Rebirth 1977 Great Era

Chapter 959 Organ Support Method Abdominal Breathing, an Unpopular Legendary Item (Two-in-One Chapter)
Organ support therapy is an external treatment method, and its inventor is unknown.

However, judging from the development of external treatment methods in traditional Chinese medicine, Wu Shangxian, a medical scientist in the Qing Dynasty, made great contributions to external treatment methods in traditional Chinese medicine, and he should have played a significant role here.

Let's start with Wu Shangxian. This gentleman was born in 1806 and died in 1886. He was a physician in the Qing Dynasty and a native of Qiantang (now Hangzhou, Zhejiang).

His original name was Anye, his given name was Zun, his courtesy name was Shangxian, and his other courtesy name was Shiji.

His later pen names were Qianyu Jushi and Qianyu Laoren.

He was highly accomplished in both Confucianism and medicine.

He passed the imperial examination in the fourteenth year of the Daoguang Emperor's reign and became a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial-level imperial examinations). Later, he moved to Yangzhou with his father and then abandoned his Confucian studies to become a doctor.

In the third year of the Xianfeng Emperor's reign, during the Taiping Rebellion, medicine was scarce and treatment was difficult. He set up the Cunjitang Pharmacy in Yangzhou and used plasters to treat diseases.

He innovated and improved upon existing external treatment methods, summarizing more than ten types of external treatment methods such as poultices, ironing, fumigation, and soaking, many of which are early achievements of modern physical therapy.

Based on his long-term research and practical experience, Wu Shangxian wrote "Li Yue Pian Wen", which is the first monograph on external treatment in the history of Chinese medicine.

This book systematically organized and theoretically explored the external treatment methods of traditional Chinese medicine, proposing that external treatment methods could "curse all diseases," and was hailed by later generations as the "origin of external treatment."

He believed that "the principles of external treatment are the same as those of internal treatment, and the medicines used in external treatment are the same as those used in internal treatment; the only difference is the method," emphasizing that the principles of external treatment and internal treatment are the same, only the methods are different.

Wu Shangxian was skilled in using external treatments such as plasters and fumigation, and had considerable experience in treating various diseases, including internal, external, gynecological, and pediatric conditions.

His external treatment methods were simple, effective, and economical, and were deeply loved by the working people.

The organ support method, as an external treatment method, emerged during this period. As mentioned earlier, he systematically summarized external treatment techniques such as application, ironing, fumigation, and soaking in his book "Li Yue Pian Wen" and proposed that "the principle of external treatment is the same as the principle of internal treatment," emphasizing the regulation of internal organs through stimulation of the body surface.

Although the book does not directly record the "organ support method", the core of this method, warming and lifting, is highly consistent with Wu Shangxian's external treatment theory. Some scholars who specialize in this study speculate that it may have been inspired by such ideas.

This method involves using external warm compresses, medicated patches, or physical means to support and regulate the organs, thereby relieving symptoms such as stomach prolapse and bloating.

The use of dialect here refers to the symptoms of patient Wang Di, such as gastric prolapse, bloating, and qi deficiency.

The core of organ support therapy lies in physical support.

This is achieved by applying moderate pressure to the abdomen through a specially designed abdominal binder, preventing the stomach from sagging further and relieving the feeling of heaviness caused by organ displacement.

Another aspect is the gentle, warming effect of the medicine.

This involves filling the inner layer of the abdominal binder with moxa wool (to warm the meridians and dispel cold) and Sichuan pepper powder (to promote qi and blood circulation). The medicinal properties are continuously released with the help of body temperature, promoting local qi and blood circulation and enhancing the spleen and stomach's lifting power.

Finally, this method also emphasizes the separation of day and night.

During the day, patients wear an abdominal binder to support their organs and assist with movement.

Remove at night to avoid binding.

This also aligns with the traditional Chinese medicine concept of "harmony between man and nature" in health management.

