This Doctor Is Too Wealthy

After setting aside matters related to the system, Du Heng refocused on the old man’s illness and suddenly gained a new understanding of how to prescribe and administer medicine.

A moment later, Du Heng slapped his thigh. ”So, that’s how medicine can be used!”

In his excitement, he picked up his pen to write a prescription. But just then, a knock on the office door instantly shattered his train of thought.

He suddenly remembered he had locked the door earlier, so he quickly got up to open it.

At the door, Gu Ping gave Du Heng a strange look, wondering why his Mr. Du would lock the office door in broad daylight.

However, his curiosity was fleeting. ”Mr. Du, is the prescription ready?”

Du Heng chuckled. ”I had just figured it out when you knocked.”

Hearing this, Gu Ping immediately grew flustered. ”I’m sorry, Mr. Du! I disturbed you. I thought you had already finished.”

”It’s fine; I’ve already thought it through. Come in. Once I finish writing, you can take it.”

The two returned to the desk. Du Heng began to write, while Gu Ping stood by, watching.

But today’s disease record had left Gu Ping with a profound sense of frustration. He had many questions he desperately wanted to ask Du Heng but feared disturbing him. Yet, the thought of not asking left him feeling uncomfortably suffocated.

After hesitating for a long time, seeing Du Heng cap his pen, he could no longer hold back. ”Mr. Du, may I ask you a few questions?”

Du Heng checked his prescription and nodded. ”Go ahead.”

”Mr. Du, this patient has a history of gastric ulcer. He also experiences vomiting immediately after eating and severe hiccups. These are clearly manifestations of rebellious stomach qi. But why did the Harmonizing Decoction have no effect at all?”

”The patient indeed suffers from gastric ulcers, and the modified Harmonizing Decoction does have the effect of harmonizing the stomach. It seems to address the symptoms, but the patient’s hiccups and retching are not caused by a stomach issue.”

Du Heng put down the prescription, turned to Gu Ping, and gestured for him to sit.

”Think about it. If his stomach were truly failing, do you think the patient could have lasted this long without his life being in danger?”

Du Heng smiled. ”So, while using the Harmonizing Decoction seems to treat the symptoms, it’s ineffective because it doesn’t address the root cause. The patient’s problems are due to unconsolidated kidney qi and original qi on the verge of collapse.”

Confusion flickered in Gu Ping’s eyes. From the symptoms, it clearly seems like a stomach issue, doesn’t it? After muttering to himself, Gu Ping looked at Du Heng. ”Mr. Du, how should this be differentiated?”

”Don’t rush to differentiate. First, let me ask you: what are the characteristics of this patient’s disease?”

Gu Ping was again at a loss.

”’An upward surge of rebellious qi,’ Du Heng slowly said.”

”’An upward surge of rebellious qi?’”

”Yes, it’s what medical texts like the *Treatise on Febrile Diseases* and the *Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber* call ’Running Piglet’ syndrome. ’Running Piglet’ is an episodic disease and is a lesion of the Chong Mai.”

Since he was going to explain, Du Heng took his time. ”The Chong Mai is the Sea of Blood; its channel originates in the lower abdomen, ascends along the abdomen, and meets at the throat. It pertains to the liver and kidney, and also to the Yangming. When kidney yang is deficient, the liver is cold and stagnant, and cold fluids accumulate internally, then the Chong Mai becomes unstable, carrying pathogenic fluids upward in a rush, thus forming this syndrome.

”Think about this patient’s condition. Doesn’t it perfectly match what I’ve described?”

As Du Heng finished speaking, Gu Ping’s bewildered eyes lost focus for a moment before slowly regaining clarity. ”It does match.”

He scratched his head. ”Mr. Du, what are the specific symptoms then?”

The moment he asked, Gu Ping’s ears turned bright red.

Du Heng had just explained the principles. Logically, Gu Ping should have been able to deduce the disease characteristics from these principles himself. But he was all too aware of the gaps in his knowledge.

