This Doctor Is Too Wealthy

Generally, epileptic convulsions don’t require intervention; just ensure that a foreign body doesn’t obstruct the trachea and cause suffocation. The patient will usually recover automatically after three to five minutes.

But in this situation, the patient had swallowed his tongue, his torso was rigid, and he was experiencing limb convulsions. If not treated promptly, there was a risk of death by suffocation, or his limbs could suffer functional damage, such as developing a claw hand or an uneven gait.

Syncope, accompanied by unconscious convulsions, has a treatment method similar to the one used for Zhang Xi, but with some differences. Therefore, for the acupoint selection, Du Heng chose GV-26 and Houxi.

Du Heng asked his mother-in-law to hold Zhao Xinfang’s tongue while he took out his needle utensils to begin treatment.

After performing the needling quickly, Du Heng saw that Zhao Xinfang’s symptoms hadn’t lessened, so he immediately inserted needles into four more acupoints: Fengchi, Yaoqi, PC-06, and Fenglong.

Particularly at the Yaoqi acupoint, he selected a 4-inch long needle and, at a spot 2.6 inches from the coccyx, inserted the needle, angling the tip upward.

Wang Shuqiu’s family of three had heard of acupuncture, but they had never seen such a long needle, let alone one being used on the lower back.

They all stared at Du Heng in terror.

If they hadn’t already known Du Heng was a TCM doctor, and if Wang Shuqiu hadn’t frequently praised Du Heng’s medical skills during their phone calls, the elderly couple might have suspected Du Heng was resorting to foul play to rid himself of a disabled brother-in-law.

Once Zhao Xinfang’s body gradually relaxed, the violent convulsions ceased, and his tongue no longer retracted, Du Heng told his mother-in-law to let go. After all, forcefully pulling the tongue out like that is very painful for the patient. Moreover, after the patient regained consciousness, the sensation of his tongue having been stretched would be even more uncomfortable.

”Don’t just stand there. Help me open the red box in the medicine box and give me one of the pills from inside.”

Wang Shuqiu quickly did as Du Heng asked and took out a pill.

Du Heng took it and looked at the ”Storax Pills” he had made himself. I didn’t expect them to be so effective twice in a single day, he thought.

However, Zhang Xi’s treatment costs can be reimbursed by the Health Clinic, but I’ll have to cover this one myself.

He scraped off the wax coating and crushed the pill into small granules. ”Get me a cup of warm water and a small spoon.”

Wang Shuqiu bustled about again.

After administering the medicine, Du Heng made slight adjustments to the needles. Only when Zhao Xinfang’s body had completely relaxed and returned to normal did he remove all the needles.

Seeing his father-in-law still holding Zhao Xinfang tightly, Du Heng said softly, ”Uncle, please relax a little. Holding him too tightly could affect his breathing.”

”Alright.” His father-in-law remained a man of few words, asking no questions and saying little.

He loosened his embrace but then took Zhao Xinfang’s hand in his.

After about two minutes of this, Zhao Xinfang slowly opened his eyes.

”Xiao Fang, do you recognize me?” Du Heng gently waved his hand in front of Zhao Xinfang’s eyes. Only when he saw Zhao Xinfang’s eyes follow the movement did he withdraw his hand.

Zhao Xinfang’s reaction was slow; he replied only after more than ten seconds, ”I recognize you, Brother-in-law.”

Good, he’s conscious now, Du Heng thought.

”How are you feeling now?”

”My head hurts, I’m a little dizzy, and my chest feels tight and uncomfortable.”

Du Heng glanced at Zhao Xinfang’s forehead; only now did he have a chance to examine his external injuries.

I didn’t expect this kid to be so rough on himself during an episode, Du Heng mused. He banged his head on the table four times; his entire forehead is now a swollen, purplish lump.

Looking at that massive lump on his forehead, it would be a miracle if his head didn’t hurt.

However, to be thorough, Du Heng asked, ”Does the outside of your head hurt, or does it feel like the pain is deep inside your brain?”

”The outside.”

”Alright, you’ll be fine. Just lie down and rest for a while.”

Zhao Xinfang turned his head slightly, his eyes darting around.

Du Heng didn’t know what he was looking for, but Wang Shuqiu did. She crouched beside Zhao Xinfang and whispered reassuringly, ”Don’t worry, I chased them all away.”

”Mm,” Zhao Xinfang hummed softly, turning his head back. He looked apologetic and a little ashamed as he said, ”Brother-in-law, I made a fool of myself.”

”What are you talking about, kid? Don’t forget, I’m a doctor. There’s nothing shameful about being sick. Alright, stop talking and just lie down for a bit.”