The reason why Fang Yan chose this method to treat Wang Di's long-term stomach disease with qi sinking is because his stomach prolapse, fear of cold, pale tongue and weak pulse indicate spleen yang deficiency and weakness in lifting qi, which requires external treatment to warm and tonify and lift qi.

The warming and invigorating properties of mugwort and Sichuan pepper can alleviate his acute symptoms caused by catching a cold while bathing, and at the same time treat the root cause and protect his spleen and stomach.

External treatments can avoid the burden on a weak spleen and stomach caused by oral medications.

This aligns with the principle of "treating the symptoms in urgent cases and addressing the root cause in less urgent cases."

However, it should be noted that this method is suitable for gastroptosis due to spleen deficiency and qi sinking, and chronic cold-type stomach pain.

However, it should be used with caution in cases of acute inflammation, skin damage, or internal damp-heat.

Because the warming and drying properties of the medicine may worsen the condition.

Fang Yan then wrote down the method in the medical record. Making this thing was quite simple. The hospital had its own sewing machine to make it. Fang Yan only needed to explain clearly, and it could be customized.

Of course, in addition to this external treatment method, other projects need to be carried out together.

Fang Yan then began writing out the prescription for the combination.

This time, the dialect was selected to be combined with Buzhong Yiqi Tang and Linggui Zhugan Tang, with modifications.

The formula is as follows:

Astragalus 30g (tonifies the middle qi, raises yang and lifts prolapse)

Codonopsis pilosula 15g (strengthens the spleen and replenishes qi)
12g of stir-fried Atractylodes macrocephala (to dry dampness and strengthen the spleen)
Cimicifuga rhizome 6g (to lift and clear qi)
Bupleurum 9g (soothes the liver and relieves depression, helps to lift the liver)
Poria cocos 15g (diuretic and dampness-removing)
Cinnamon twig 9g (warms and invigorates spleen yang)
9g of dried tangerine peel (for regulating qi and stomach health)
Coptis chinensis 6g (clears damp-heat and counteracts the dryness of warming herbs)
6g of Amomum villosum (added later) (to resolve dampness and invigorate the spleen)
Prepared licorice root 6g (to harmonize the other herbs)
Decoction method:
Take one dose daily, add 800ml of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for 30 minutes. Add the cardamom and simmer for another 5 minutes.

Take 300ml of the juice and drink it warm twice a day, morning and evening (1 hour after meals).

Solution:

The Buzhong Yiqi Decoction, containing Astragalus membranaceus, Codonopsis pilosula, Atractylodes macrocephala, Cimicifuga foetida, Bupleurum chinense, and Glycyrrhiza uralensis, is used to treat qi deficiency and stomach prolapse by lifting the clear qi of the spleen and stomach.

The Poria, Cinnamon Twig, Atractylodes Macrocephala, and Prepared Licorice Root in Linggui Zhugan Decoction warm the Yang and transform dampness, resolving the thick, greasy tongue coating.

Coptis chinensis clears damp-heat, while antipyretics promote heat; Amomum villosum and Citrus reticulata regulate qi and resolve stagnation, relieving bloating and pain.

Fang Yan then made sure to find work for Lao Fan and Yuan Qingshan.

That is daily acupressure massage.
Zusanli (bilateral): Press 3 times a day for 5 minutes each time (to strengthen the spleen and stomach).

Zhongwan acupoint: Massage clockwise for 10 minutes to relieve postprandial bloating.

Based on his current condition, Fang Yan thought about it and wrote down some content on emotional regulation.

Liver stagnation aggravates spleen deficiency, so anxiety must be avoided. Therefore, Fang Yan suggested that he practice abdominal breathing for 10 minutes each in the morning and before going to bed.

Modern research has shown that diaphragmatic breathing can indeed help reduce anxiety.

Furthermore, based on the actual experiences of many people, this is indeed a simple and effective technique for regulating the mind and body. Its principles and effects have been widely supported by psychological and medical research in the past.

In general, anxiety is essentially a "stress response," manifested as sympathetic nerve excitation, such as accelerated heartbeat, muscle tension, and shallow, rapid breathing.

