Rebirth 1977 Great Era

Chapter 1395 Answering the Western doctor's tricky questions fluently (Bonus chapter for monthly votes)

When presenting the report, Fang Yan's gaze swept over every doctor in the audience, especially the area where the Western medicine representatives were gathered.

The comparison between the "positive" and "negative" results, and the "all negative" conclusion confirmed by the head of the laboratory department, was the strongest evidence, overwhelming any possible doubts they might have had.

The audience was all focused on the report, unsure whether to speak or remain silent.

At this moment, Fang Yan cleared his throat and spoke into the microphone again:
"This is the process, and this is the result. This is not a myth, but a reality brought about by the combination of traditional Chinese medicine's syndrome differentiation and treatment with modern testing methods. Dr. Shen's experience illuminated the path, and we collaborated to verify and reproduce this path. This classic prescription and this practical experience can withstand the scrutiny of modern scientific standards."

The tone of the dialect carries an undeniable certainty:
"We choose to elaborate here not to argue about sectarian differences, but for a common goal: to promote this life-saving method! To let more doctors understand and master it! To give future patients who may unfortunately encounter rabies a better chance of survival and a glimmer of hope! Instead of waiting in despair for an outcome that is not even predetermined!"

His voice rose sharply at the last sentence, filled with power, and then slowly faded away:

"That concludes my report. Dr. Shen Zhanyao will share in detail the specific changes in the application of the prescription and the clinical details, and will also explain his special practice, such as successfully treating a pregnant woman with rabies more than ten years ago."

After speaking, he bowed slightly to the audience, then turned his gaze to Shen Zhanyao, who was sitting in the audience, and made a "please" gesture.

The auditorium erupted in enthusiastic applause once again. This time, it wasn't just the applause from the TCM side; many Western medicine representatives, including the previously embarrassed Station Chief Wang and Director Xu, also joined in the applause.

They had never heard of this unknown doctor before.

It was only now, thanks to Fang Yan's influence, that people got to know him for the first time. He has over a decade of experience and so much healing experience; they had never heard of him before.

It was Fang Yan who unearthed this person, which puzzled them greatly. Why wasn't this person famous? And how did Fang Yan suddenly find him?
Simply unbelievable.

With gestures in dialect, Shen Zhanyao steadily stood up and walked towards the podium.

He was dressed in a rather simple Zhongshan suit, his steps were steady, and his face had a gentle but slightly reserved smile, which contrasted with the understated sharpness of his dialect.

Fortunately, he had the experience of giving a lecture at the school last time, otherwise he would have been a little scared to face so many people.

He walked to the center of the stage, looked at the sea of ​​people, cleared his throat into the microphone, and spoke in a low but clear voice that resonated throughout the entire auditorium:
"Distinguished leaders, experts, professors, and colleagues, good afternoon. I am Shen Zhanyao, a grassroots healthcare worker from Xiangshan County, Zhejiang Province. I am grateful for the trust of Dr. Fang and all the leaders, which gives me the opportunity to share some of my basic experiences here."

The simple opening remarks only made the Western doctors in the audience more confused.

Primary healthcare workers?
This doctor, who speaks in the local dialect about being experienced and having treated hundreds of people, including difficult cases involving pregnant women, is surprisingly down-to-earth and unassuming, without any airs of a famous doctor. He is indeed very unknown.

He then said:

"Dr. Fang just gave a detailed report on Comrade Zhang Fu's treatment process and his encouraging recovery. He used solid modern test data to verify the efficacy of our ancient Chinese medicine formula, 'Xia Yu Xue Tang'. This made me very emotional. Only by combining traditional Chinese medicine with modern science can we truly bring out the treasure left by our ancestors."

He first added some value to Western medicine as well.

Next, Shen Zhanyao got down to business, focusing on his practical experience:

"I came across this formula through inspiration from predecessors and by combining it with the local conditions, and started to try it in clinical practice. Over the course of nearly ten years, I have treated more than a hundred patients and accumulated some basic experience."

His account was very specific, without much fluff:
"The most crucial point about this prescription, as Dr. Fang just emphasized, is that it must be used during the acute phase of rabies! Medication is ineffective during the so-called 'incubation period' before the onset of the disease, which is completely different from vaccination. After taking the medication, an important sign of detoxification is blood in the urine! The color is like pig liver or purplish-red, which is what the 'Golden Chamber' describes as 'blood stasis like pig liver'. It is not bleeding caused by injury, but rather a manifestation of the expulsion of toxins."

Some of the Western medicine representatives in the audience, especially the emergency department directors who were forced to attend and came with doubts, and the doctors who judged Zhang Fu to be "waiting to die," began to frown.

Shen Zhanyao's theory of "eliminating blood stasis and toxins" and the indication of "blood in urine" sound very mysterious and are completely outside the framework of immunology or viral pathogenesis that they are familiar with.

