I Can Hear the Heart's Voice of Traditional Chinese Medicine-Chapter 274 - 121: I Found a Light in Him (Part 2)

The patient looked at Lu Xuan in confusion but did not extend his hand. Instead, he turned to Zhang Jingcai and asked, "Dr. Zhang, this is..."

Zhang Jingcai smiled and said, "This is Dr. Lu, also an attending doctor at the United South Chinese Medicine Association. However, today is his first day here, so I brought him over to take a look at you as well."

Upon hearing this, the patient finally extended his arm.

Lu Xuan checked the pulse, looked at the patient's tongue, and after a while, withdrew his hand.

"How is it?"

Seeing this, Zhang Jingcai quickly asked.

Lu Xuan pondered for a moment and said, "Based on the examination results, it should be primary liver cancer. It's just that the time has dragged on a bit. If you had come for a checkup as soon as symptoms appeared, the treatment would have been much more effective. Now, all we can do is control the spread and do our best to maintain the patient's life."

These words were not intended to alarm.

Primary liver cancer generally has a concealed onset, with a very low early diagnosis rate. By the time it's confirmed, it is mostly in the middle to late stage.

It is highly malignant, and the disease progresses rapidly. Western medical treatment measures like radiotherapy and chemotherapy are not sensitive, and the treatment effects are poor. Patients' survival is only 3 to 6 months, earning it the name "king of cancers."

The fact that the patient in front of us can still maintain such a good condition is already considered fortunate.

If it were someone else, they might have already passed away.

"My opinion is about the same."

Zhang Jingcai nodded in agreement and continued, "The etiology and pathogenesis of liver cancer focus on liver depression and blood stasis, with the liver, spleen, and kidney being diseased together. This should also be the focus of regulation.

The occurrence of liver cancer is primarily attributed to liver qi stagnation. The liver stores blood and is used for dispersing, so when liver qi is smooth and qi movement is unobstructed, the five viscera are harmonious, and the six bowels are stable. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

If impacted by external pathogens or internal emotional injuries, leading to liver qi stagnation and lack of dispersing power, the viscera, and meridians become disordered, qi flow is obstructed, resulting in qi stagnation and blood stasis, and evil toxins condense into masses that accumulate over time.

The spleen is the root of acquired constitution, and spleen qi functions well, requiring liver qi to be smooth. Liver depression transforms into fire, causing the wood element to overact on and encroach upon the earth element, affecting the spleen and stomach and leading to spleen deficiency.

The liver and kidneys are also of the same origin, and the yin of the liver and kidney support each other. Insufficient liver blood and hyperactive liver yang can deplete kidney yin, leading to kidney deficiency.

It begins with liver qi stagnation and ends with spleen deficiency and liver and kidney yin deficiency.

Therefore, although liver cancer is attributed to the liver, treatment usually targets the liver, spleen, and kidneys together.

Liver depression and blood stasis are the leading factors in the occurrence of liver cancer, running through the course of the disease."

Lu Xuan looked at Old Zhang with admiration, finding it difficult to imagine that someone mainly researching kidney disorders could have such high attainments in liver issues as well.

However, upon careful consideration,

any traditional Chinese medicine practitioner with extremely high attainments in one aspect will not do poorly in others.

Traditional Chinese medicine views the human body as a whole and does not treat symptoms in isolation but considers their root causes and prescribes treatment accordingly.

For example, with liver cancer, although it is mainly caused by liver qi stagnation, it affects not only the liver but also the spleen and kidneys.

In treatment, one must treat the liver while also taking care of the spleen and kidneys as well.

"Dr. Lu, what do you think?"

Lu Xuan's expression remained unchanged, but Gu Huahua's eyes were wide as saucers, staring at Zhang Jingcai in disbelief.

Elder Zhang was asking for Lu Xuan's opinion?

Is he serious?

Gu Huahua pinched his thigh hard, and the intense pain reminded him that this was no dream.

For a moment, Gu Huahua's gaze towards Lu Xuan was filled with surprise and increasing puzzlement.

He couldn't understand why Elder Zhang sought out Lu Xuan's opinion on this matter.

This is liver cancer after all!

Among this group, very few had even felt a patient's pulse, let alone had the skill to diagnose and treat patients!

Is this a joke?

As Gu Huahua thought of this, Lu Xuan pondered for a moment and responded, "In traditional Chinese medicine, there is no disease name like 'primary liver cancer.' Based on the patient's clinical presentation, it falls under the categories of 'mass,' 'abdominal mass,' 'liver mass,' 'swelling,' and others."

Zhang Jingcai nodded slightly, having no problem with classifying primary liver cancer into these categories.

Lu Xuan's voice continued in the background: "In regard to these conditions, in 'Su Wen·Ju Teng Lun,' there is a relevant introduction: 'Cold qi invades between the membranes of the small intestine, among the blood vessels, causing the blood to weep and not flow into the major meridians, resulting in prolonged stagnation and accumulation over time.'

Additionally, 'Su Wen·Abdominal Discussion' also mentions: 'A lump wrapped in blood and pus located outside the intestines and stomach.'

Both texts believe that the formation of 'accumulation' and 'swelling masses' are related to blood stasis.

The 'Jingui Record' also mentions 'Blood accumulation is tangible and immovable, or hard and resistant to pressure,' indicating that stasis syndrome can lead to abdominal masses.

In 'Essential Orthopedics·Spleen Accumulation,' there are also related records: 'Spleen accumulation is often due to excessive internal injury, causing qi and blood to counterflow and condense. At first, a small lump is felt moving in the abdomen, pulling and causing pain; over time, it gradually grows and takes shape, and eventually, it internally moves visibly,' which clearly points out the relationship between spleen accumulation and qi and blood stasis.

'Guide to Full Formulas·Accumulation Chapter' notes: 'Lumps form in the abdomen, which are immovable when pressed and cannot be shifted,' and 'Danxi Heart Method·Accumulation Masses' says: 'A mass is a tangible substance, formed by stagnant blood.' As well as 'Medical Standards·Accumulation' states: 'An accumulation is a collection of blood.'

All these suggest that the formation of masses is closely related to blood stasis. Qing Dynasty physician Wang Qingren, whom Old Zhang may have heard of, believed that 'abdominal masses inevitably consist of tangible blood,' and 'Formless qi cannot form masses; any mass must consist of tangible blood. When blood is subjected to cold, it condenses into a mass; subjected to heat, it simmers into a mass,' taking the understanding a step further than those before him.