Chinese medicine: from rural hospitals to top three hospitals in Kyoto

Chapter 1254 Rural Free Medical Services (Part 2)

"It works! I urinated! My breathing is much better!" Xia Hongliang exclaimed in surprise.

Zhuang Qiwen quickly took the pulse again and found that the floating and rootless pulse had regained some strength. Although it was still weak and disordered, it was no longer in the state of being about to dissipate.

"As the yang energy returns, water can be drunk."

Zhuang Qiwen breathed a sigh of relief: "But we are not out of danger yet. We need to be closely monitored and continue medication."

Chen Yang nodded and instructed people to move the elderly man to a relatively quiet room inside the cultural center, continue to provide oxygen, and prepare to decoct the second dose of medicine, adjusting the prescription to reduce the attack and strengthen the body's resistance.

The old man's son knelt down with a thud and was about to kowtow when Chen Yang and Zhuang Qiwen quickly helped him up.

"Doctor, thank you! Thank you for saving my father's life!" The man was in tears.

The onlookers erupted in enthusiastic applause and admiration.

"He's a miracle doctor!"

"Experts from the provincial government are truly exceptional!"

"Those needle pricks were so dazzling!"

The successful rescue of this critically ill patient not only saved a life, but also established a high level of prestige for Chen Yang's team among the people of Hewan Town.

The people trusted the medical clinics even more afterward, and some people from even more remote mountain villages came after hearing the news.

The team members were busy until dark, and only after seeing the last patient were they able to rest.

Everyone was exhausted, but their eyes were filled with a sense of fulfillment.

This is the grassroots level; this is the most authentic medical scene.

They lacked advanced equipment and a full range of medicines; all they had were the doctors' knowledge, experience, sense of responsibility, and reverence and commitment to life.

In the evening, the town leaders hosted a simple dinner for us.

During the meal, everyone was still shaken by the afternoon's rescue efforts, yet also felt a deep sense of pride.

Dr. Sun exclaimed, "Director Chen, Dr. Zhuang, you have truly broadened my horizons today. In that situation, to dare to use such large doses of aconite and red ginseng, and to use Tingli Dazao Decoction, there are very few people with such courage and decisiveness."

Chen Yang said, "It was a last resort. Due to limited resources, we had to use traditional Chinese medicine to try our best. Fortunately, the patient's constitution still had a glimmer of hope, and the medicine matched the symptoms, so we were lucky to succeed."

Zhuang Qiwen reflected, "There is still room for improvement in the prescription. If conditions permit, it should be combined with some Western medical emergency measures for better results. Traditional Chinese medicine has advantages in emergency cases, but it also needs to keep pace with the times and absorb the strengths of modern medicine."

Yu Shiyun whispered, "When I saw that old man spitting and urinating today, my palms were sweating with nervousness... But seeing that he was getting better, I felt that being a doctor is really great."

Xia Hongliang shoveled food into his mouth and muttered, "It's just too tiring... but it's worth it!"

Zeng Yunhui smiled憨厚ly: "Being able to help people makes me happy no matter how tired I am."

The town leaders expressed their gratitude repeatedly, saying that even more people would likely come to see the doctor the next day, as the news had already spread.

Sure enough, the number of people at the free clinic was nearly double that of the first day, and the line stretched all the way to the street corner.

People from not only Hewan Town, but also those from nearby towns and villages came to visit.

Chen Yang's team rallied and continued their efforts. With the experience gained on the first day, they became more adept at handling common illnesses and their teamwork improved significantly.

In the afternoon, a special "patient" arrived.

He was a thin man in his fifties, wearing a faded old military uniform without collar insignia or cap badges, and he walked with a slight limp.

He stood in line, but when it was his turn, he didn't go forward. Instead, he stood in front of the table and watched carefully as Zhuang Qiwen diagnosed and prescribed medicine for a child with abdominal pain.

After Zhuang Qiwen finished writing the prescription, he stepped forward, but instead of examining the patient, he asked in heavily accented Mandarin, "Doctor, you used white peony root in this prescription to relieve pain and relieve urgency. Combined with licorice root, it's the same as the Peony and Licorice Decoction, right? But the child's tongue coating is yellow and greasy. You added Coptis chinensis and Aucklandia lappa. Are you considering damp-heat and qi stagnation?"

Zhuang Qiwen was taken aback and looked up to examine the man carefully.

The other person had a dark, rough face and large knuckles, like someone who had worked in the fields for many years, but his eyes were clear and bright, and he asked very knowledgeable questions.

"Are you... in the same industry?" Zhuang Qiwen asked tentatively.

The man grinned, revealing teeth stained yellow from smoking: "I wouldn't call myself a colleague, I was just a medic in the army before. After I retired, I read some medical books and did some random tinkering. I also know a bit about herbs from my family."

Zhuang Qiwen was immediately filled with respect. A retired soldier who had taught himself traditional Chinese medicine and could even understand the meaning of prescriptions was no simple feat.

“You’re right, that’s exactly the line of thinking.”

Zhuang Qiwen asked politely, "Are you here for a medical consultation? Or..."

"I don't go to the doctor."

The man waved his hand, took out a small cloth bag from his pocket, opened it, and inside were some dried herb slices and a few pills: "These are some things I made myself by collecting herbs. I'd like to ask the experts in the province to take a look and see if they're suitable and usable."

Zhuang Qiwen took it and examined it carefully.

He recognized several of them; they were common local herbs that could promote blood circulation, remove blood stasis, reduce swelling, and relieve pain, and they were prepared quite well.

The pills were dark brown and smelled of musk and Panax notoginseng.

"Is this... for treating sprains and bruises?" Zhuang Qiwen asked.

"Correct."

The man nodded: "We mountain people are prone to bumps and sprains when we work, and some of us suffer from rheumatism and arthritis."

"I used these herbs to make a prescription, applying it both externally and internally, and the effect was okay. But I'm not sure if the combination is reasonable or if there are any toxic side effects, so I'm always unsure. I heard that you are top experts from the province, so I wanted to ask you for advice."

Zhuang Qiwen dared not delay and invited Chen Yang to come and watch together.

Chen Yang carefully examined the herbs and pills, and then asked the man about the formula ratio and preparation process. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Fellow villager, your prescription mainly focuses on promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, clearing the meridians, and relieving pain. The combination is generally reasonable, and the herbs used are all relatively mild. Judging from the effects you described, it should be the right treatment."

The man breathed a sigh of relief.

Chen Yang then said, "However, it seems that you added some raw aconite to these pills?"

The man was surprised: "You...you can tell? I added a little bit to improve the pain relief. I always process it strictly, simmering it for a long time first."

Chen Yang said seriously, "Aconitum carmichaelii is indeed very effective in relieving pain, but it is highly toxic. The processing, dosage, and decoction time are all extremely important, and it is not suitable for everyone. You may have the experience to use it yourself and handle it well. But if you give it to someone else, the risk is much greater. Once someone is poisoned, it can be very serious."

The man's expression hardened, and he nodded repeatedly: "You're right!"

"I only use this medicine with my own family and trusted neighbors; I would never dare to give it to just anyone. In the future, I will try my best not to use this medicine, or I will find a safer alternative."

Chen Yang smiled and said, "It's very kind of you to have this thought in mind."

“Actually, your prescription has a very good foundation. If you can further optimize it by removing high-risk herbs and adding some local, safe blood-activating herbs, such as the ‘Nine Dragon Vine’ and ‘Iron-Wrapped Gold’ that you have here, the effect may be quite good and even safer. If you are willing, we can discuss it together.”

The man was overjoyed: "That's wonderful! I couldn't be happier!"