Du Heng comforted Zhao Xinfang, then looked at his mother-in-law and said, ”Auntie, please help massage Xiao Fang’s neck, arms, and legs. Rub them a bit to help his meridians relax; otherwise, he’ll be uncomfortable later.”

”Okay.”

His mother-in-law reached out, took Zhao Xinfang’s arm, and began to gently rub it.

Du Heng let out a soft sigh, stepped back, and pulled Wang Shuqiu out with him. ”Is there anywhere in your village that sells Chinese herbal medicine?”

”Yes, the clinic has some. Why do you ask?”

”I want to get some Chinese herbal medicine for Xiao Fang. Taking it regularly can help control the recurrence of his epilepsy.”

”Can’t he take the medicine Doctor Xu prescribed today?”

”Not for now. Xiao Fang’s condition has changed. Doctor Xu’s medicine was prescribed for the non-convulsive aspect of his epilepsy, but now Xiao Fang is also showing clear convulsive symptoms, so that medicine is completely unsuitable.”

Du Heng picked up his jacket from the sofa, put it on, and headed out with Wang Shuqiu. ”In traditional Chinese medicine, the non-convulsive mental aspects of epilepsy and the convulsive seizure aspects are often treated as two distinct patterns. They have different root causes and pathologies, so the medication must also be different. First, we need to get the convulsive seizures under control, so he doesn’t have an episode at the slightest trigger. Once that’s mostly managed, we can then address the other underlying aspects.”

”Stop talking, I don’t understand any of it, and it’s giving me a headache!” Wang Shuqiu finished buttoning her coat and walked straight out.

Well, I suppose that was a wasted effort on my part, Du Heng thought.

The village clinic was located in the village doctor’s own house. They had to knock for a long time before the door finally opened.

”Well, if it isn’t Xiao Qiu! Our village’s university student! When did you get back?” The village doctor, a man with a rough, full beard, recognized Wang Shuqiu as soon as he opened the door and began to joke.

”Mr. Shan, I graduated two years ago. Please stop calling me a university student.”

”Haha, alright, whatever you say. And who’s this with you?”

”This is my boyfriend. He’s from Jinzhou, and like you, he’s also a doctor.”

”Oh, please, what kind of doctor am I?” he said modestly.

After his modest remark, he led the two of them inside. ”What brings you here so late?”

Wang Shuqiu’s expression dimmed. ”I’ve come to get some Chinese herbal medicine.”

The village doctor paused, then changed direction and headed towards the room that served as the clinic.

”Who is the medicine for?”

”My younger brother.”

The village doctor stopped again. ”Has Fangfang had an episode?”

”Yes.”

”Then you should take him to the hospital! I don’t have the kind of medicine he needs here.”

Wang Shuqiu said nothing, turning her gaze to Du Heng instead.

Du Heng stepped forward. ”Uncle, I’ve written a prescription. Could you prepare some Chinese herbal medicine for us based on it?”

”Chinese herbal medicine? Are you a TCM doctor?”

”Yes, a Traditional Chinese Medicine General Practitioner.”

The village doctor straightened his back, hitching up the jacket draped over his shoulders. His expression was grave and earnest. ”Young man, writing a prescription and preparing medicine are very serious matters. An incorrect prescription can be fatal.”

”I know.”

”How old are you?” The village doctor’s face was etched with skepticism.

Du Heng wasn’t annoyed; after all, the man was only showing concern. ”Uncle, I’m twenty-eight.”

”Twenty-eight? And how many years have you been a doctor?”

”Six years. I’m currently an attending physician in our hospital’s Chinese Medicine Department.”

The village doctor hitched his jacket up again. ”Xiao Qiu, you don’t have any objections?”

”None at all. Mr. Shan, please go ahead and prepare the medicine. When Fangfang had his episode earlier, it was my boyfriend who treated him.”

”Well, if his family agrees, then I have no objection. But I must see your prescription. If the medicines are incorrect, or the dosages are off, I can’t prepare it for you.”

”Understood.”

Once inside the clinic, Du Heng wrote down the prescription.

”Uncaria, Jiang Banxia, dried orange peel... This is a prescription for regulating liver qi.” After reading the prescription, the village doctor immediately stated its purpose.

Du Heng’s eyebrows rose slightly. I really underestimated him, he thought. ”Uncle, can you prepare this?”

”I can prepare it. It’s just this vinegar-fried bupleurum – you’ll have to fry it yourselves when you get back. You’re a TCM doctor, and you wrote the prescription, so that shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

”Not a problem. I’ll fry it myself when I get back.”

”Then wait here, I’ll get the medicine for you.”

Du Heng suddenly remembered a crucial detail and turned to ask Wang Shuqiu, ”Do you have a pot for decocting herbal medicine at home?”

”Yes, Mom bought one specially last time we got medicine for Fangfang.”

”Oh, good. That’s fine then.”