Rebirth 1977 Great Era

Chapter 1402 The person introduced by Ding Pei wanted to use the Thirteen Ghost Needles
The two people who had just asked the question only realized what Zhu Bangxian meant after hearing his words.

The patient is a child, not an adult.

In some details, medication cannot be prescribed in the same way as for adults.

The two people who had just asked the question were immediately embarrassed. Li Chunsheng quickly said to Fang Yan:

"Brother Fang, I'm sorry, I didn't think of that just now..."

Gao Duo also said:
"I didn't expect that..."

The two of them were now behaving themselves. They hadn't actually been trying to find fault with the dialect; they had just subconsciously felt they couldn't understand it, which was why they asked the question about the dialect.

These two are like that too; they don't think too deeply and tend to act impulsively. They don't mind the dialect, though; since they've come to visit, it's normal for them to ask questions.

Zhu Bangxian's words silenced both of them.

"It's alright, it's normal to have problems during communication," Fang Yan said with a smile.

Zhu Bangxian is now the class monitor. He is also the second most skilled doctor in the class after Fang Yan. He is 27 years old, from Heilongjiang, and ranked third in the postgraduate entrance examination.

Having previously taught at Mudanjiang Health School for three years, he was mentored by renowned Northeast doctors Wang Deguang, Zhang Youcai, Wang Keqin, and Zhang Zhenting. His theoretical and practical skills were solid, placing him among the most accomplished. Compared to him, organization committee member Gao Duo and Li Chunsheng, a disciple of Yue Meizhong, were significantly less experienced.

Li Chunsheng, in particular, was a college student recommended by the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University. He took the postgraduate entrance exam immediately after his fifth year of university and was in his early twenties, so he didn't think things through very well.

Fang Yan smoothed things over, easing the awkward atmosphere.

Next, Fang Yan called in the next patient.

The second to last patient was a woman surnamed Shen, who was 39 years old.

He was accompanied by his husband.

As soon as Ms. Shen entered the room, everyone noticed her worried expression and somewhat dazed look.

There seemed to be a lot of worries between his brows.

When we greeted her, Ms. Shen was startled. It seemed that even a slightly louder voice made her feel uncomfortable, and she became nervous and breathless.

Then her husband spoke on her behalf in dialect.

It turns out that Ms. Shen encountered some things beyond her comprehension while traveling in Thailand. After returning home, she began to have nightmares, dreaming of evil spirits or tragic events. She also experienced sudden limb convulsions twice during her sleep.

Because of the influence of these dreams, she is now often in a daze, pessimistic and disappointed about everything, often cries, is timid and anxious, and is also afraid of the cold.

I usually eat very little, and after six months of this, I've lost a lot of weight.

My family has consulted several so-called "masters" for treatment, but the results have been poor. The nightmares continue daily, and the condition has even worsened after some of the masters performed rituals. Although we've spent a lot of money, there hasn't been much improvement.

Then they went to the Western hospital and had the psychiatry department intervene. They prescribed some psychiatric medications for Ms. Shen, but she experienced more adverse reactions after taking them, which frightened them so much that they had to stop taking the medication.

Then, while seeking medical treatment in Hong Kong, they encountered Ding Pei, whom Fang Yan had previously cured with the Thirteen Ghost Needles. They then learned about Fang Yan, as they also had investments in China. After inquiring, they discovered that Ding Pei indeed met the criteria for treatment, so they specifically returned to Hong Kong to consult with Fang Yan. (See Chapter 847)
It means that Fang Yan should be treated the same way Ding Pei was treated, with a few injections.

Of course, after hearing their request, Fang Yan did not rush to perform the Thirteen Ghost Needles, but instead began to discuss the matter.

Fang Yan noticed her dejected expression, thin physique, and dazed state, and then began to feel her pulse and examine her tongue.

During the tongue examination, it was found that her tongue coating was thin and white, and the tongue body was pale.

The pulse at the right cun position is floating and slow, while the pulse at the left guan position is weak and wiry.

“Now she has to walk very quietly around the house. She thinks it’s too noisy if the TV is turned down. Sometimes when I call her from behind, she gets so scared that she trembles all over. Nights are even harder. She finally falls asleep, but wakes up crying after a short while, saying that she dreamed that something dark was following her. She hasn’t had a good night’s sleep in six months.” Ms. Shen’s husband added information in the local dialect.

"Do you often feel weak, have no appetite, and feel bloated after eating just a little?" Fang Yan withdrew her hand and continued the consultation.

At this moment, Ms. Shen finally raised her head, her voice barely audible:
"Yes... Sometimes I only drink half a bowl of porridge a day, and my whole body feels so weak that I feel like I have no bones. I get out of breath after walking just a few steps."

Ms. Shen's husband asked in dialect:

"Dr. Fang, what exactly is going on?"

He was still looking around because there were so many people, otherwise he would have asked what was following his wife.

