tension and spasms by regulating muscle contraction and relaxation, causing local skin to redden, capillaries to dilate, and blood circulation to accelerate. Additionally, the stimulation provided by the rod can regulate vascular dilation and permeability through neuro-endocrine mechanisms, accelerating local metabolism and having anti-inflammatory effects. It also helps the body eliminate toxins by increasing blood and lymphatic flow, enhancing phagocytic activity, and expediting the removal of waste and toxins, thereby purifying the blood, boosting resistance, and promoting recovery.
According to TCM, organ diseases often manifest positive reactions in corresponding areas along the meridians, such as the formation of knots, bands, or muscular stiffness and tenderness, or depressions, elevations, spots, and changes in color. As stated in the “Spiritual Pivot: Theory of the Sea,” “the twelve meridians internally connect to the zang-fu organs and externally link to the limbs and joints.” The “Spiritual Pivot: Nine Needles and Twelve Principal Points” mentions, “when the five zang organs have diseases, they should manifest at the twelve principal points, and each principal point has its own origin; by understanding their origins and observing their manifestations, we can know the harm to the five zang organs.” When problems occur in the zang organs, they reflect on the corresponding original points of the meridians, which can indicate the conditions of the respective zang organs. Resolving the issues in these areas not only alleviates local pain but also restrains related zang-fu diseases. Additionally, this therapy can help resolve stagnation in the local circulation of qi and blood, which is beneficial for various nodular hyperplasias caused by stagnation.
Techniques for Medicinal Rod Acupoint Therapy
Guided by meridian theory, medicinal rod acupoint therapy follows the principles of selecting acupoints along meridians and locally. The rod tip is dipped in the herbal liquid and applied to the acupoint, followed by different techniques. Each session lasts 15 to 20 minutes, with ten sessions constituting a course. Depending on the condition and specific area, the main techniques include:
- Pointing Method: Use the wooden rod to replace the finger for acupoint stimulation. Place the rod end between the middle segments of the index and middle fingers, pressing down with the thumb, and use wrist force to tap the acupoint, causing the patient to feel numbness, fullness, and soreness, which radiates along the meridian pathway. After several minutes, subcutaneous purple or black patches appear, and the affected area feels warm.
- Tapping Method: Place the rod end on the middle segment of the index finger and the third segments of the middle and ring fingers, pressing the thumb between the index and middle fingers, and use wrist and elbow force to tap the affected area moderately, causing vibrations in the muscles and promoting free circulation of qi and blood. This method is suitable for areas with thick muscles.
- Hitting Method: Place the rod end on the third segment of the little finger, grip the rod with the thumb and index finger in a pincer-like manner, with the palm facing downward and the back upward or slightly outward, and use the side of the rod to hit the affected area. This method is used after pointing and tapping. After the skin shows patches that grow larger and merge, continued force causes the affected area to feel warm, enhancing the therapeutic effect.
- Whipping Method: Firmly hold the rod end in the palm, and use wrist, elbow, and back force to whip the affected area. The rod can roll in the hand during whipping. This method can quickly produce nodules upon impact, and immediately apply herbal liquid afterward, carefully observing to prevent skin blisters or damage.
Operational Precautions
It is important to emphasize that the patient's position must be convenient for examination and operation. During treatment, do not break the patient's skin to avoid infection. Also, ensure that the force used is appropriate, avoiding sudden violent movements. Do not strike the chest near the heart or the head and face. For the abdomen and small joints, such as the fingers, wrists, ankles, toes, and clavicle, light tapping is recommended. For areas with more abundant muscles, all four methods can be used, starting lightly and gradually increasing pressure. Joints can receive heavier pointing and tapping, lighter hitting, and gentle whipping. Operations on children and those who are weak should be gentle, while those with robust constitutions can tolerate more force, adjusting the intensity to what the patient can bear. A few patients may experience dizziness, palpitations, pallor, and sweating during medicinal rod acupoint therapy, known as “rod fainting”; treatment should be stopped immediately, and the patient should lie down to rest and receive necessary care. Generally, recovery from rod fainting is rapid, and treatment can continue afterward. Additionally, this therapy should be used cautiously on patients with local injuries, skin diseases, and pregnant women.