I Can Hear the Heart's Voice of Traditional Chinese Medicine-Chapter 154 - 75: Since We’re Here, Let’s Treat a Few More Before We Go (2/3)

What I want to talk about is the difference in philosophy between Chinese and Western medicine. I'll share two little stories about the miraculous physician Hua Tuo to express the essence of Chinese medicine.

Once, Hua Tuo came to a small county town where two minor officials were suffering from headaches and fevers. They went together to see him for treatment. After observing, listening, questioning, and feeling their pulse, Hua Tuo prescribed a purgative for one and a diaphoretic for the other.

The two were very puzzled. Why was the medication different for the same symptoms? Hua Tuo explained that the first had a spleen and stomach problem, while the other suffered from wind-cold, hence the different treatments. Half convinced, they decided to trust the miraculous physician and followed the prescriptions. Once they returned home and took a few doses, they both recovered.

A child of a wealthy family in Dongyang County had severe diarrhea. After seeing all the famous local doctors without success, the family hurriedly invited Hua Tuo when they heard he was in town. Seeing the child was just over a year old, Hua Tuo asked if the child was still breastfed. Upon receiving a positive answer, he did not treat the child but instead prescribed ten doses of medicine for the mother.

As expected, after the mother took the medicine and breastfed the child again, the diarrhea stopped.

This reflects the fundamental differences in philosophy between Chinese and Western medicine. Each has its strengths and weaknesses, and it's hard to say which is better or worse. Chinese medicine has its advantages and disadvantages, as does Western medicine.

Although Lu Xuan studied Chinese medicine, he doesn't belittle Western medicine to elevate Chinese medicine.

It's unnecessary.

Chinese medicine is indeed miraculous, but for Western medicine to become the mainstream today, besides having financial backing, its ability to treat and save lives is crucial. Otherwise, no one would be foolish enough to see Western doctors knowing they couldn't heal.

Just like Chinese medicine, it wouldn't have survived and thrived for thousands of years without its unique strengths.

Admitting Western medicine's prowess is one thing, but Lu Xuan himself isn't particularly fond of some Western medical theories.

The reason is simple.

He practices Chinese medicine. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Moreover, Western medicine focuses solely on the tangible aspects of tests and examinations, disregarding and ignorant of the energy critical to life functions—Yang Qi.

Thus, despite spending heavily on tests, Western medicine offers little insight. For instance, they may find fewer red blood cells and more white blood cells.

But why is that? Why are there fewer red blood cells or more white blood cells? Western medicine can't explain.

Rooted in the principle of "Yang generates, Yin grows," a deficiency in body fluids results in reduced essence, sperm vitality dwindles, too few red blood cells, and too many white blood cells—all due to Yang deficiency and Yin excess. Clinical observations confirm this without deviation.

The greatness of Chinese medicine lies in its skill at observing the rise and fall of Yang Qi in the body. Excess Yang needs to be nourished and purged, while deficient Yang requires supporting Yang and restraining Yin. "Yang transforms Qi, Yin gives form." This also relates to the now-dreaded term cancer, which, in the philosophy of Chinese medicine, results from moisture issues and consuming too many cooling substances, damaging Yang Qi.

Western medicine finds it hard to explain tumors and cancers so clearly.

This is why Lu Xuan is so fascinated by Chinese medicine.

As they listened, Wu Liguo and his colleagues looked at each other in astonishment.

Having studied orthodox Western medicine, they've never been exposed to Chinese medicine. When Lu Xuan mentioned Western medicine treating symptoms as they appear, some felt slightly uncomfortable, yet they couldn't find fault with his later statements.

Chinese and Western medicine have fundamentally different philosophies, each with its pros and cons, making it challenging to judge which is superior.

Especially the two stories Lu Xuan shared, to put it bluntly, if they had encountered similar cases, they might have simply prescribed antipyretics to the two individuals.

And for the child, using Western medicine's approach, they certainly wouldn't have treated the mother.

The common understanding is to medicate the patient.

But this is not the case in Chinese medicine.

The same symptoms like headaches and fevers are seen as different diseases in Chinese medicine.

A sick child might not need medicine; instead, it's the mother who is medicated.

In this regard, Chinese medicine truly is remarkable.

Although they pondered, they wouldn't thus conclude that Western medicine is inferior to Chinese. After all, if it were, it wouldn't have become the mainstream. Even Chinese medicine assessments follow Western standards.

Wu Liguo glanced at the interns: "Remember what Dr. Lu said; it'll benefit your future learning. However, don't forget to delve deeply into Western medical theories too.

A balance of Chinese and Western medicine is necessary; mastering only one won't suffice."

"We'll remember, Director Wu."

The interns nodded repeatedly.

Wu Liguo nodded and turned to Lu Xuan: "Dr. Lu, would you like to look around our Ninth Hospital or head back? If you're returning, I can arrange a ride, sparing you the need to call a taxi."

Returning?

Lu Xuan was somewhat reluctant.

Since he's already here, he wouldn't pass up the chance to perform more acupuncture. He'd feel a waste otherwise.

Money was not the issue; the main thing was the rare opportunity to practice acupuncture that the Health Center couldn't frequently provide.

But in the inpatient department of the City Ninth Hospital, there's plenty of it.

Not mentioning other departments, just the neurology ward alone has numerous patients hospitalized due to strokes, which Lu Xuan sees as invaluable for honing his acupuncture skills.