If he had to deduce them himself, accuracy aside, just figuring out symptoms consistent with the principles would exhaust him.

Du Heng was also aware of Gu Ping’s capabilities. This young man had some talent in acupuncture and moxibustion—that could be considered acceptable. As for diagnosis, to be honest, it was just so-so.

If it weren’t for his strong connections, Xu Pinglin would have dismissed him long ago.

”When this syndrome occurs, the patient feels a cold sensation rushing from the lower abdomen up to the chest and throat, causing shortness of breath, a stifling sensation, a feeling of imminent death, and extreme pain. The symptoms are intermittent; when they manifest, the patient feels like dying, and when they subside, the rushing qi gradually calms, and the patient returns to normal. This is consistent with the descriptions in the *Golden Chamber*. So, when you have time, you should read more medical texts.”

Du Heng smiled faintly and continued, ”Syndromes of yin cold affecting the liver, spleen, and kidney; colicky pain in the epigastrium and abdomen; upward rushing of rebellious qi; vomiting and diarrhea; coldness of the limbs; and even painful spasms, cold-type hernia, edema, and distension are all included in this category.”

While Du Heng was speaking, Gu Ping had already activated the voice recorder on his phone.

Seeing that Du Heng wasn’t annoyed, Gu Ping gradually composed himself, and the few bits of knowledge in his head began to surface. ”Mr. Du, I remember there’s a formula in the *Golden Chamber* called ’Running Piglet Decoction.’ Could that be used for this patient?”

Du Heng nodded. ”I initially thought of that formula as well. With minor modifications, it could be directly applied to this patient.”

He paused for a moment, then his tone shifted. ”But now, I have a better combination.”

With that, he found another sheet of paper on the desk and quickly began writing a prescription. When finished, he handed it to Gu Ping.

Gu Ping took it, puzzled. The prescription listed nine medicinal herbs: aconite, cinnamon, red ginseng, agarwood, amomum, Chinese yam, and others, but no dosages were specified.

”Mr. Du, this is?”

”Running Piglet Decoction.”

”The Running Piglet Decoction from the *Golden Chamber*?” Gu Ping’s confusion deepened.

If it were the formula from the *Golden Chamber*, Du Heng wouldn’t need to rewrite it, would he? Besides, he himself said it wasn’t the original formula.

”It’s a different formula with the same name, also used to treat Running Piglet syndrome, but the medication is different from that in the *Golden Chamber*.”

”Different?”

Gu Ping was shocked again.

Judging by the name, it’s clearly intended for all types of Running Piglet syndrome. Could Du Heng have formulated a general-purpose prescription in such a short time, rather than one tailored to specific symptoms?

Du Heng exhaled softly. ”This prescription is derived by removing dried ginger from Ginseng Counterflow Cold Decoction; removing sojutsu var from Cinnamon and Aconite Regulating the Middle Decoction; and removing rehmannia, moutan, and cornus from Cinnamon and Aconite Eight-Ingredient Pill. Then, agarwood, amomum, and achyranthes are added. It’s designed to use pure yang to supplement fire, rescuing the critically ill and supporting those in peril.

”It can be warming, thermal, and dynamic, thoroughly penetrating from top to bottom, circulating through the twelve meridians, both exterior and interior, superficial and deep.”

As Du Heng spoke, he picked up the prescription he had just written, examined it again, and said, ”Its functions include warming and nourishing the true fire of the innate Mingmen (Life Gate), rescuing declining original yang, and consolidating collapsing original qi.

”It strengthens fire to produce earth, transforms dampness to awaken the spleen, nourishes earth to control water, and thus eliminates edema.

”It also helps to secure qi and relieve panting, calm and nourish the Chong Mai; guide fire back to its source, and subdue Running Piglet syndrome.

”It dispels cold accumulation in the five viscera, expels cold congelation in the six bowels, removes cold bi-syndrome from the bones and meridians, breaks up deep-seated cold and stubborn congelation, disperses cold, and moves qi to treat all kinds of pain.”

