I Can Talk to the Internal Organs-Chapter 261 - 228: To Treat the Liver, First Strengthen the Spleen

"It's freezing; this damn thing has chased away all my Yang Qi. It's truly abominable!" said Liver Wood.

"Don't even mention it. I have a huge amount of water here that can't be drained at all," said Spleen Earth.

"Fei Jin, can you tell the large intestine to find a way to get this water out? Otherwise, with all this water accumulation here, our functions simply can't operate properly," said Hydronephrosis.

"It's no use; it's already tried its best," said Fei Jin.

"Tried its best? It hasn't had a bowel movement in three or four days," said Hydronephrosis.

"Then you two need to figure it out. You're in charge of urination and defecation. Liver Wood has a dispersing function. Even though I can sense the large intestine, the ones who can make it function properly are you, not me," said Fei Jin.

"I have no way either; the cold, damp pathogenic Qi has already solidified and taken over my headquarters. Originally, there was still some Yang Qi coming in to resist, but then those doctors cut my home apart, and when I barely managed to regrow a bit, it was immediately stolen by the cold, damp pathogenic Qi again. Now, even less Yang Qi is coming in than before. It's completely counterproductive!" said Liver Wood.

"Exactly. Ever since you got that cut, her body has been accumulating so much blood stasis. The blood ran outside the vessels, and I can't bring it back. When she had abundant Yang Qi before, this blood stasis could still dissipate and be expelled. Now, it's really a headache. By the way, my little brother increasingly doesn't want to eat. What should I do..." said Spleen Earth.

"And that medicine keeps stealing from my essence reservoir. Damn it, if they want to fight the disease, fight the disease, but why involve me? What's the matter with it!" said Hydronephrosis.

"Enough with the complaining! If you're done whining, stay quiet for a moment. I've told you countless times, just do your own tasks. Complaining is useless. This body isn't under your control. No matter how much you struggle, it's futile. Her mindset has already determined she'll be invaded by cold, damp pathogenic Qi. In short, when the time comes, none of us will survive," said Heart Fire.

...

Indeed, the damage from surgery and chemo to the Five Viscera is deadly.

From the pulse and the dialogue with the Five Viscera, it's clear the patient has severe liver damage, with cold dampness in the middle burner and water accumulation in the abdomen, leading to cold dampness in the lower burner as well. The simultaneous damage to the liver and kidneys also further causes the large intestine to not excrete normally.

Liver cancer patients already have poor dispersing functions; toxin accumulation in the liver is hard to expel. When the large intestine blocks, the situation becomes even more troublesome.

If a patient can only intake and not excrete, that's already a very serious condition.

Liver Wood explained clearly: After cancer cells invaded its home, excessive cold dampness drove away the Yang Qi, causing an imbalance in Yin and Yang within this organ.

It should be known that in a healthy state, Yang must adhere to Yin.

This means Yang Qi should reside deep within the body. It's like a small flame, high in temperature yet fragile; even a breeze can extinguish it.

Therefore, the best state for an organ is akin to an ancient paper lantern.

The flame is Yang, while the lantern paper is Yin. The Yin encloses the Yang, preventing it from escaping, while being nourished by Yang, maintaining a steady temperature for an organ.

After liver damage, Yin flourishes as Yang declines. Though surgery seems to have removed the tumor, it actually shrinks the liver as a container.

Yang Qi has always struggled to remain here; after surgery, it's even harder to get in.

Although cancer cells are fewer, they now have no natural enemy after the surgery.

It's absolutely impossible for them not to spread.

Simultaneously, the surgery caused internal bleeding, with blood spilling from vessels, inevitably leading to stasis.

Generally, when a patient's condition isn't severe, sufficient Yang Qi can dissipate stasis without fear. Yet cancer patients inherently suffer from an extreme Yin and cold condition, leaving no extra Yang Qi to clear the stasis.

Once this blood stasis necroses, it becomes the most natural nourishment for cancer cells, and a base for external expansion.

Moreover, during surgeries, patients deplete a huge amount of Righteous Qi, and post-operative medications, although capable of inhibiting cancer cells, further damage the Five Viscera.

By this point, the patient is almost tormented to exhaustion.

Spleen Earth mentioned that the stomach increasingly refuses food, indicating the impending failure of Gastric Qi.

Also, when Lu Jiu first encountered the patient entering the door, he noticed her struggling to walk; upon feeling her wrist, he sensed her bones were light, as if weightless.

Without a doubt, her kidneys are drained, her marrow depleted, leaving her bones brittle and unable to bear weight.

Elderly individuals experience this as well, but this patient clearly exhibits a pathological state.

Difficult!

Lu Jiu was mentally prepared for this.

After feeling the pulse, he remained silent for a long time.

The patient's case is more severe than that of Sun Dan or Rao He.

Not just because liver cancer is classified as a visceral disease, but due to the functional issue with the liver.

The liver governs dispersing.

The body relies on dispersing function to expel pathogenic disturbances.

Yet, the dispersing function is rendered useless, utterly and completely.

With lung cancer, at least liver function remains okay; normal dispersing allows patients a chance to live without impacting daily life.

This explains why liver cancer is harder to treat clinically.

Still, the patient is here, and despite knowing the difficulty, Lu Jiu must attempt treatment.

According to the principles of the Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet, treating the liver necessitates first tonifying the spleen.

However, just fortifying the spleen isn't sufficient; the large intestine requires treatment as well.

In terms of TCM pathology, part of the large intestine's function aligns with the liver, and though Lu Jiu can't directly act upon the liver, he can restore its function via other organs.

The large intestine is a prime candidate.

Once the large intestine clears, the cold damp pathogenic Qi accumulated in the liver gains a discharge pathway.

During acupuncture and medication, Lu Jiu can confidently drain abdominal water from the patient.

Furthermore, anatomically, the large intestine connects to the liver, reinforcing the need to clear the large intestine.

With a disease treatment strategy established, Lu Jiu begins contemplating medicinal use.

For now, acupuncture is not an option.

Due to surgery and chemo exposure, the patient already has depleted Righteous Qi, and aggressive needles could provoke adverse effects.

Currently, only herbal remedies can aid in the adjustment.

After careful consideration, Lu Jiu decides on a modified Four Reversals Decoction.

The Four Reversals Decoction inherently has the power to restore Yang and avert emergencies, and with the addition of Poria, it can rapidly warm the heart and small intestine, utilizing Poria to promote middle burner function and eliminate dampness.

Thus, it attempts to restore Gastric Qi.

As long as Gastric Qi returns, Yang Qi will naturally flow, and the death warrant of the patient will be cleared.

...