Rebirth 1977 Great Era

Chapter 1061 Thick-skinned meets sharp-tongued, and it's a combination of two chapters (Part 2)
"Dean Fang is joking. We're having a consultation, so it's natural for everyone to share their opinions and brainstorm... As the saying goes, many hands make light work... Three cobblers are as good as one Zhuge Liang!" The guy from Chongwen Hospital was indeed thick-skinned. Even after being rebuked by Fang Yaozhong, he didn't seem angry at all and responded with a smile.

These are the most terrifying people; they are patient, thick-skinned, and no matter what you say, they will find a way to accomplish what they want.

Even Fang Yan was somewhat impressed by this guy.

However, while I admire him, my wariness towards him has increased significantly.

His words were clearly directed at Comrade Lu, and to those who didn't know the situation, they would naturally seem quite reasonable.

Comrade Lu couldn't help but nod.

However, it was obvious that they had offended the wrong person. Fang Yaozhong sneered and said:

"Since you're so eager to discuss this, the dialectical debate has now reached a conclusion, so it's your turn!"

"The most difficult part has now been solved by the dialect, and these are all well-written dialectical points."

He pointed to the medical records written in dialect, the content of which was full of classical references, and he really couldn't understand it if he didn't have a foundation in traditional Chinese medicine.

The other party immediately felt uncomfortable.

Professor Chen Keji, who was standing nearby, also said:
"Let's discuss it here. Tell us your opinion, and we'll hear your insights."

Although the other party wasn't completely ignorant about Traditional Chinese Medicine, they only knew some basic things. If he were really asked to do it, he really wouldn't be able to help.

If you really want to hear his opinion, then it's only as he said before: "to combine it with traditional Chinese medicine."

The middle-aged doctor at Chongwen Hospital stared at the words on the medical record: "The root cause is deficiency, while the symptoms are excess; the root cause is deficiency of both the spleen and kidneys, while the symptoms are cold and dampness obstruction." His fingertips clenched into fists in the pocket of his white coat.

His gaze swept over the faces of the doctors from Xiyuan Hospital who were leading the prescription.

Then he turned his pleading gaze to Fang Yan.

From the beginning until now, although Fang Yan said he wouldn't combine traditional Chinese and Western medicine, his attitude has been the best, and he hasn't directly attacked him.

The next second, Fang Yan, who had caught his gaze, shoved the medical record into his hand.

"Come on! Good luck!" Fang Yan said to him.

The middle-aged doctor at Chongwen Hospital almost coughed up blood.

My friend just wanted some credit; he didn't really want to prescribe the medicine himself.

They've already given up all the resources to let traditional Chinese medicine practitioners handle the treatment, and now a single sentence has put him back on the defensive.

He cleared his throat, trying to save face, but when he saw Comrade Lu's expectant gaze, he couldn't bring himself to say anything.

"Speak!" Fang Yaozhong urged.

Finally, the middle-aged doctor mustered his courage and said, "Since it's cold and dampness, I think we should treat it..."

He stammered for a long time but couldn't come up with a coherent explanation.

He knew that even if he gave a prescription, although Comrade Lu wouldn't understand it, the other TCM doctors present would. Fang Yaozhong would definitely not give him any face and would probably undermine him on the spot.

Eventually, his face turned visibly red.

Fang Yaozhong and Chen Keji were exchanging words when Fang Yan shoved the medical record into his hands, making him even more embarrassed.

At this point, Comrade Lu finally realized it.

Seeing the situation before him, he asked:
"This comrade's skill in traditional Chinese medicine doesn't seem to be particularly good?"

However, as soon as he said this, the middle-aged doctor found a way out and immediately went along with it, saying:
“I studied Western medicine and also learned about traditional Chinese medicine, but my level is not as high as that of Fang Yan. I’m afraid I won’t speak well and it will affect their judgment.”

Fang Yan was impressed by his words; he was truly a genius.

Even at this point, he can still find a way to back down.

Comrade Lu rubbed his hands together, his Northeastern accent carrying a hint of sincerity: "Studying Western medicine is good, you understand science!" He pointed to his niece lying on the bed and asked:

"So, can Comrade Fang Yan see a doctor now?"

