Rebirth 1977 Great Era

Chapter 970 Secret Formulas of the Tang Dynasty Army: "The Immortal's Secret Formula for Treating Wounds and Healing Broken Fingers" (Bonus Chapter for Alliance Leader [Guagua Gui])
"How is Dr. Fang?" Old Master Han asked Fang Yan.

Although he said that if it couldn't be cured, so be it, everyone could see that he still had high hopes for Fangyan's blessing.

However, he also knew in his heart that his illness was indeed very difficult to cure.

Otherwise, it wouldn't have dragged on until now.

However, people are more or less willing to believe that miracles can happen to them.

At least Mr. Han believes that he has never wronged his compatriots in his life. He was shot while fighting against the Japanese, and he has a clear conscience all these years.

"Hmm...it can be treated, but it will take a long time."

Fang Yan said to Old Han.

The reason he dared to say this was because when he was compiling the "Collection of Imperial Medical Prescriptions", he found 35 lost books, one of which was called "Secret Prescriptions for Treating Wounds and Fractures by Immortals". This was a book used by the Tang Dynasty army to treat external injuries, and it contained similar methods for treating arrow wounds.

Although it wasn't a gunshot wound, an arrow wound was similar.

Although traditional Chinese medicine does not directly use the term "nerve damage," the condition of Mr. Han, where he cannot move his legs, has no sensation, suffers from muscle atrophy, and experiences pain all over his body, is very similar to the situation described in the book where he was shot with an arrow but was not treated. In other words, it is very similar to the "atrophy syndrome" in traditional Chinese medicine.

"Wei syndrome" refers to a condition where the limbs are weak and unable to move, and injuries from fighting or war are also considered one of the causes.

Traditional Chinese medicine has long stated in the "Huangdi Neijing" that when tendons are injured, they become loose and weak ("When tendons are injured, they become loose and weak, as if they cannot be contained"). Therefore, in the case of Mr. Han, whose leg was paralyzed due to nerve damage from a gunshot wound, traditional Chinese medicine classifies it as "muscle injury leading to flaccidity".

What is the root cause of Mr. Han's illness?

According to the local dialect, the cause was that he was shot in the war and lost too much blood, which depleted his qi and blood ("Yin blood was severely damaged, and qi followed the blood loss"). Over time, not only was his yin fluid depleted, but his yang qi also became deficient, especially his kidney yang.

Traditional Chinese medicine says that "yang energy nourishes tendons and ligaments," and kidney yang is the root of the body's yang energy. If yang energy is insufficient, tendons and bones are like grass without nutrients, slowly withering and becoming cold.

In addition, gunshot wounds directly damage the meridians in the waist and legs, such as the bladder meridian and gallbladder meridian, causing the qi and blood to be blocked in the meridians ("the qi and blood are not flowing smoothly, and the blood is stagnant and obstructed").

If blood stasis persists for a long time, it can generate heat and phlegm. When phlegm and blood stasis mix together, they can further block the meridians. This is called "phlegm and blood stasis intertwined, leading to weakness and incompetence".

In addition, his reluctance to be treated by Japanese doctors and his long-term depression worsened his liver's function of regulating qi and blood, making the blood stasis from the external injury even more difficult to cure.

Although Mr. Han's tongue was pale and did not appear to have the typical phlegm-dampness coating, the "Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber" states that "prolonged illness often leads to blood stasis, and prolonged blood stasis generates phlegm." He had been shot for 38 years, and his left lower limb had been experiencing a decline in sensation, which was actually due to phlegm-dampness blocking the meridians in his body.

In traditional Chinese medicine, "tendons" are described as tough and resilient, responsible for restraining bones and allowing joints to move flexibly.

This is what is said in the "Ling Shu Jing Jin": "The tendons are strong, which binds the bones and facilitates the movement of the body."

The gunshot wound that Han Lao suffered directly damaged his "meridians and tendons," just like a broken part in a machine, causing his joints to become immobile ("mechanical malfunction"), which perfectly matched his symptoms of lower limb paralysis.

The Fourteenth Difficulty of the Classic of Difficult Issues also states, "The four types of injury damage the tendons, and the tendons become weak and unable to hold themselves up," further explaining that after the tendons are injured, they become loose and weak, leading to limb weakness, which is the root cause of his illness.

So the question is, how do we treat it?

According to the local dialect, this condition requires tonifying qi and blood, warming and tonifying kidney yang and liver blood, while removing blood stasis and cold from the meridians.

It's like watering and fertilizing parched land, and then removing the stones from the road so that the blood and energy can flow smoothly into the muscles and bones.

The treatment principle is to use large doses of medicine to invigorate qi and nourish blood, and warm and tonify the liver and kidneys, while adding small amounts of herbs to harmonize blood and blood, dispel cold and unblock the meridians, so that yang qi is vigorous to nourish the tendons and vessels, and to remove blood stasis to unblock the meridians.