Pointing to a medicinal name on the paper, he said, ”Among this large group of acrid, hot, and drying herbs, the significant use of Chinese yam, with its moistening property, makes it the best adjuvant to strengthen the spleen and stomach, benefit the lungs, tonify the kidneys, reinforce essence, and nourish yin.

”It can nourish yin to coordinate with yang, jointly achieving the effect of boosting the source of fire to eliminate the shadows of yin.”

Gu Ping’s eyes widened.

Goodness, it was just as he had thought! Du Heng had created a general-purpose formula.

The symptoms of Running Piglet syndrome that Du Heng had just described were all covered by this prescription.

Gu Ping swallowed hard. He had no doubt about what Du Heng said. Right now, he just wanted to quickly stash this prescription in his father’s safe.

However, looking at the prescription again, he voiced his final doubt, ”Mr. Du, why didn’t you write down the dosages for this prescription?”

Hearing this, Du Heng laughed. ”The dosages can’t be written for this one.”

”Why not?” Gu Ping’s mind started racing. Could it be that Mr. Du is afraid I’ll steal his formula? But that doesn’t seem right. If he thought that, he wouldn’t have written it down for me in the first place.

Confused and unable to understand, he could only look at Du Heng with bewilderment.

”Look closely at the prescription. It contains aconite, which is used as the sovereign herb,” Du Heng said, gesturing for Gu Ping to examine the prescription again.

Once Gu Ping had taken a good look, Du Heng continued, ”Running Piglet syndrome presents in various degrees: mild cases, severe cases like this patient’s critical condition, and even more advanced stages where original qi collapses suddenly, requiring emergency rescue.

”Different situations necessitate different dosages of aconite.

”And when the dosage of aconite changes, the dosages of the adjuvant herbs must also change. For example, roasted licorice is usually used at twice the dosage of aconite. However, if aconite is used in an exceptionally large dose, then roasted licorice can only be used up to a maximum of sixty grams.

”The dosages of other herbs like cinnamon and cornus officinalis also vary with the aconite dosage; they are not fixed.”

Gu Ping was dumbfounded upon hearing Du Heng’s explanation.

He had assumed that once he had the prescription, he could use it, perhaps making minor adjustments to the dosages as needed. He never imagined it would be this complex.

He instantly felt deflated. Given his current level of skill, this prescription was beyond his ability to use.

Seeing Gu Ping’s expression, Du Heng knew what the young man was thinking.

However, understanding pathology and pathogenesis is something that, unless one suddenly acquires a system like he did, requires diligent, painstaking study—extensive reading, memorization, and reflection.

”Alright, I’ve said what needs to be said. Don’t be disheartened. Treating illness is a cumulative process. Take today’s patient, for instance. It’s not just that you couldn’t find a solution; even if he were sent to the Chinese Medicine Department, at least ninety percent of the doctors there wouldn’t have one either.”

Du Heng comforted Gu Ping with a smile. After re-emphasizing the usage and dosage of the first prescription he had written, he dusted off his trousers and left.

When Du Heng returned to the Municipal Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Kang Zhirong, who had gone to film Director Liu, had also returned.

Du Heng asked, ”Has that family been discharged?”

Kang Zhirong nodded. ”They completed the discharge procedures this morning after you left.”

”That’s good.” Du Heng nodded. ”Please help me keep track of their follow-up appointments.”

Kang Zhirong nodded again, then said, ”Dean, I’d like to edit the footage of you treating the child and post it on our official account. Would that be alright?”

”Of course, that’s fine.”

Kang Zhirong smiled happily. ”Dean, I’ve sent the edited video to your email. Could you please take a look and see if there are any omissions or anything that needs adjustment?”

Du Heng opened the email Kang Zhirong had mentioned and began to watch the video attentively.

The longer he watched, the wider his smile became.

Watching a video of himself in front of others was a peculiar sensation.

Especially with Kang Zhirong’s editing—the camera angles, color grading, and atmospheric music—he felt a touch of narcissism rising amidst his embarrassment.

A man focused on his work truly is handsome!