"..." The middle-aged doctor opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't know how to answer.

Comrade Lu wasn't stupid; after seeing the attitudes of both sides, he basically understood what was going on.

Now, he might hesitate if it were any other traditional Chinese medicine practitioner.

But the key point is that now they are using dialects to see doctors.

Who is Fang Yan?

He was the traditional Chinese medicine doctor he had come to Beijing to find.

Moreover, he is a traditional Chinese medicine doctor who has maintained a 100% cure rate to this day. Although it is unknown what diseases he may be troubled by in the future, it is clear that his niece's illness has not troubled him.

He had thought the doctor would say something constructive, but after all that, he hadn't come up with anything meaningful.

Isn't this just a waste of time, trying to show off in front of me?

In other circumstances, you could just turn a blind eye.

But now lives are at stake, and time is of the essence, so he actually stopped everyone for this very reason.

Comrade Lu was slow to realize what was happening, and his anger kept rising from his heart.

Seeing Comrade Lu like this, the middle-aged doctor broke out in a cold sweat.

However, he still managed to maintain his composure, nodded to Comrade Lu, and said:

“That makes sense. Let Comrade Fang Yan prescribe the medicine first.”

After saying that, he handed the medical records in his hand back to Fang Yan.

Fang Yan was speechless, but after taking the paper and pen, he started writing, not wanting to waste time with the patient.

The first thing he wrote was the treatment method: vigorously tonify the spleen and kidneys to replenish both prenatal and postnatal essence, warm the yang to dispel dampness and invigorate blood, fill the marrow to generate blood and retain blood to prevent collapse, and with qi, blood and defensive qi replenished daily, anemia will naturally be corrected.

All of this content seems to be deliberately targeting Western medicine.

What is innate and acquired?
Why bother with all this mysterious and esoteric stuff!

Isn't it just to make it seem like you know, and others don't?

With the surrounding group of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners nodding in agreement, it's clear that if you're not part of the same circle, you shouldn't force yourself to fit in.

Fang Yan didn't care what others thought. After writing it down, he paused, then presented the specific prescriptions, clearly distinguishing between primary and secondary ingredients:
Chief herb (warms yang and resolves dampness, strongly tonifies the spleen and kidneys):
Raw aconite (decocted first) 15g, extremely pungent and hot, restores yang and rescues from collapse, dispels yin cold, strengthens the true fire of the gate of life to warm and transform the cold and dampness of the three jiaos.

This is the remedy to reverse the crisis and cure the root cause of spleen and kidney yang deficiency.

Stir-fried Atractylodes macrocephala 30g is used in large quantities to strengthen the spleen, warm the middle jiao and dry dampness, and generate the source of qi and blood in the middle jiao.

50g of stir-fried Job's tears can be used in large quantities to take advantage of its ability to drain dampness and strengthen the spleen, thereby eliminating cold and dampness in the body. It is especially effective in treating lower limb edema.

Assistant herbs (replenish essence and marrow, stop bleeding and prevent collapse):
Deer antler gelatin, melted at 9g, is a product made from flesh and blood. It warms and tonifies kidney yang, replenishes essence and marrow, and promotes blood production.

Morinda officinalis 15g tonifies kidney yang and strengthens tendons and bones, and when combined with Aconitum carmichaelii, it is warm but not drying.

Cuscuta chinensis 20g can nourish both Yin and Yang, replenish essence and strengthen the kidneys, and benefit marrow and blood production.

15g of roasted ginger charcoal / 15g of charred eucommia bark warms the meridians and stops bleeding, guiding blood back to its proper channels (roasted ginger charcoal is chosen for spleen deficiency in controlling blood and loose stools; charred eucommia bark is chosen for deficiency and cold in the lower abdomen, depending on the specific bleeding tendency).

15g of Leonurus japonicus and 12g of Lycopus lucidus promote blood circulation and diuresis, remove blood stasis and promote new blood production, and resolve the stagnation of cold and dampness (Leonurus japonicus is chosen for its strong diuretic effect and its ability to regulate menstruation; Lycopus lucidus is chosen for its blood circulation and diuretic effect, with a focus on treating water retention).

