Xiaozhendao, many people have heard of it, but do you really understand it? Today, let Dr. Rao Laisheng from the Rehabilitation Medicine Department explain the questions about Xiaozhendao.
01Is Xiaozhendao a knife?
Xiaozhendao is actually not a knife; it is similar to a filiform needle (mǎo zhēn), but compared to the filiform needle, it has a slight cutting effect, and compared to a real surgical knife, it is not considered a knife at all.
Xiaozhendao treatment is also conservative treatment, not surgery.
Differences Between Xiaozhendao and Filiform Needles:The tip of Xiaozhendao is flat, resembling a blade, capable of cutting small soft tissues; the tip of a filiform needle is conical and has no cutting effect.
Therefore, Xiaozhendao has the effects of a filiform needle in invigorating Qi and blood and unblocking meridians, as well as the effect of a cutting tool in loosening contracted pathological tissues.
02What are the functions of Xiaozhendao?
1. Unblocking meridians. For example, in tennis elbow, treatment can be done not locally but by selecting the large intestine (Dàcháng shū) and lung (Fèi shū) points on the lower back.
2. Relieving compression. For example, in stenosing tenosynovitis of the thumb flexor tendon, it can relieve local hardening and compression points.
3. Loosening adhesions. For example, in frozen shoulder, where movement is restricted due to adhesions, local loosening can improve mobility.
4. Correcting bowstring and force imbalance states. For example, in low back pain, where the physiological curvature of the lumbar spine is deepened or flattened, or in scoliosis, related muscle groups can be loosened to improve symptoms.
5. Improving blood supply. For example, in peripheral facial paralysis, where local muscle groups in the neck and behind the ear are stiff, the blood vessels nourishing the facial nerve are compressed, preventing the facial nerve from controlling related muscles, leading to facial paralysis. Treatment at the three needles above the neck, Yìfēng (翳风), and Tiāncóng (天窗) points can achieve ideal results.
03Does Xiaozhendao treatment hurt?
Xiaozhendao treatment is indeed quite painful!
For those who are very afraid of pain, it can be quite painful. However, for the average person, it is still bearable.
The soreness and pain last for about 2 seconds during the procedure. After treatment, a slight soreness may persist for a few hours.
Will anesthesia be used if it hurts?
Generally, no anesthesia is used!
The operation speed of Xiaozhendao is very fast, with each point being treated in no more than 2 seconds. By the time you feel pain, it has already been withdrawn; using anesthesia would also involve an injection, and there is a risk of allergic reactions, so avoiding anesthesia minimizes the number of injections and reduces allergy risks.
However, in special cases, such as with tenosynovitis where the operation time is longer, anesthesia may be required.
Thus, the decision to use anesthesia is primarily to minimize suffering.
04What diseases are suitable for Xiaozhendao treatment?
Painful diseases:
Cervical spondylosis, lumbar disc herniation, frozen shoulder, degenerative arthritis of the knee, tenosynovitis, gout, trigeminal neuralgia, shingles, facial muscle spasms, etc.
Functional diseases:
Functional disorders after cerebral hemorrhage or cerebral infarction, insomnia, peripheral facial paralysis, spinal cord injury, constipation, stress urinary incontinence, thyroid nodules, chronic pharyngitis, etc.
Beauty:
Wrinkles, crow’s feet, bags under the eyes, forehead lines, neck lines, obesity, etc.
Post-surgical limbs:
Limbs that have been immobilized for too long, with restricted joint flexion and extension.
05Who is not suitable for Xiaozhendao treatment?
1. Those who are extremely afraid of pain.
2. Individuals with poorly controlled blood pressure and blood sugar.
3. Those with a tendency to bleed.
4. Individuals who faint at the sight of needles or blood.
06Warm Reminder
Xiaozhendao is not a panacea!
Please be patient with it; sometimes one treatment can achieve satisfactory results, but occasionally two treatments are needed to show effects, and 3-5 or more treatments may be required to achieve satisfactory results.
However, do not become overly reliant on it; if after three treatments there is still no effect, please further complete relevant examinations, such as MRI or tumor markers, to rule out tumors; or consult a higher-level hospital.