Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE)
traditional medicine
National Heritage
North China
active
Chinese bone setting (zhenggu) is a traditional orthopedic practice that uses manual manipulation, herbal plasters, and splinting to treat fractures and dislocations. Practitioners develop extraordinary tactile sensitivity through years of apprenticeship, able to detect misalignments through touch alone. The technique emphasizes minimal immobilization to prevent muscle atrophy, with herbal formulas accelerating healing. It remains widely practiced in Chinese hospitals alongside modern orthopedics.
Skills & Techniques
Chinese Bone Setting (Zhenggu) expand_more
A traditional orthopedic practice using manual manipulation, herbal plasters, and bamboo splints to treat fractures and dislocations.
Steps
- Assess the injury through visual inspection and palpation
- Gently manipulate the bone or joint back into alignment
- Apply a freshly prepared herbal plaster to reduce swelling
- Wrap with cotton padding and apply bamboo or wooden splints
- Adjust splints after 3–5 days as swelling subsides
- Prescribe herbal decoctions to accelerate bone healing
- Guide the patient through graded rehabilitation exercises
Tools
palpation cloth, bamboo splints, cotton bandage, herbal mortar, medicine pot
Materials
herbal plaster ingredients (Dipsacus, Carthamus, myrrh), bamboo strips, cotton cloth, medicinal herbs
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