Abdominal breathing can activate the parasympathetic nervous system through a mechanism that combats anxiety.

During diaphragmatic breathing, the diaphragm moves up and down significantly, stimulating the vagus nerve, which is the core part of the parasympathetic nervous system, and triggering a "relaxation response".

Once the parasympathetic nervous system is activated, it inhibits the excessive excitation of the sympathetic nervous system and reduces the levels of stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, thereby alleviating physiological symptoms of anxiety such as rapid heartbeat and high blood pressure.

When anxious, people often unconsciously adopt "chest breathing" (shallow and rapid breathing, with only the upper chest rising and falling), which leads to insufficient oxygen exchange and further exacerbates the feeling of tension.

Abdominal breathing, through a deep and slow breathing pattern (the abdomen rises when inhaling and falls when exhaling), increases lung ventilation, promotes the expulsion of carbon dioxide, and allows the body to enter a more stable oxygenation state, reducing the feeling of suffocation or dizziness caused by anxiety.

In addition, when practicing diaphragmatic breathing, you need to focus on the rhythm of your breathing and your body sensations. This "mindfulness" process can shift your attention from anxious thoughts (such as excessive worry about the future) to your current physical experience, breaking the vicious cycle of anxiety leading to overthinking and then more anxiety.

From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine.

There are indeed classical texts that can be consulted.

The Suwen states: "The liver governs the free flow of Qi, and it likes to be unobstructed and dislikes stagnation."

Wang Di's long-term anxiety led to stagnation of liver qi, and the obstruction of qi further aggravated spleen deficiency (wood controls earth).

The dialect taught him to use abdominal breathing, with a deep and long breathing rhythm, to push the diaphragm up and down, directly affecting the spleen and stomach in the middle jiao, which can promote the smooth flow of liver qi and the coordination of the rise and fall of spleen and stomach qi.

As recorded in the "Classified Canon": "Breathe in the essence of qi, stand alone and guard the spirit, and the muscles become one."

This is to break the vicious cycle of "liver stagnation affecting the spleen".

When practicing abdominal breathing, the rise and fall of the abdomen stimulates the spleen and stomach meridians, thereby invigorating the spleen and stomach qi through physical exercise. This is called "nourishing the earth to generate metal" and "strengthening the spleen and replenishing qi".

In addition, the "Nan Jing" also emphasizes that "exhaling is done by the heart and lungs, inhaling is done by the kidneys and liver, and the spleen receives the taste of grains between breaths," thus proving that deep breathing can enhance the spleen's digestive function and improve dizziness and fatigue caused by insufficient qi and blood production in patients.

In traditional Chinese medicine, this anxiety is attributed to "excessive heart fire and insufficient kidney water," and Wang Di's "restlessness" manifests as a lack of focus.

By using abdominal breathing and guiding the upward-rising heart fire to warm the kidney water through "qi sinking to the dantian" (Guanyuan acupoint), Fang Yan wanted him to reach the state of "yin and yang in harmony, water and fire in balance" recorded in the Book of Changes, in order to alleviate his delirium symptoms of "brain not being nourished".

In addition, Wang Di's thick, greasy tongue coating and weak pulse suggest internal dampness and turbidity.

Abdominal breathing stimulates the Qi transformation function of the Triple Burner (upper burner for dispersing, middle burner for transporting and transforming, and lower burner for excretion) through the diaphragm movement, promoting the excretion of dampness through urination and defecation, which is consistent with the saying in "Medical Mirror" that "when Qi flows, dampness is transformed".

In short, abdominal breathing is a very good exercise for regulating anxiety and tension.

Fang Yan then told Wang Di that she would teach him the compound breathing method to combat emotional anxiety.

"..." Wang Di was stunned for a long while, then asked slowly with a shocked expression:
"You mean you want to teach me breathing exercises without medicine?"

"..." Fang Yan was speechless.

He explained:

"It's just simple breathing, it has nothing to do with practicing martial arts."