In other words, the medicine should contain more herbs that replenish qi and blood, such as Codonopsis pilosula and Astragalus membranaceus, as well as herbs that warm the kidney yang, such as deer antler glue, and some herbs that unblock the meridians and promote blood circulation, such as cinnamon twig and safflower.

The "Secret Formula for Treating Wounds and Healing Fractures" states: "For all injuries caused by falls and blows, with blood stasis inside, it is advisable to use insects and ants to search and remove the blood stasis."

In other words, you can also add insect medicines such as ground beetle and scorpion.

After taking it for a while, the blood stasis gradually dissipated, and then we proceeded to the next step.

At this point, the Yang energy has not yet recovered, so we need to reduce the amount of medicine that clears the meridians and increase the amount of medicine that nourishes the liver and kidneys, gradually adjusting the body to allow the legs to regain their function.

Actually, Han Lao's illness was caused by a combination of factors: his qi, blood, liver, and kidneys were all deficient after being wounded in battle, his meridians were blocked, and he felt depressed. It was difficult to treat because of these factors combined.

Traditional Chinese medicine addresses the issue by replenishing qi and blood, warming the liver and kidneys, clearing the meridians, and regulating emotions. By strengthening the body's foundation and ensuring smooth meridian flow, the illness can naturally improve.

However, Mr. Han is now quite old, which may affect his recovery.

The "Complete Works of Jingyue on Atrophy" mentions that "the most important thing to avoid in treating atrophy is old age," but "Essential Readings for Physicians" also points out that "the treatment of atrophy should focus on the Yangming channel, and the stomach qi should be especially emphasized in the elderly." Therefore, special attention should be paid to protecting the qi of the spleen and stomach during treatment to provide a foundation for the body's recovery.

"Can it really cure it? Don't try to fool this old man!" Old Han was clearly incredulous.

The despair he experienced during his 38-year illness, along with the physical limitations of advanced age and serious illness, left him conflicted. He hoped to hear a different answer from the dialect, but when he heard the answer, he found it hard to believe that such a good thing could have happened to him.
"In the ancient Tang Dynasty army, there was a similar prescription, but it was for treating arrow wounds. The book was called 'The Immortal's Secret Prescription for Treating Injuries and Healing Broken Fragments,' which we found in an ancient book that we brought back from Japan some time ago," Fang Yan said to Old Han.

Upon hearing the dialect, Old Han thought for a moment, then tentatively asked:

"You mean the one they stole from North Korea..."

It seems he has been following domestic news.

Nodding in dialect:
"Yes, the Imperial Medical Prescriptions Collection actually contains records of ancient Chinese medical books."

"The name of the prescription I'm giving you is: Buyang Tongluo Fuwei Decoction."

"I've made some modifications based on your situation and plan to divide the treatment into three stages."

Fang Yan held up three fingers and said:
"The first stage breaks up blood stasis in the meridians and unblocks the channels of qi and blood. The second stage focuses on tonifying the liver and kidneys while also promoting blood circulation and unblocking the meridians. The third stage harmonizes yin and yang and consolidates the therapeutic effect." "In addition, acupuncture and medicated wine massage are also needed to help treat you both internally and externally."

Hearing Fang Yan's confident tone, Old Han felt that Fang Yan was actually quite certain.

She even planned out her subsequent treatment.

Old Han opened his mouth, hesitated for a few seconds, and then managed to utter a sentence:
"Then... then I'll trouble you!"

Fang Yan knew that the old man still really wanted him to cure him.

He smiled and nodded, then picked up his pen and began to write rapidly.

After writing down Mr. Han's situation, I wrote down my own thoughts.

Finally, the prescription was written out:
Astragalus 60g (Greatly replenishes vital energy and promotes blood circulation)

Angelica sinensis 15g (nourishes and invigorates blood; when combined with Astragalus membranaceus, it forms Angelica sinensis blood-nourishing decoction).
12g of deer antler glue (melted, to warm and tonify kidney yang and replenish essence and blood)

Prepared Rehmannia Root 18g (Nourishes Kidney Yin, Seeking Yang Within Yin)

Cinnamon twig 15g (warms and unblocks meridians, dispels cold and relieves pain)

Prepared aconite root 9g (decocted for 1 hour first to warm the kidneys, invigorate yang, and dispel cold and dampness).

Earthworm 12g (unblocks meridians and promotes blood circulation, specifically for treating chronic illnesses with blood stasis)
Ground beetle 6g (breaks up blood stasis and removes stagnant blood from the collaterals)

3g of whole scorpion (ground into powder and taken with water; it removes insects and ants, clears the meridians, and relieves pain).