Fang Yan knew exactly what he wanted to ask, but he felt it had little to do with metaphysics, so he thought for a moment and said:

“From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, the root cause lies in the word ‘emotions’. She encountered something beyond her comprehension in Thailand. We won’t say what it was, but it was definitely a ‘sudden fright’. There’s a theory in traditional Chinese medicine called ‘fright causes qi disorder’. When the heart qi is disordered, it’s like the gate protecting the mind has been breached. The spirit is not at ease, which is why she keeps having nightmares and is easily startled by the slightest noise. When she came in just now, I was startled by my normal greeting. This is clear evidence of weak heart qi and a spirit without support.”

"Her tongue coating is thin and white, and her tongue body is pale, without a thick and greasy coating, indicating that there is no phlegm or dampness stagnation; however, the pale tongue body is a manifestation of insufficient qi and blood. Looking at the pulse, the right cun pulse is floating and slow, and the cun pulse corresponds to the heart. A floating and slow pulse often indicates qi deficiency, which confirms the weakness of heart qi; the left guan pulse is small and wiry, and the guan pulse corresponds to the liver. A wiry pulse indicates stagnation. She has not been sleeping well and has been in a bad mood for the past six months, and her liver qi has long been stagnant. Stagnant liver qi will in turn disturb the heart, forming a cycle of 'deficient heart qi, stagnant liver qi, and even more disordered mind'."

Ms. Shen's husband nodded, then asked:

"Then what about her convulsions and sensitivity to cold?"

The dialect explanation is as follows:
"According to traditional Chinese medicine, this convulsion is caused by internal wind due to deficiency. Simply put, she has been unable to eat or sleep well for a long time, resulting in insufficient production of qi and blood. Her tendons and vessels have lost their nourishment, just like crops that wilt and twitch when they lack water and fertilizer. That's why she experiences limb twitching during sleep. As for feeling cold, it's because her heart qi is deficient and her yang qi is insufficient. When the yang qi cannot warm the whole body, she will naturally feel cold. This is also a typical manifestation of deficiency syndrome."

He paused, then added, based on her medical history: "In addition, the rituals she had previously performed with a master, which involved a lot of fuss, further depleted her already weak Qi and blood; then there were the psychiatric medications prescribed by Western doctors. I've seen many of these medications before, and most of them are quite potent. Her spleen and stomach were too weak to handle them, which is why she experienced various adverse reactions. All of these factors exacerbated her deficiency of both heart and spleen, causing her condition to linger for half a year without improvement."

"In traditional Chinese medicine, this condition has a specific term called 'Zangzao' (脏躁)."

"In traditional Chinese medicine classics, the term 'Zangzao' first appeared in the 'Jinkui Yaolue' (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber). The original text states that 'Women with Zangzao are prone to sadness and crying, as if they are being acted upon by spirits, and frequently yawn and stretch.' The core of the term is a disease of heart and spirit malnourishment caused by emotional trauma and deficiency of the internal organs. Common symptoms include emotional depression, easy startling and fear, insomnia and dreaminess, reduced appetite, and weakness of the limbs. This corresponds perfectly with your wife's symptoms."

"So... this isn't some kind of mystical thing?" the patient's husband asked Fang Yan.

Actually, he had heard Ding Pei talk about the time when Fang Yan gave her acupuncture.

It's clear that the current dialect doesn't intend to use the Thirteen Needles of Ghosts method.

Fang Yan shook his head and said:
"The core of your wife's condition is a deficiency of both heart and spleen, and stagnation of liver qi, leading to restlessness. Traditional Chinese medicine says, 'When the body's vital energy is strong, pathogens cannot invade.' The most urgent task is to first regulate and replenish qi and blood, and calm the mind, so as to lay a solid foundation for her health."

"As for the acupuncture technique you mentioned... that is a special treatment method used when the Qi and blood are severely disordered. Right now, her constitution is too weak, and rashly administering acupuncture may disturb her already weak Qi. It's like repairing a leaky house; you have to plug the leak first before you can talk about reinforcing the beams and pillars."

Seeing that the other party still had doubts, he added:
"In that case, we'll prescribe a formula to regulate the condition for half a month. If the symptoms don't improve, then we can consider other treatments. After all, treating illness is like pulling silk from a cocoon, and a steady and methodical approach is the right way."

Upon hearing this in dialect, Ms. Shen's husband said:

"Money is not a problem, we just want to resolve this matter quickly..."

Fang Yan put down her pen, looked up at Ms. Shen's husband, and said in a sincere yet firm tone: "Mr. Shen, I understand your desire to resolve the issue quickly. Your wife has suffered for half a year, and anyone would want her to get better as soon as possible. But treating illnesses, especially in your wife's case of qi and blood deficiency, cannot be rushed. Rushing things can easily cause problems."

He pointed in Ms. Shen's direction:

“Look at her now, she only drinks half a bowl of porridge a day, gets out of breath after walking a few steps, and is as weak as a withered blade of grass. If we force her to recover quickly, regardless of her constitution, even if we temporarily suppress the symptoms, the underlying condition won't be improved, and it won't be long before it recurs, or it might even be more serious. It's like farming. If the soil is barren, and you just rely on spreading chemical fertilizers to make the seedlings grow faster, the seedlings may look like they've grown, but the roots won't be deep enough, and they'll fall over in a storm.”