Shen Zhanyao continued to elaborate on his most representative case:

"What impressed me the most, and what best embodies the essence of TCM's 'syndrome differentiation and treatment,' was a case of a pregnant woman who developed the disease after being bitten by a rabid dog."

“At the time, the patient was in extremely critical condition, with severe abdominal pain, hydrophobia, and aerophobia. However, considering the special constitution of pregnant women, as well as the strong blood-activating properties of the main ingredients in the prescription, such as rhubarb, peach kernel, and ground beetle, it was possible to harm the fetus or even cause miscarriage. I was very conflicted.”

"Ultimately, I decided to boldly adjust the original prescription: significantly reducing the dosage of these three herbs and adding donkey-hide gelatin, which nourishes blood and yin and protects the fetus. At the same time, administering the medicine was extremely difficult..."

Shen Zhanyao described in detail how he overcame the pregnant woman's extreme fear of the medicine due to hydrophobia, down to her every resistance and how he fed her little by little with a small spoon. Although the patient experienced abdominal pain and blood stasis after taking the medicine, the mother and child were safe and the fetus was healthy and delivered smoothly.

"This success story has strengthened my confidence. It shows that traditional Chinese medicine formulas are not only effective in treating this kind of 'incurable disease,' but can also be adjusted according to the individual differences of patients. The properties of medicines can be controlled, and the treatment methods can be adapted. The key lies in accurate diagnosis and seizing the right opportunity! Dr. Fang's successful treatment of Comrade Zhang Fu once again verifies this point and also proves that the efficacy of traditional formulas can be better when combined with modern observation and treatment conditions."

……

In addition to recounting the previous medical case involving a pregnant woman, Shen Zhanyao went on to recount several other medical cases that could be found in his medical case notes.

The dates are recorded in detail. Although the data is not as detailed as the dialect records, it is still quite good from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine.

After he finished speaking, the Q&A session began.

This is an essential part of today's lecture. After all, it's about the exchange and sharing between traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine. The people answering the questions are Fang Yan and Shen Zhanyao, who were speaking on stage just now.

When the session began, no one stood up yet. However, after a brief, quiet discussion, one of the doctors from the Western medicine group stood up and said:

"I have a question for Dr. Shen. You repeatedly emphasize that 'blood stasis and toxins' are the key to the disease, as well as the excretion of toxins through urine. Rabies is caused by a virus invading the central nervous system. What is the direct connection between this and the 'blood stasis and toxins' you mentioned? How do you explain this?"

Shen Zhanyao responded:

"In traditional Chinese medicine theory, 'blood stasis and toxins' refers to a serious pathogenic factor that obstructs the flow of qi and blood, either internally or externally. When bitten by a rabid dog, the dog's saliva itself is a type of fire-toxin. This toxin invades the body and quickly blocks the flow of qi and blood in the meridians, forming severe blood stasis. If it 'attacks upwards,' it causes delirium, hydrophobia, and convulsions; if it 'accumulates downwards,' it causes internal blood stasis. The fact that the stagnant blood is expelled through urination and defecation after taking the medicine is clear evidence that the blood stasis has been resolved and the toxins have been expelled. How the virus acts on this 'blood stasis and toxins' process is a mechanism that requires us to explore using modern technology. However, the clinically observed pathogenesis is consistent with 'internal accumulation of blood stasis and toxins,' and the treatment effect is clear."

At this point, a Western doctor also said:
"Dr. Shen, you mentioned curing over a hundred people. Do these cases have clear and standardized laboratory diagnostic records? For example, virus antigen and antibody tests? Or is the diagnosis based solely on clinical symptoms? We desperately need objective evidence to support the treatment efficacy and avoid subjective judgments."

This is a bit like stirring up trouble out of nowhere, as one of the traditional Chinese medicine practitioners nearby remarked:
"I already said you're a grassroots healthcare worker, why would you ask such a question? Aren't TCM records records?"

"Exactly, if medical records from Traditional Chinese Medicine are shared, do they have to prove their scientific validity within Western medicine? Why doesn't Western medicine prove their logical validity within Traditional Chinese Medicine?"

The person asking the question seemed not to hear it and continued to look at Shen Zhanyao.

Shen Zhanyao on stage glanced at Fang Yan, who nodded at him. Fang Yan had anticipated that someone would ask this question a few days ago, and he and Shen Zhanyao had rehearsed several times, answering all sorts of questions. This question was too typical; Fang Yan and he had rehearsed it several times.

He repeated his previous answer, saying:
"Our grassroots resources are limited, and many cases are diagnosed mainly based on a clear history of dog bites and typical symptoms of manic episodes such as hydrophobia, aerophobia, and drooling. We do lack modern virus testing methods, such as the antigen-antibody test records done by Comrade Zhang Fu. This is a limitation of our era. But Mr. Zhang Fu's case is the strongest evidence! He was clearly diagnosed with rabies at a top hospital like Peking Union Medical College Hospital, and after consultations with various Western medicine experts proved ineffective, he was cured by Dr. Fang and me using this treatment plan, with continuous and authoritative test reports confirming the entire process. In the future, when conditions permit, we recommend strictly implementing modern medical diagnostic standards and establishing complete case files."