Wang Di was visibly disappointed upon hearing this. He had thought he could turn misfortune into good fortune, like a scene from a Hong Kong martial arts novel...

He then continued practicing in the local dialect.

Fang Yan stood beside him, giving him instructions, and said:
"Sit in the chair with your back straight, hands gently placed on your abdomen, feeling the rise and fall of your abdomen, feet flat on the ground, eyes closed or gaze at a fixed point, and shoulders relaxed."

"Inhale slowly through your nose, imagine the air entering through your nasal cavity and sinking into your abdomen, feeling your abdomen gradually expand like a balloon, while keeping your chest as still as possible during this time."

Wang Di spoke in dialect as he worked.

"...Pause, keep your abdomen bulging, and focus on the physical sensations brought about by your breathing."

"Exhale slowly through your mouth, or make a 'shh' sound to help prolong the exhale until all the air is expelled from your lungs. Feel your abdomen gradually contract, as if you are exhaling the tension along with it."

This breathing technique is very simple and quick to learn.

Although Wang Di's mind wasn't working very well at the moment, he could still learn something in one go.

And after taking a few breaths, he really felt much better.

It's just magical.

Even he himself found it unbelievable.

Why didn't I think of this as a way to relax before?

Fang Yan said to Wang Di:

"Repeat the steps you just went through, practice for 10 minutes each time, once in the morning and once before bed each day."

"At the beginning, you don't need to deliberately pursue a 'standard' feeling. Just breathe naturally and gradually feel the movement of the diaphragm."

This time, Wang Di didn't hesitate; he nodded slowly.

"Hmm... I feel much better."

Then he asked in dialect:

"I just experience some tinnitus after breathing, what could be causing this?"

"Tinnitus?" Fang Yan was taken aback. Then he immediately realized that Wang Di's spleen yang deficiency had been affecting his kidneys for a long time, and the lack of kidney essence had led to malnourishment of the ears (traditional Chinese medicine theory believes that the kidneys open into the ears).

The action of "sinking the qi to the dantian" during abdominal breathing stimulates the qi of the kidney meridian. The originally weak yang qi disturbs the meridians of the ear, resulting in tinnitus. This is the initial manifestation of "kidney deficiency and depletion of essence, tinnitus and deafness" recorded in "Miscellaneous Diseases Origins and Development".

"Are you still experiencing tinnitus?" Fang Yan asked him.

Wang Di touched his right ear and shook his head:

"It was very short, but it's gone now."

To prevent him from worrying too much at this moment, Fang Yan explained to him:

"This is a normal reaction as the body's vital energy begins to invigorate and tries to expel the pathogenic factors. In traditional Chinese medicine, this is called a 'herx reaction.' As the Book of Documents says, 'If the medicine does not cause a herx reaction, the illness will not be cured.' This means that if there is no such reaction after taking medicine or undergoing treatment, the illness may be difficult to cure."

"These current symptoms indicate that the treatment is working, but it's only temporary, so don't worry!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Di suddenly realized what was going on, and then asked Fang Yan:

Has my physical condition deteriorated at all?

Li Yin, who was standing to the side, also said:
"Yes, Dr. Fang, we were worried about this before."

Fang Yan said to them:

"The situation hasn't worsened yet; if it had, it wouldn't be in this state now."

Hearing Fang Yan say that, the couple finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Fang Yan wasn't lying. Although Wang Di's condition seems serious now, he hasn't reached that point yet.

His current condition is not as serious as Wang Jin's father-in-law's stomach ailment.

Of course, if things continue to develop, then it's hard to say.

If this trend continues, it might lead to a crisis where the righteous are weak and the evil are strong, and the yin and yang are separated. That would be truly dangerous.

Fang Yan wrote down the medical records while giving Wang Di instructions:
"You need to pay extra attention to your diet. Stop drinking thin porridge for now. You feel watery after eating porridge because it easily stimulates gastric acid secretion, which will aggravate spleen deficiency and dampness. You should also avoid raw, cold and greasy foods, such as iced drinks, fatty meat and fried foods, as these will damage the spleen yang and affect digestion. Spicy and stimulating foods such as chili peppers and alcohol should be avoided even more, otherwise it will aggravate the damp heat in the body."