9g of peach kernels (promotes blood circulation and removes blood stasis, improves local circulation)
Safflower 6g (promotes blood circulation and menstruation, synergistic effect with peach kernel)

15g of Achyranthes bidentata (to guide the medicine downwards and strengthen the waist and knees)

Chicken blood vine 30g (nourishes blood and unblocks meridians, improves muscle atrophy)
12g of stir-fried barley sprouts and 9g of chicken gizzard lining (to protect the stomach and aid in the absorption of the medicine).
30g of floating wheat and 6g of roasted licorice root (to harmonize the medicinal properties and alleviate liver stagnation)

The core of this medicine lies in its ability to break up blood stasis and unblock meridians while protecting the stomach's vital energy.

The Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach states, "When the Qi is abundant, the stomach is strong," meaning that when the stomach Qi is sufficient, the spleen and stomach functions are strong.

The "Secret Formula for Treating Injuries and Fractures" emphasizes "unblocking before tonifying" in treating external injuries. Therefore, the first stage of the formula uses insect-based medicines such as ground beetle and scorpion to break up blood stasis, while also using stir-fried rice sprouts and chicken gizzard to protect the spleen and stomach. This is actually following the method of our ancestors.

The recipe contains a significant amount of stir-fried germinated rice and chicken gizzard lining.

Stir-fried germinated barley can invigorate the spleen and stomach, and aid digestion and absorption. The Compendium of Materia Medica says that it "quickly invigorates the spleen and stomach, regulates qi and harmonizes the middle jiao," which simply means it makes the spleen and stomach feel comfortable and improves appetite.

Chicken gizzard lining is even more remarkable, as it can aid digestion, eliminate food stagnation, and enhance the spleen and stomach's digestive capabilities. The "Medical Records of Integrating Chinese and Western Medicine" states that it "is good at resolving food stagnation and strengthening the spleen and stomach." Whether it's indigestion from overeating or stagnation in the body, it can handle it.

When these two are combined, they directly provide a "protective umbrella" for the spleen and stomach, preventing blood-breaking drugs such as ground beetle and scorpion from damaging the spleen and stomach.

As for Astragalus and Angelica, 60g of Astragalus and 15g of Angelica were used.

Astragalus can replenish qi and raise yang, while angelica can replenish blood and promote blood circulation. The combination of these two, known as "Angelica Blood-Replenishing Decoction," not only replenishes qi and blood on the surface, but also indirectly nourishes stomach qi while replenishing qi and blood. Although the first stage does not directly and aggressively replenish stomach qi, it pairs the blood-breaking medicine with a partner that protects the spleen and stomach, much like stabilizing logistics in a war. This embodies the principle of "eliminating evil without harming the body's vital energy" in traditional Chinese medicine.

The real work of tonifying the stomach qi will have to wait until later stages. This phased treatment requires careful attention: first, clear the blockages, then gradually tonify, step by step, without rushing. This is the rigor of traditional Chinese medicine in treating illness.

Next came acupuncture:
Acupuncture points: Shenshu (warm needling), Zusanli (tonifying qi and blood), Yanglingquan (relaxing muscles and tendons), Baliao (warming and unblocking the qi of the lumbosacral meridian).

Technique: Use a balanced tonifying and reducing method, retain the needles for 30 minutes, 3 times a week.

According to the "Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion", "To treat flaccidity, one should focus on the Yangming meridian, tonifying its Ying-Spring points and unblocking its Shu-Stream points."

Then there's the medicinal wine.

Take 10g each of Aconitum carmichaelii and Aconitum kusnezoffii, and 15g of Carthamus tinctorius. Soak them in 500ml of high-proof liquor. After 7 days, apply the solution to the affected limb and massage to promote blood circulation.

This prescription is based on the Aconitum Decoction method in the "Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber": it treats cold-dampness bi syndrome with pain that prevents bending and stretching.

Seeing that Fang Yan had written a long article in a flash, the people standing behind him craned their necks to read it.

This recipe is a secret military formula from the Tang Dynasty that has not yet been made public, and everyone is trying their best to memorize it.

If Brother Fang tells them to watch it, they have to watch it right away.

After passing this village, there is no such shop.

Of course, Grandpa Han also craned his neck to look at what was written in dialect. Although he couldn't understand it, he vaguely saw something called hope.

This is a feeling; even though he doesn't understand traditional Chinese medicine, he can read people.

After it was opened, Fang Yan said to Grandpa Han:
"This treatment will take about six months... You will need to be hospitalized for the first stage, and afterwards you just need to take your medication on time and have regular check-ups."

PS: Thank you to reader [Guagua Gui] for the generous donation! Wishing you good health!

As agreed, each alliance leader owes five chapters; this is currently the second chapter. (3K chapters)
Bonus chapter for monthly pass winners. I currently owe you 91000 words.

That's all for today, please come early tomorrow!
Lao Feng is working hard to write tomorrow's!

(End of this chapter)