Adjuvant herbs harmonize the effects of other herbs, promoting the ascending of clear qi and the descending of turbid qi.

Poria cocos 30g enhances diuresis and dampness elimination, and calms the mind and soothes the nerves.

Prepared licorice root 10g replenishes the middle energizer and invigorates qi, harmonizes the effects of other herbs, and moderates the spiciness of aconite.

Bupleurum 6g / Cinnamon Twig 6g slightly raises liver qi / promotes yang and transforms qi, and yang-tonifying medicines reach the whole body (select according to whether the patient has obvious qi stagnation or external cold symptoms).

Plantain seed (wrapped and decocted) 15g promotes urination and relieves strangury, guiding dampness and turbidity downwards through urination (add more if edema is severe).

Decoction method:
First decoct the aconite root: Place it in a separate pot, add enough water, and decoct for at least 2 hours, until there is no numbing sensation on the tongue when tasted! Set aside the filtered liquid.

Other herbs to be decocted together: Soak the remaining herbs (except deer antler glue) and then decoct them together with the filtrate of the prepared aconite root. Bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for 30-40 minutes.

Melting the deer antler glue: Filter out about 200ml of the medicinal liquid, add 9g of crushed deer antler glue while it is still hot, and stir until completely dissolved.

Dosage: One dose per day, decocted into 200-250ml of liquid, taken in small, warm doses in 3-4 divided doses (avoid on an empty stomach to prevent stomach upset).

The patient's condition is critical. On the first day, it may be considered to administer the medication every two hours between day and night. Close monitoring of the patient's response is essential!

For hemostasis (optional emergency use): If there is heavy bleeding or shortness of breath and impending collapse (preparation before use), immediately take 30g of genuine honey mixed with warm water and one Yunnan Baiyao insurance pill.

After finishing writing, Fang Yan said to the nurses there:
"We must closely monitor the patient's temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, urine output, edema reduction, skin petechiae, bowel movements, changes in mental status, and thirst throughout the day."

"Don't drink any cold water or eat any fruit from now on, otherwise you might get poisoned if you drink my medicine later."

"Even after taking the medicine, do not drink any cold water or eat any fruit within 24 hours."

"Yes, I've written it down."

In the dialect, the written prescription and precautions are directly handed to the pharmacy staff for review.

He quickly scanned the prescription, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes. He was particularly impressed by the meticulous attention to detail, such as the need for prolonged decoction of aconite, the dissolution of deer antler glue, and frequent administration in divided doses. He also noted the strategy of warming yang and tonifying qi while simultaneously stopping bleeding. He nodded earnestly at Fang Yan.

"The medicines are refined and potent, and the diagnosis and treatment of the medicines are meticulous. In particular, the use of aconite is bold and insightful."

Professor Chen Keji, who was standing nearby, also came over to take a look at the prescription. In particular, when he saw the combination of heavy doses of Atractylodes macrocephala and Coix lacryma-jobi to promote diuresis and strengthen the spleen, and the combination of charred ginger/charred Eucommia ulmoides to consolidate and stop bleeding, he gave Fang Yan an approving look: "Warming the yang and resolving dampness without being too dry and strong, supporting the body's resistance and consolidating the body's resistance without forgetting to remove blood stasis and unblock the meridians, a good idea!"

At this moment, Fang Yaozhong had already signed his name at the bottom of the prescription without hesitation.

He then handed it to the nurse.

Fang Yan said to the nurse:
"Get the medicine according to this prescription, decoct it immediately, and the key is that the aconite must be decocted for a long time! Tell the person in charge of dispensing the medicine and supervising the decoction at the pharmacy to follow the instructions in the prescription. Also, taking it frequently in divided doses is a gradual approach, don't rush it."

The nurse nodded seriously after hearing this.

In fact, Fang Yan planned to use a strong fire to quickly boil the water in this situation, but he did not use it. This was mainly because he considered that the patient's condition was essentially "cold and damp stagnation," and it was necessary to give full play to the core function of aconite in "warming yang and resolving dampness."

Unlike the "damp-heat and toxicity" case in Singapore, this case is a Yin syndrome, a cold syndrome with no high fever, pale tongue with white coating, and obvious edema.

