TCM Story: Scraping Poison off the Bone

During the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE) in China, the legendary warrior Guan Yu (关羽), a general serving under Liu Bei, was struck by a poisoned arrow during battle. The poison spread to his arm, causing severe pain and swelling.

Guan Yu (160 -220 AD) is a Chinese military general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China.

Hua Tuo, known for his expertise in acupuncture, herbal medicine, and surgery, was called to treat the general. Upon examining Guan Yu, he realized that the poison had penetrated deep into the bone and needed to be extracted.

Instead of using anesthesia (which was not widely available at the time), Hua Tuo used acupuncture to numb the pain and control blood circulation. While Guan Yu continued drinking wine and playing chess, Hua Tuo cut open his arm, scraped the poison from the bone, and stitched the wound back together. Remarkably, Guan Yu showed no signs of pain or distress.

After the procedure, acupuncture and herbal medicine were used to speed up the healing process, and the warrior fully recovered. This story became legendary and demonstrated the power of acupuncture and Hua Tuo’s medical skills.

Why This Story Is Important in TCM?

This story demonstrates the Pain-Relieving Power of Acupuncture – It was used as a form of ancient anesthesia.

It also shows TCM’s Holistic Healing Approach – Hua Tuo combined acupuncture, herbal medicine, and surgery for complete treatment.

The story highlights the Skill of Early TCM Practitioners – Acupuncture was already being used for advanced medical cases over 1,800 years ago.