“I know you’re not short of money, but when it comes to treating deficiency syndromes, money isn’t the key to speed,” Fang Yan continued. “What your wife needs is to slowly replenish her Qi and blood, and stabilize her mind. First, let her eat well and sleep soundly. As her Qi and blood are gradually replenished, her mind will have something to rely on, and those nightmares and fright symptoms will naturally lessen. This process may take half a month, or it may take a month, but every step must be solid so that the root cause can be completely eradicated.”

"If I were to use the Thirteen Ghost Needles now, whether it would be effective or not would be another matter. The key issue is that I'm afraid she won't be able to withstand it."

Hearing Fang Yan say this, the other party finally relented and nodded, saying:

"Alright then, we'll do as you say!"

Then, Fang Yan prescribed a formula for them, using a modified version of a famous formula for treating visceral dryness.

Then they arranged for them to be hospitalized.

As soon as Ms. Shen and her husband stepped out of the consultation room, the room erupted in excitement. Several students surrounded Fang Yan, their eyes filled with excitement and amazement.

Li Chunsheng was the first to approach, his voice several decibels louder than usual: "Brother Fang! You actually know the Thirteen Ghost Needles? I've heard of this acupuncture technique before. It's said to be used to treat difficult and complicated diseases related to mental disorders. It's particularly difficult to learn, and many veteran Chinese medicine doctors have only heard of it but never actually practiced it. How do you know it?"

As he spoke, he rubbed his hands together, his eyes filled with admiration. He had previously been embarrassed by neglecting the "differences in children's medication," but now, hearing that Fang Yan could perform such amazing acupuncture techniques, he felt that he had made the right choice in coming here.

It's a pity that the dialect wasn't used.

Gao Duo squeezed in, looking incredulous: "I was looking through ancient books in the library before and saw a record of 'Thirteen Ghost Needles.' It said that you have to identify thirteen acupoints and adjust the technique according to the patient's constitution. If you make a slight mistake, it could cause problems. I didn't expect Brother Fang to actually know it! I just said that Brother Fang had demonstrated it before. How many needles did you insert?"

Before Fang Yan could answer, He Shaoqi squeezed in: "Brother Fang, who did you learn this acupuncture technique from? I don't remember it being mentioned in our textbooks. Is it a family tradition? When you treated Ding Pei before, did you use this acupuncture technique to stabilize her mind?"

Even the usually composed Zhu Bangxian couldn't help but speak up:
"The 'Thirteen Ghost Needles' technique is quite mysterious in folklore, said to be able to 'calm the mind and stabilize the will, expel evil and support righteousness,' but in fact, the core is to regulate the mind through acupoints, right? You just said that Ms. Shen's constitution is weak and she can't withstand it. Is it because this needling technique is rather 'severe' and can only be used when the patient has a certain foundation of qi and blood?"

For a moment, the consultation room was filled with questions. Li Hui and Wang Xinglu also gathered around, their eyes full of anticipation. They only knew that Fang Yan had a solid foundation in traditional Chinese medicine and could treat all kinds of difficult and complicated diseases. They never expected that he had such a "unique skill". This was much newer than what they learned in textbooks.

Seeing that Fang Yan didn't answer immediately, Li Chunsheng pressed on, "Brother Fang, could you explain this acupuncture technique to us sometime in the future? We don't need to practice it ourselves, just talk about the acupoint combinations and applicable symptoms. This is a rare learning opportunity!"

Gao Duo nodded in agreement: "Yes, yes! If we could see it, we'd have more ideas when we encounter similar mental illnesses in the future!"

Fang Yan was getting a headache from their noisy chatter. Just then, Tao Guangzheng returned and, seeing them discussing the Thirteen Ghost Needles, exclaimed in surprise:
"Huh? They just used the Thirteen Ghost Needles? What did it look like???"

Fang Yan was also impressed and said to them:

"The Thirteen Ghost Needles technique was taught to me by Chu Qiaonan from our class. If you want to learn it, you'll have to ask him first."

Upon hearing Fang Yan mention Chu Qiaonan, everyone paused for a moment, unable to recall who it was.

The first to react was Li Hui, who said:
"That Taiwanese student?"

Fang Yan nodded and said:
"Yes, that's him. His master is Zhou Zuoyu."

Upon hearing Zhou Zuoyu's name, Tao Guangzheng, a fellow townsman, immediately realized:

"Oh my! Jifu Yong'an Hall!"

Everyone looked at him.

Tao Guangzheng said:
"This person is from a family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners in Hebei. His family has been imperial physicians for generations and is famous for acupuncture. His father was the famous doctor Zhou Ruhan, and his teachers were the famous acupuncture masters Yang Tianlin, Cheng Dan'an and Sun Peirong. His specialties include the Five Gates and Ten Transformations Method, the Internal Organ Treatment Method, the Meridian Flow Method, the Eight Methods of the Spirit Turtle, and the Thirteen Ghost Needles. He is a master among masters."

P.S.: I got a new keyboard, and while I was typing, my hand suddenly started hurting. I've developed tenosynovitis, so I'll be updating less today.

(End of this chapter)