I Can Hear the Heart's Voice of Traditional Chinese Medicine-Chapter 387 - 162: Qi Drum, Self-Created Suidou Pill Formula (2)

"Going back doesn’t matter, and besides, I don’t have many patients here. When Gu Huahua came looking for me just now, I was lying there resting for quite a while."

"Did she tell you to go back and rest? After all, you must have been busy all night without really getting any sleep."

"She did, said it several times."

"Then why did you still come?"

"Knowing that a patient from the Health Center had booked an appointment online, I couldn’t just go back to sleep and let them come here for nothing, could I?"

Lu Xuan said, "This isn’t much of an issue. If I really don’t come, the United South Chinese Medicine Association would definitely contact them to cancel the appointment. But they signed up here, so they didn’t snag an appointment at the Health Center. If I didn’t come today, they’d be facing half a month without myrrh. Half a month isn’t too long, but not too short either. For certain conditions, this half-month could be the most critical time. If the medicine is interrupted, they might have to start all over again. You think I can do such a thing?"

"We can’t! As doctors, how can we break faith with our patients?"

"They might not say anything, but I wouldn’t feel right in my heart!"

After saying this, Lu Xuan couldn’t help but spread his hands.

Zhang Jingcai glanced at Lu Xuan, "If everyone thought like you, there would probably be much fewer doctor-patient conflicts. Many medical disputes usually start from small things that eventually escalate."

"You can’t really say that. Medical staff are humans too. Facing so many patients and families every day, it’s understandable if they’re in a bad mood at times. We’re a bit better off, dealing with a limited number daily. Nurses in big hospitals take care of hundreds or even thousands of people a day. Sometimes, it’s inevitable their tone might be bad. Overall, everyone has their difficulties. At such times, mutual understanding is necessary."

"Without understanding, doctor-patient conflicts arise."

"Certainly now, hospitals have become too profit-oriented. Hospitals were originally sacred places to save lives, but have become money-making ventures. Some hospitals profit hundreds of millions even billions a year. How could there be no conflicts between doctors and patients?"

At this point, Lu Xuan sighed, "Hospitals have set performance targets for doctors, forcing them to prescribe unnecessary medicines and tests. Can profits not increase? It’s strange for doctor-patient relationships to be good.

Not every place operates like the United South Chinese Medicine Association, which only charges for what’s necessary, taking nothing that’s not right. Naturally, you won’t see doctor-patient disputes.

Speaking of this, it’s still Old Zhang who understands it thoroughly. Sitting in consultation at the United South Chinese Medicine Association is much more relaxing than in big hospitals. The pay isn’t as high, but the mood is definitely better!"

"It’s not just because of these reasons."

Zhang Jingcai started talking, "The open and hidden struggles in big hospitals are also what I dislike. Why must there be such messy affairs in treating patients? It’s annoying to even hear of them, so I left the hospital after a short practice there, unable to tolerate that environment."

"The whole situation is like this, not something an individual can change."

Lu Xuan sighed and said, "Old Zhang, forget it. Let’s not talk about these things; tell me about the patient’s condition first."

"Alright."

Zhang Jingcai nodded, then went on to describe the patient’s condition to Lu Xuan.

Patient Zhang Qixia, female, 36 years old.

A year ago during spring and summer, after her husband committed suicide, she developed swelling in the upper body.

"Qi Gu?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Xuan instinctively spoke the term.

Qi Gu, a name for a condition in Traditional Chinese Medicine, has two types.

One type is caused by stagnation of Qi, leading to swelling: "In hollowness there’s nothing, akin to a drum, urine is short and difficult, the condition is tough, treatment requires modified dispersing decoction." mentioned in "Thousands Illness Reviving · Swelling."

The second type is caused by Qi deficiency, leading to whole body swelling, documented in "Secret Record of Stone Chamber · Internal Injury Record": "Qi Gu is swelling from Qi deficiency, resembling water swelling but isn’t water swelling. Symptoms mirror water drum, but skin when pressed doesn’t yield. Swelling starts from the foot, gradually elevating up the body, even head and face swell too." Treatment involves strengthening the spleen, move Qi, and benefit water medicaments, employing dispersing powder. Don’t use treatments for water swelling and avoid salt.

"I share the same view as you. As Ms. Zhang described her condition, it seemed to be Qi Gu."

After saying this, Zhang Jingcai continued discussing patient Zhang Qixia’s situation: "After treating for over half a year, the condition worsened, the patient has long been unable to sleep lying down, only half sits and half reclines."

When Zhang Jingcai mentioned this, Lu Xuan instinctively glanced at Zhang Qixia, hearing her lament, "Doctor, I’m really helpless now. Treated in the hospital for half a year with no improvement and it’s getting worse. Initially only my belly was swollen, now the upper body has no good spots left. If Dr. Zhang and you can’t help, I can only shorten my life prematurely. Living like this is worse than being dead."

"Ms. Zhang, there’s no hurdle that cannot be overcome. Your condition is not an incurable disease, it’s just Qi Gu, not at the desperate stage yet." Lu Xuan quickly added.

Just Qi Gu...

If this kind of talk came from some younger Traditional Chinese Medicine doctors, no matter who, they might find it arrogant.

If Qi Gu was truly easy to treat, Zhang Qixia wouldn’t have spent half a year in the hospital with worsening results.

But these words came from Lu Xuan, and Zhang Jingcai not only didn’t find it arrogant but nodded discreetly.

Patients fall into despair, and at such moments, doctors naturally have to offer hope. Sometimes, a doctor’s confidence acts faster than medication.

Indeed, upon hearing Lu Xuan, Zhang Qixia immediately asked with delight, "Really?"