Wang Di scratched his head, seemingly not quite understanding. Seeing this, Li Yin quickly asked:

"What should we eat then?"

The dialect continued:
"It is recommended to eat more foods that strengthen the spleen and warm the body, such as yam and pumpkin soup, ginger and jujube tea. For staple food, choose soft noodles, and for meat, choose steamed fish and stewed vegetables. In addition, it is best to eat small meals frequently, 5-6 meals a day, and eat only until you are half full at each meal."

Having said that, Fang Yan simply said:

"Fine, I'll write you a recipe now."

"Just order the dishes you want at the Yanjing Hotel. They prepare state banquets and have the best chefs in the country. They can definitely make compliant and delicious food."

Hearing this, Li Yin nodded excitedly:
"That's great! We can learn something from it too..."

I'm speechless. No wonder he works in the food and beverage industry; he's still thinking about studying right now.

However, he quickly started writing in the dialect.

He picked up a piece of paper and began writing down a dietary therapy prescription based on Wang Di's condition. He was the only one writing it; no one else had seen his prescription and didn't know how to combine the ingredients.

Moreover, when Fang Yan gives Director Liao a physical examination later, he also needs to create a customized diet plan for Director Liao.

Based on Wang Di's constitution of spleen yang deficiency, qi sinking, and damp-heat accumulation, as well as his treatment needs, and combining the principles of traditional Chinese medicine dietary therapy with the culinary standards of the Yanjing Hotel, a recipe was devised:
Breakfast (7:00-8:00)

Steamed cod with ginger and quinoa rice, astragalus and red date glutinous rice cake, poria, gorgon fruit and yam cake, and codonopsis and chicken noodle soup.

Morning snack (10:00)

Pumpkin and red date soup, lotus seed, lily bulb and white fungus soup, longan, walnut and sesame paste, yam and chestnut puree.

Lunch (12:00-13:00)

Chicken stewed with astragalus and codonopsis, steamed sea bass with soft rice, braised pork ribs with monkey head mushroom, braised pig's trotters with red bean paste and shredded chicken in broth.

Afternoon tea (15:00 PM)

Poria and lotus seed cake, fox nut and barley soup, red date and goji berry stewed egg custard, and dried tangerine peel and hawthorn preserves.

Dinner (18:00-19:00)

Steamed pork ribs with cardamom and dried tangerine peel, braised lion's head meatballs (with fat removed), steamed eggplant with minced garlic and millet pancakes, chicken broth stewed with three shredded vegetables (bamboo shoots, wood ear mushrooms, and chicken breast), and stir-fried shrimp with yam and lily bulbs.

Late-night snack (21:00 PM, if necessary)

Longan and red date tea, ginger juice and brown sugar lotus root starch soup, and tangerine peel and red bean paste glutinous rice balls.

Then, Fang Yan also wrote down other recommended dishes to be flexibly combined according to the time of day.

The classic Four-Ingredient Soup (a stew of Poria cocos, lotus seeds, fox nuts, and yam).
Other dishes include steamed mandarin fish with cardamom and dried tangerine peel, black-boned chicken soup with astragalus and angelica, steamed pumpkin and millet cake, and mutton stew (with the fat removed).

All dishes do not include porridge and are made with low oil, low salt, soft and easy-to-digest ingredients, which is suitable for Wang Di's constitution of spleen yang deficiency and qi sinking. Even his wife can eat them together.

Moreover, the dialects used in these menus were ones I had seen during my stays at the Yanjing Hotel.

And then he wrote them all down.

Also, when I had a follow-up appointment with Ma Wenying, there was a huge menu in her room.

You can order anything in foreign currency. Right now, as long as you want to eat, you'll get plenty of foreign currency. Bear paws, camel hump, bird's nest, shark fin—we'll get you everything.