In this formula, aconite is the principal herb, and its core function is to "restore yang and rescue from collapse, dispel yin cold, and strengthen the true fire of the gate of life to warm and transform cold and dampness in the three jiaos." If it is decocted quickly over high heat, although it can detoxify rapidly, it will destroy the effective yang-warming components of aconite, resulting in insufficient yang-warming effect.

Although the patient's condition is dangerous, it's not at the point where he can die suddenly. In terms of time, it supports Fang Yan's decision.

While rapid boiling over high heat can quickly achieve a therapeutic effect, it can easily cause a surge in yang energy and make it difficult for yin fluids to be replenished, thus disrupting the balance of yin and yang.

Simmering the medicine over a low flame and taking it frequently in small amounts can continuously nourish the spleen and kidneys, and gradually stimulate the body's self-healing ability over time.

After the prescription is written in the local dialect, you shouldn't just sit and wait for two hours.

At this time, he also prepared a moxibustion plan.

The patient is not in a suitable condition for acupuncture, but moxibustion is an option.

The psychological reason is that the patient is at risk of life-threatening bleeding. At this time, any acupuncture may cause subcutaneous hematoma or deep bleeding, especially puncture in the waist and abdomen (such as Guanyuan and Shenshu, which are important acupoints for tonifying Yang) or limbs (such as Zusanli and Sanyinjiao, which may lead to uncontrollable bleeding).

The patient's rapid breathing, swollen face, and pale lips are signs of collapse, which are described in the "Treatise on Cold Damage" as "the Yin and Yang Qi are not in harmony."

Acupuncture, by stimulating the flow of Qi, is very likely to accelerate the dissipation of Qi and blood, just as the previous statement in the Fangyan said: "Extreme blood deficiency should not be used to injure the collaterals."

Fang Yan said to another nurse standing nearby:
"Could you please get me some coarse salt and moxa sticks? I need to perform moxibustion on the patient now."

"Coarse salt?" The other person was taken aback, a little confused.

Nodding in dialect:

"Yes, moxibustion with salt."

"Okay." The nurse agreed and quickly went to do as instructed.

"Which acupoints are you planning to apply moxibustion to?" Fang Yaozhong asked Fang Yan from the side.

Fang Yan nodded and explained:
"I plan to fill the navel with coarse salt at the Shenque acupoint and apply moxibustion for 15 minutes, taking the meaning of 'Moxibustion at Shenque restores Yang and consolidates the body like boiling water poured on snow' from the Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion. This also avoids puncture, as the navel is naturally concave and avoids the wound, and the salt layer conducts heat evenly to prevent burns."

"In addition, I also plan to perform moxibustion on his Guanyuan acupoint, holding the moxa stick 3cm away from the skin for 20 minutes to warm and tonify the lower abdomen."

"Moxibustion raises the body surface temperature, and later it can also accelerate the penetration of the 'warming and dispelling cold and dampness' medicinal power of aconite."

"Moxibustion at the Guanyuan acupoint can stimulate the vital energy in the lower abdomen and enhance the effect of deer antler glue in replenishing essence and marrow."

Upon hearing Fang Yan's words, Fang Yaozhong and Chen Keji agreed to the plan after a moment's thought.

And he instructed him:

"Okay, then be careful not to get blisters on your skin from the heat."

Fang Yan looked completely bewildered and asked:

"Don't you have a moxibustion box here?"

Surprising in the prescription:
"I thought you made it yourself."

I'm speechless about dialects:
"Tools are invented to be used... Besides, I invented them myself."

Fang Yan had no intention of showing off in front of Comrade Lu.

“I can help!” The middle-aged doctor from Chongwen Hospital, who had been silent for a while, said to Fang Yan.

He said in dialect:

"The moxibustion box is much safer, so you don't need to worry about it."

The other person could only scratch his head awkwardly, but judging from his expression, he wasn't seriously hurt.

Fang Yan was too lazy to pay attention to him; he hadn't even asked the other person's name yet.

After a while, the nurse arrived. She took some moxa wool, twisted it into a cone shape, covered the patient's skin around the navel with gauze, and then filled the depression of the Shenque acupoint with coarse salt.

