I Can Hear the Heart's Voice of Traditional Chinese Medicine-Chapter 326 - 144: Acute Deficiency and Various Insufficiencies, Astragalus Decoction for Strengthening the Middle as the Main Treatment (Part 2)

Chapter 326: Chapter 144: Acute Deficiency and Various Insufficiencies, Astragalus Decoction for Strengthening the Middle as the Main Treatment (Part 2)

With this skill, Ji Xiuwen probably won’t doubt anything else anymore.

Lu Xuan, however, is not worried about his miraculous ability of heart’s voice being exposed; as long as he doesn’t say anything, who would know?

It’s just that, rather than more trouble, it’s better to have less.

"Aunt Song’s condition is a deficiency cold in the middle burner."

Lu Xuan looked at Song Meilan and continued: "In Chinese medicine, cold syndromes are generally divided into two categories: external cold and internal cold. External cold is caused by exposure to external wind and cold, which is what we normally refer to as a wind-cold cold.

Among them, Mahuang Decoction is a representative prescription for treating external cold. This is basically a must-know prescription, mentioned countless times by mentors in school, and appears in many renowned Chinese medicine cases. You don’t need me to tell you the symptoms this prescription is associated with."

Lu Xuan said this, took a sip of water, and continued: "Internal cold is caused by a deficiency of Yang Qi in the human body. When Yang Qi is insufficient and cannot warm the body, people will feel cold, fatigued, drowsy, sluggish, have loose stools, long and clear urination, and so on. Depending on which organ is deficient, there are distinctions such as spleen Yang deficiency, kidney Yang deficiency, and exterior Yang deficiency.

The weakness of spleen Yang leads to the generation of internal cold, gradually accumulating dampness, causing symptoms such as loose stools or unshaped stools, or loose stools that are not relieved; abdominal distension that is mild during the day and worsens at night; persistent or vague abdominal pain that likes warmth and pressure; vomiting and no desire to eat; women with thin, clear, and copious leucorrhea; or acute vomiting and diarrhea, cholera; it can also be used for persistent salivation after a serious illness.

Therefore, for Aunt Song’s condition, the treatment should focus on strengthening the spleen and replenishing Qi, warming the middle burner and harmonizing the stomach, using a modified Astragalus Decoction for Strengthening the Middle."

While talking, Lu Xuan recorded the prescription and necessary precautions in the medical record book:

Prescription: Astragalus 30g, Cinnamon 10g, White Peony 15g, Licorice 15g, Stir-fried White Atractylodes 15g, Ginger Pinellia 10g, Amomum Fruit 5g, Stir-fried Dioscorea 40g.

And asked: "Do you have fresh ginger and Chinese dates at home?"

"Yes, yes, yes."

Song Meilan was already impressed by Lu Xuan’s erudition and took a while to react, while Shi Guanlan’s mouth was wide open, ready to fit several eggs.

Just now, Li Yuquan said that with such conditions, Dr. Lu handled it with ease. Although she didn’t think he would deceive her, she still had some doubts in her heart.

After all, without witnessing it firsthand, it’s extremely difficult to completely trust someone.

But just now, Lu Xuan’s series of statements really shocked her mind.

He must be so knowledgeable and talented to be able to recite the contents of various medical books and explain the reasons effortlessly.

Although she didn’t fully understand, she still felt it was impressive.

Shi Guanlan had some exposure to Chinese medicine but had never seen any Chinese medicine practitioner as knowledgeable as Lu Xuan.

For Shi Guanlan, it felt as if Lu Xuan had written those medical books himself; otherwise, how could he know them so well?

She didn’t know much about others, but there were two living examples right before her eyes.

Lu Xuan’s two assistants couldn’t recite these things; even if they could remember some knowledge, it was just some odd bits and pieces.

Shi Guanlan suddenly believed that the young Dr. Lu before her truly had skills, and the medicine he prescribed for that gentleman had a significant effect. Otherwise, the gentleman wouldn’t defend Lu Xuan so vigorously.

At the same time, she hoped that Lu Xuan could successfully treat her mother’s illness.

If such a brilliant doctor couldn’t cure her mother’s illness, then there wouldn’t be much to look for in Chinese medicine.

After all, if even Dr. Lu couldn’t do it, wouldn’t everyone else be even less capable?

As Shi Guanlan was thinking this, Lu Xuan’s voice sounded in her ear: "After taking the medicine home, add three slices of fresh ginger, and five dates, and decoct together. Six doses, boil with water, one dose per day. Boil for about 20 minutes the first time, about 30 minutes the second time, mix the two decoctions, and take the warm decoction 30 to 60 minutes after each meal.

As for regular meals, slightly harder baked bread and dry cakes should be the staple food. Use less oil, and abstain from sweet foods, keeping a cheerful disposition."

"Cheerful disposition?" Song Meilan looked confused.