Before the doctor who had just asked the question could say anything more, Fang Yan spoke up from the side:
"Thank you, next one!"

At this moment, another Western doctor stood up.

He was addressing Shen Zhanyao, the person who asked the question.

Fang Yan noticed that because of the relationship between Director Liao and Vice Minister Li, everyone seemed to be skipping over him to avoid offending anyone by asking questions, and instead focusing all their attention on Shen Zhanyao.

"I am an emergency room doctor. I would like to ask Dr. Shen, for late-stage patients who have already developed difficulty swallowing and laryngeal muscle spasm, is it possible that forcibly feeding them medicine and rice wine, as you have mentioned, could cause more severe laryngeal spasm and suffocation due to stimulation, thus accelerating the patient's death? How do you assess and control this risk?"

Shen Zhanyao composed himself and looked at Fang Yan again. Good heavens, this was another problem Fang Yan had anticipated.

After straightening his expression, he calmly nodded and said:

"This is an extremely critical issue! Both Dr. Fang and I have encountered this problem. After reviewing the experience, I believe we need to be highly vigilant about this risk during treatment! Administering medication must be extremely slow and careful. Specifically: First, as Dr. Fang did, shield the patient from light and cover their eyes to reduce visual stimulation; second, control the temperature of the medicine, guiding them to sip it in small sips, utilizing the natural sweetness of the medicine itself—the rhubarb, peach kernel, rehmannia root, and donkey-hide gelatin in the formula are not all bitter, thus reducing resistance; third, closely observe the patient's condition, encouraging them but not forcing them. As for the fourth step, 'taking it with rice wine,' it should be done after the body has begun to relax and the emotions have stabilized somewhat! Never force-feed alcohol to stimulate the throat when hydrophobia is at its worst! First, smell the aroma of the wine to get used to the smell, then feed it to the patient in small sips."

"The whole process was extremely delicate, requiring patience and meticulousness from doctors and cooperation from family members. There could be no mistakes whatsoever! There were indeed risks involved, but compared to the inevitable death that would have occurred if no treatment had been given at the time, it was a life-saving method worth trying. Of course, in the future, we hope to explore safer drug administration methods together with Western medicine."

In the end, Shen Zhanyao even gave a shout-out to Western medicine.

Even the Western doctors in the audience couldn't figure it out. Shen Zhanyao has quite a high level of vision.
And his answer was very well prepared! This guy's got something...

The questioning continued, and then some traditional Chinese medicine practitioners stepped in to ease the tension, asking a few questions in dialect, giving Shen Zhanyao a brief respite.

However, Western medicine quickly rose up again, also targeting Shen Zhanyao:

"Dr. Shen, I study microbiology at university. I'd like to ask, the main ingredients of your prescription are blood-activating and stasis-removing herbs. How do you explain that they can kill or inhibit the rabies virus? Have you conducted any in vitro or animal experiments to verify their antiviral effects?"

Upon hearing this question, Shen Zhanyao exchanged a glance with Fang Yan beside him. He was convinced; Fang Yan had also rehearsed this question with him.

He recalled for a moment, and then said:

"Hello Professor, frankly speaking, we haven't done any research on direct antiviral effects under our grassroots conditions. Currently, our explanation of its efficacy is mainly based on the holistic view and syndrome differentiation and treatment theory of traditional Chinese medicine. This formula can powerfully remove blood stasis and detoxify, possibly by promoting urination and defecation, especially by purging stagnant blood, clearing the stagnant environment in the body, which may also be toxins or viral metabolic products, unblocking the meridians and blood, improving the microcirculation and the environment of the nerve tissue, thereby enhancing the body's ability to clear pathogens or resist viral damage."

"My personal understanding is that it's more like a method of 'cutting off the fuel supply' by 'unblocking the pathway' rather than directly killing the virus molecules. I really hope to use the power of modern scientific research institutions and experts to conduct in-depth research and interpretation using modern biochemistry, molecular and pathology. This is also one of the purposes of Dr. Fang and me in promoting this formula."

"As Dr. Fang just emphasized, it is to provide a 'way out' from the incurable disease originally diagnosed by Western medicine when the disease occurs."

Lore!

Shen Zhanyao was targeted with several questions, and his final answer dealt a blow to Western medicine.

Traditional Chinese medicine is not "unreasonable," but rather has its own logic and is willing to work with Western medicine to verify it using scientific methods. However, to be frank, it's a fact that you told people with rabies to go home and wait to die, while we saved their lives.

PS: The 4000-word chapter is now complete.

I've gained another hundred monthly votes, so after finishing this chapter, I still owe everyone 36,000.

(End of this chapter)