After the moxa cone is lit, it is placed in the moxibustion box. After it is placed on the box, the salt grains make a soft crackling sound.

"How does it feel?" Fang Yan asked the patient.

The patient said:
"There's a warm breeze, it's quite comfortable!"

This is the yang energy from moxibustion flowing directly down the Ren meridian to the lower abdomen.

He turned around and picked up another box, adjusted it, and began to perform moxibustion on the Guanyuan acupoint, three fingers (3cm) away from the skin, for a total of twenty minutes.

After doing all this, Fang Yan checked the time.

Then he addressed the crowd:

"Everyone, please stop crowding around. The ward is only so big. If a bunch of people are blocking the way, the air won't circulate."

The smoke from the moxa sticks did make the air in the ward a bit stuffy.

Upon hearing Fang Yan say this, Fang Yaozhong immediately understood and invited the people from Chongwen Hospital to wait outside.

He didn't actually let them leave, mainly because it wasn't realistic.

On the contrary, if you call them, they might refuse to come out no matter what, so it's better to just let them wait outside.

People who aren't used to the smell of moxa sticks might find it hard to stand, and it can even bring tears to their eyes.

Upon hearing that they were to leave, they immediately dropped their pretense and took the opportunity to walk out. After all, being at the door wouldn't prevent them from knowing what was going on inside, and they could go in whenever they wanted.

Inside the room, Fang Yan constantly observed the patient's condition, asking her how she felt and what her state was like.

"It feels like I have a hot water bottle in my stomach now." The patient's eyelids trembled slightly, and a sliver of clarity peeked through the swollen slits of her eyelids. "My chest, which was tight just now, feels much more relaxed now." Fang Yan carefully counted, and her breathing rate dropped from 28 breaths per minute to 24 breaths per minute. Although it was still short, the depth of her inhalation had increased slightly.

Fang Yan placed the back of his hand on the patient's lower abdomen and could feel the heat from the moxibustion box penetrating the body through the salt layer: "Does it feel hot anywhere?"

"It's not hot, just comfortably warm." The patient licked his dry lips with the tip of his tongue. "It feels like there's a gas going down, I need to go to the toilet."

After she finished speaking, she immediately added:
"I just want to, but I know I can't get up there now."

Fang Yan nodded and continued talking to her.

About 5 minutes later, her originally bluish-gray lips turned a light pink, and the swollen skin on her ankles began to wrinkle slightly.

"This area where the moxibustion was applied feels a bit numb." The patient's voice was clearer than before. "It's just that my groin feels sore, like after running."

Fang Yan pressed her Taixi acupoint with his thumb, and the feeling under his finger changed from "soft and hollow like cotton" to "slightly elastic".

Upon hearing about his niece's situation, Comrade Lu also came over, wanting to know what had happened.

Fang Yan explained to the two of them:
"This tingling and numbness is a good sign, as it indicates that the yang energy is clearing the meridians."

Then, Fang Yan touched the patient's forehead, armpits, and soles of the feet to check their temperature, and then said to the prescription:
"The temperature has dropped a bit; it's no longer the lingering, low-grade heat it used to be."

Upon hearing this, Fang Yaozhong went to the patient's left side and began to examine the pulse at the cun, guan, and chi positions.

Fang Yan's treatment approach is somewhat beyond his expectations. He originally thought that Fang Yan planned to use the classic combination of Du Shen Tang and Shen Fu Tang to consolidate the body, and to use the conservative modification of "Yin Chen Shu Fu Tang" for jaundice, with the hemostasis strategy focusing on a dual approach of "charcoal-based drugs plus dietary therapy".

As a result, the dialect immediately started with raw aconite.

But that makes sense, as dialects seem to really like using the word "Fu Zi" (附子).

The condition did improve after the diagnosis.

After 15 minutes of moxibustion, the patient said again:
"I feel like I really need to go to the bathroom this time."

"Big or small?" Fang Yan asked.

“Yes, I have them all,” the patient replied.

Fang Yan said to the nurse:

"Take her to the toilet, just tie the moxibustion box on her."

The nurse nodded and then led You into the bathroom of the special care ward.

After a while, the patient came out.

He asked in dialect:
"How are things? How are your bowel movements and urination?"