Lu Xuan smiled and explained: "It means maintaining a good mood."

This line, Lu Xuan didn’t know how many patients he had said it to, yet he patiently advises that mood is indeed the best medicine compared to pharmaceuticals.

It has no side effects and can also stimulate the body’s self-healing capabilities.

"Oh, I see," Song Meilan replied with a smile.

And Lu Xuan handed the medical record book to Ji Xiuwen for him to take a look, then explained: "Astragalus Decoction for Strengthening the Middle comes from ’Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet, the Sixth Treatise on Blood Obstruction and Deficient Labor Pulse Syndrome.’ It states, ’For deficient labor with internal urgency, where there is a deficiency in various aspects, the main treatment is Astragalus Decoction for Strengthening the Middle.’

Astragalus Decoction for Strengthening the Middle is mainly used to treat deficiency cold in the middle burner, with deficient labor and internal urgency as symptoms. Aunt Song’s condition is characterized by repeated episodes that don’t get resolved, with spleen deficiency as the main symptom.

The spleen and stomach are the foundation of acquired constitution; the body’s nutrition comes from the spleen and stomach’s digestion and transportation.

Once the spleen and stomach get affected, leading to decreased digestion and absorption, insufficient nutrient absorption, resulting in a weakened constitution.

Moreover, Aunt Song herself is unaware of how to nurture health, along with irregular medication use leads to a chronic condition of the stomach illness not being cured.

Hence, using a modified Astragalus Decoction for Strengthening the Middle, with Astragalus, White Atractylodes, and Licorice to replenish and invigorate the middle burner, strengthen the spleen, and harmonize the stomach; Amomum Fruit and Pinellia to warm the middle burner and transform dampness; White Peony and Licorice with a sweet and sour flavor to nourish Yin, relieve pain; Dioscorea to calmly supplement the lungs, spleen, and kidneys. Further adding Citrus Peel to regulate the Qi movement of the spleen and stomach.

With deficiency cold in the middle burner, poor appetite, insufficient transformation sources, getting warmth and nourishment will alleviate abdominal pain; appetite will increase naturally, vital Qi and blood will be abundantly transformed.

With the spleen and stomach Qi thriving, normal digestion resumes, and stomach pain will cease on its own.

Replenishing Qi and strengthening the spleen, reinforcing the middle burner, with its excellent effectiveness and overall replenishment of the middle burner, Qi strengthening, spleen and stomach nourishing; using calmness as treatment, symptoms will naturally be eliminated."

Ji Xiuwen knew that Lu Xuan was speaking to him. After all, he chose to specialize in the digestive system. With patients in this field, naturally, he would elaborate more, and he took this opportunity to seek clarification: "Dr. Lu, regarding the treatment of stomach pain, what should a doctor pay attention to?"

"In treating stomach pain, emphasize ’guarding the disease mechanism, each performs its duty,’ for patients with spleen and stomach weakness, being careful not to use excessive aromatic bitter substances."

Lu Xuan pondered and said: "Identify the association of various symptoms, through analysis, summary, and deduction of clinical phenomena, seeking the essence of pathology.

Grabbing the disease mechanism means grasping the essence of the pathological changes, providing stronger targeting in treatments, and effectively guiding clinical practice.

In the prescription, the dosage of Astragalus can be increased to 30–60g, and Codonopsis can be paired with it; for distending pain in the stomach, add 10g of Magnolia Bark to regulate Qi and strengthen the spleen; for mouth-stickiness, add 10g of Agastache; for diarrhea, increase Dioscorea to 30–60g, and add 30g of Coix Seed; for poor appetite, add 15g of Chicken’s Gizzard, 10g of Charred Hawthorn, and 10g of White Cardamom; for cold pain in the epigastrium and abdomen, add 3–6g of Evodia; for severe acid reflux, add 15g of Cuttlefish Bone.

After all, the saying goes, prescriptions are static, people are dynamic. When dealing with different diseases and symptoms, as doctors, what we need to do is to use evidence-based medications, properly increased or reduced, to achieve the best effects.

We’ve studied Chinese medicine for so many years, yet, unknown to us, Chinese medicine is even more profound than we’ve imagined, ordinary people might not comprehend its deep meanings in their whole lives, let alone master it completely."

Upon hearing this, Ji Xiuwen fell into silence. He knew that Lu Xuan was speaking the truth. Ordinary practitioners of Chinese medicine would definitely not grasp its deep meaning throughout their lives, not to mention fully mastering it.

But he also said, this refers to ordinary people, not including prodigies like Lu Xuan.

Others may not be capable, but it doesn’t mean Lu Xuan cannot.

Ji Xiuwen also believed, Lu Xuan certainly can.

How old is Lu Xuan?

Only twenty-five or six, his life is still long; having achieved such accomplishments today, given a few more decades, what further heights could he reach, Ji Xiuwen didn’t even dare to imagine.