I Can Talk to the Internal Organs-Chapter 247 - 214: Hu Huo Disease

Damp-heat?

If the Spleen and Stomach have damp-heat, there should be symptoms like abdominal pain and diarrhea.

However, as per Heart Fire's description, it seems the Spleen Meridian and Stomach Meridian are also affected.

The impact of damp-heat in the Spleen and Stomach is quite significant.

When pathogens enter the body, they travel along the meridians.

Especially pathogens like wind and fire.

Their nature is to be unsettled and move around in the body, unlike cold, dampness, and dryness, which remain static unless something pushes or guides them.

For example, if you catch a cold, your throat feels uncomfortable, and then you eat a popsicle. The cold pathogen will be directed to the viscera, where it lies dormant, quietly growing, until the time is right for a strong attack.

"Heart Fire, I have no way either. Ever since the transport function was hindered, dampness has been increasing. Originally, if it were just dampness, it wouldn't be a problem, but there's also heat, and this heat with the damp tries to enter the meridians. I can't control it," says Spleen Earth.

"Do you think I have a way? She has a high fever every night now, can't sleep well, and once asleep, she's restless. Because of this, I can't even nourish my spirit, let alone help you," replies Heart Fire.

"Not only that, she can't even close her eyes. How can she sleep?" comments Liver Wood.

"The genital area is ulcerated, can she even sleep? She's uncomfortable all day long," adds Hydronephrosis.

"..."

Hmm?

These descriptions...

Lu Jiu suddenly recalls a passage from the Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet.

"The disease of fox delusion resembles typhoid fever. The person is silent and wants to sleep but cannot close the eyes to sleep at ease. Whether lying down or getting up, they are not at peace. If the ulcers are in the throat, it is delusion; if in the private parts, it is called fox. They do not want to eat, detest the smell of food; their complexion alternates between red, black, and white. If ulcers form in the upper part, the voice becomes hoarse, treated with licorice decoction. If in the private parts, there is throat dryness, wash with Kushen Decoction. If in the anus, smolder with realgar powder."

This passage translates to: The systemic symptoms of fox delusion disease are similar to external typhoid fever. Patients often do not speak, want to sleep but cannot peacefully close their eyes. Whether lying or getting up, they are restless. Ulcers in the throat are called delusion, in the private parts called fox.

Patients do not feel like eating and are even averse to the smell of food. Their complexion changes unpredictably, sometimes red, sometimes black, sometimes white. Ulcers in the throat cause hoarseness, treated with licorice decoction.

If ulcers occur in the front genital area, there often accompanies throat dryness, treated with an external wash of Kushen Decoction.

If ulcers occur in the anus, they are treated by realgar fumigation.

According to the dialogue among the Five Viscera, the root of the patient's disease is very similar to this passage.

"Let me ask, does your mother's body temperature fluctuate, okay during the day, but high fever during the night?" Lu Jiu asks.

Xu Lang is visibly shocked, "Yes, yes, the nurse measured the temperature for three consecutive days. My mom has high fever in the nights, reaching up to 40 degrees, and even with medications, it's hard to bring the temperature down."

"Have you observed her complexion, such as turning red or pale?" Lu Jiu asks.

"Uh…" Xu Lang hasn't observed this closely, but his wife adds, "Yes, yesterday morning when my mom woke up, her face was a bit black, unusually so, but after breakfast, she was fine."

"How about her eating habits? Does she find food repulsive?" Lu Jiu continues.

Xu Lang's wife nods repeatedly, "Yes, yes, my mom just doesn't feel like eating. She says even the smell of food makes her nauseous, she only eats a little when she's really starving."

Indeed.

Judging from the pulse, it's clearly fox delusion disease.

Many symptoms of this disease resemble typhoid, such as chills, fever, diarrhea, vomiting, etc. But, in fact, it's an external damp-heat pathogen, or an ailment rooted in Spleen dampness. The pathogen often enters through the mouth, damaging Gastric Qi, and the damp-heat obstructs the middle Jiao, or blocks the Yang Qi, causing dysfunction in the Spleen and Stomach.

Prolonged damp-heat can turn into heat and dryness, leading to symptoms of fullness and constipation. The penetrating heat damages nutritive blood, causing blood to leak out. Damp is a Yin pathogen; staying too long damages Yang Qi. Unresolved long-term damp-heat creates phlegm and turbidity, obscuring the mind and causing mental confusion.

Though the disease looks complex, treatment is simple.

Because the Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet provides a guideline.

Licorice decoction.

No fancy remedies needed.

The only difference is that after taking licorice decoction, you adjust the prescription based on the patient's recovery.

After all, as medication is taken, the patient's condition gradually improves. At that time, the symptoms may no longer resemble fox delusion disease, which is why TCM prescriptions aren't fixed forever.

"Hmm, the preliminary diagnosis is fox delusion disease. This disease is not difficult to treat. I'll write you two prescriptions," Lu Jiu says.

Huh?

Xu Lang and his wife are a bit dazed.

What Xu Lang heard at the hospital earlier was the opposite of Lu Jiu's words.

The hospital doctor said it's a rare chronic condition, very seldom seen, and untreatable, with medication offering uncertain results.

But with Lu Jiu, it sounds so easy?

The difference is so stark it leaves them momentarily speechless.

While Lu Jiu goes to get the medicine, Xu Lang's wife whispers, "Didn't you say this is an incurable disease?"

Xu Lang replies, "I don't know~ That's what the doctor said, I just relayed it. He called it Behcet's disease. How would I know that name?"

Xu Lang's wife glances at Lu Jiu, "One says it's Behcet's disease, the other says it's fox delusion. One tells us it's incurable, another says it's not hard to treat. Who should we believe?"

Xu Lang understands his wife's concern, "You think it's a scam?"

Xu Lang's wife gives him a sideways look, "Keep your voice down. It just sounds too easy, completely different from what the hospital's specialist said. Although he was recommended by the hospital specialist, how could a doctor from a small clinic cure a disease the hospital deemed terminal? Why not work in a big hospital instead?"

Xu Lang answers, "But did you notice? We didn't say anything when we came in, he merely checked the pulse, and he knew about mom's temperature, complexion, and even the detail about her not liking food. I think this doctor might have real skills."

Xu Lang's wife surveys the clinic, "That is true."

Xu Lang adds, "I heard that the real skill of TCM is in small places, big places aren't as effective. Let's not overthink it. We came just to try it out. Once we can get train tickets after the New Year, we'll go to a big hospital in the province."

Xu Lang's wife nods, agreeing with Xu Lang's idea.

Meanwhile, Lu Jiu has already prepared the medicine.

Three doses of licorice decoction, three doses of Kushen Decoction.

"Here you go, take this. Three doses are for internal use, one a day. The other three are for external use, to wash the ulcerated genital area. Come back for a follow-up in three days."

...