By eating smaller, more frequent meals and ordering more dishes, the Yanjing Hotel's foreign exchange earnings have increased again.

Fang Yan felt right now that he was truly the biggest driving force behind the Yanjing Hotel's foreign exchange earnings, without a doubt.

Of course, this was indeed for Wang Di's health. They were going to order food anyway, and the dialect just provided the correct choice.

On the other side, Wang Di and Li Yin, a married couple, saw the detailed menu written in Fang Yan's words. Although it wasn't particularly long, it showed great care.

Which doctor abroad could achieve this level of skill?
This really touched the couple deeply.

Even though Wang Di's mind wasn't quite clear at the moment, he could still feel the strong sense of human warmth.

Only our own compatriots are this simple and honest!
"You've really gone to so much trouble, Dr. Fang," Li Yin said to Fang Yan.

He waved his hand politely in his dialect, saying:

"It's all what I should do. I also hope that Mr. Wang can recover soon and return to a normal life."

Then, speaking in dialect, he said to them:

"You can call to order lunch at the nurses' station, and the Yanjing Hotel will deliver it directly to you at lunchtime."

After speaking in dialect:

"Alright, you can go and complete the admission procedures now. The medicine will be delivered to your ward shortly after it's brewed."

Li Yin nodded first, and then Wang Di also nodded to Fang Yan.

Then Li Ying called over her assistant, who then took out a box about the size of a basketball.

As soon as he put it down, Wang Di seemed to perk up immediately. He said to Fang Yan:

"Dr. Fang, this is a really good thing that I managed to get my hands on."

"Don't underestimate it, it will definitely be very good at managing money in a few months."

Fang Yan looked completely bewildered upon hearing this.

The others behind them were equally bewildered, their eyes all fixed on the box in front of them.

Then Wang Di opened the box.

What's inside is revealed.

Only then did everyone see that it was a pair of red leather boxing gloves with the words "The Greatest" embroidered in gold thread on the back of the hand, and the signature ink on the inside slightly smudged by sweat.

And under the boxing gloves, there was a clipping from the Chicago Tribune, a candid photo of a black boxer training.

Wang Di's eyes were gleaming at this moment, as if he had suddenly perked up, and he said to Fang Yan with some excitement:
"These are a pair of Muhammad Ali's comeback training camp autographed boxing gloves."

He reiterated:
"Ali, he's very famous in America!"

Fang Yan suddenly realized, "It's Muhammad Ali!"
This is his boxing glove.

As a symbolic figure of the civil rights movement, Ali's signature had political value that transcended sports in the 70s.

In 2012, Sotheby's sold a similar item for $120 million.

At this moment, Wang Di said to Fang Yan:

"In February 1978, Ali unexpectedly lost to Leon Spinks and lost his WBA heavyweight championship title."

"In preparation for his comeback fight in September, Ali underwent secret training in Chicago in 1978."

"These red Everlast boxing gloves were used and signed by him during his special training. The inside is inscribed with 'To Wang: Never Give Up! Muhammad Ali Mar. 1978,' symbolizing his indomitable spirit."

"I bought this from a friend!"

He became more and more excited as he spoke, and at this point he felt a little dizzy.

His eyes began to glaze over again, and Fang Yan said to him:
"Please don't get agitated! Use diaphragmatic breathing!"

Wang Di quickly did as instructed.

One minute later:
"Phew..." He let out a long breath, finally recovering.

Then he spoke slowly in dialect:

"In short, this boxing glove is a great item and will definitely be very valuable. As long as Ali regains the championship, this item will become a testament to the legend's return!"

After speaking, Wang Di seemed completely drained. He still tried his best to let Fang Yan know how much thought he had put into choosing this gift.

Of course, people in the same dialect do know the value of this thing, but others don't.

They just felt that Wang Di really had something wrong with his head, actually giving away someone else's used boxing gloves.

Everyone thought that he needed to take medicine as soon as possible because of his symptoms.

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

There will be an extra chapter later.

(End of this chapter)