Asking a young woman this question would be considered inappropriate and could lead to arrest for speaking in a different context.

But here it just happened naturally, and everyone thought it was quite normal.

The patient spoke in dialect:

"My urine was initially dark yellow and then turned light yellow. My stool was still a bit loose, but when I passed it, I didn't feel sticky or uncomfortable anymore."

Fang Yan nodded. The skin transparency of the swollen areas on the patient's face decreased, and the dark yellow color caused by jaundice faded slightly, especially the skin around the corners of the eyes, which showed a hint of blood.

He had the patient lie down again and observed that her lips were now somewhat chapped.

Fang Yan noticed a tea mug on the table and saw that it contained warm water.

Fang Yan took a cotton swab, moistened it with some water, and dabbed at the patient's lips before asking:

Are you still feeling anxious?

"I'm not as panicked as before, but my head is still dizzy," the patient blinked and replied.

The dialect notes that the borders of her scleral icterus seem to have become clearer.

At this point, the patient said again:

"The bitterness in my mouth has lessened a bit. Just now, it felt like I had bitter herbs in my mouth, especially after it got wet, when it felt even more bitter."

"What's going on?" Comrade Lu asked Fang Yan somewhat nervously.

Even now, he tries his best not to speak, so as not to disturb Fang Yan's train of thought.

But hearing this now, he couldn't help himself.

Fang Yan glanced at him and explained:
"Spleen and kidney yang deficiency, cold and dampness stagnation in the middle jiao, leading to abnormal liver and gallbladder function."

After speaking, he pointed to the moxibustion box:

"After moxibustion stimulates Yang energy, the originally stagnant cold and dampness begin to loosen, but it has not been completely expelled. At this time, the gallbladder Qi rises due to the push of Yang energy, resulting in a bitter taste in the mouth."

"This bitter taste is often accompanied by a bland taste and a white, greasy tongue coating. Comrade Yang himself just said it felt like he had swallowed Coptis chinensis. This is a manifestation of cold and dampness turning into heat before it has progressed deeply."

"In addition, when the lips are moistened with warm water, the external water stimulates the oral mucosa, which reflexively causes the Qi of the liver and gallbladder meridians to rush upward."

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that "the gallbladder is the official in charge of impartiality and decision-making." When cold and dampness obstruct the flow of qi, the gallbladder qi naturally flows upward. The stimulation of fluids is like "testing the water's path," which temporarily exacerbates the upward flow of gallbladder qi, leading to an increased bitter taste in the mouth.

"In addition, it is also related to moxibustion. Moxibustion with salt at Shenque and moxibustion with suspension at Guanyuan stimulate the Yang Qi in the lower Jiao. The Yang Qi is like 'the sun shining brightly in the sky,' and begins to dispel cold and dampness. At this time, the pathogenic factors (cold and dampness) are forced by the Yang Qi to migrate from the deep parts of the body to the surface or the upper Jiao. The Gallbladder Qi, as 'the rising Qi of Lesser Yang in spring,' takes the lead in the struggle between the pathogenic factors and the body's resistance. When it rises to the mouth, the bitter taste in the mouth worsens. This is a typical manifestation of 'the struggle between pathogenic factors and the body's resistance, when disease inevitably occurs,' as described in the famous Chinese medicine book 'Treatise on Cold Damage.'"

Upon hearing Fang Yan's explanation, Fang Yaozhong and Chen Keji both nodded. Fang Yan had analyzed all three points. If this were a postgraduate entrance exam, Fang Yan's answer would be considered a perfect score.

Meanwhile, the people from Chongmen Hospital outside were getting increasingly anxious as they listened to the conversation in dialect inside the room.

But if you want to strike up a conversation but can't, you can only feel anxious.

Although Comrade Lu only vaguely understood what he was hearing, he knew one thing: everything was under Fang Yan's control. He nodded, knowing that his niece's victory was assured.

I can't help but sigh:
"I told you we should find a pure TCM doctor! We've been using a combination of TCM and Western medicine for two years, and the doctor himself still doesn't understand it."

As he spoke, he glanced outside.

PS: The basic chapter of 6000 words has been updated.

There will be an extra chapter later.

(End of this chapter)