This Doctor Is Too Wealthy

Wu Buwei’s words had earned Du Heng considerable respect. Since they had been separated for nearly three months, Du Heng felt the timing was opportune to assess the young man’s progress again. I wonder if he has made any progress during this time, Du Heng mused.

Du Heng leaned back in his chair, his hands crossed on the table, his gaze fixed on Wu Buwei. ”Your approach of regulating Yin and Yang, warming the liver and kidneys to nourish the lower Yuan, is correct.”

”Now, if it were up to you to treat, how would you prescribe the medicine? And how would you manage the pace of the treatment?”

The difficulty in treating illnesses with traditional Chinese medicine lies in syndrome differentiation. Once the syndrome is correctly differentiated, devising a treatment plan is not overly challenging.

However, many contemporary issues arise precisely during this treatment phase.

This could be due to inaccurate medication, or because over-prescribing disrupts the overall therapeutic rhythm, rendering treatment slow or entirely ineffective.

Furthermore, Director Song’s disease has multiple causes. If the pace of treatment is not well controlled, using too little medication will be ineffective. Moreover, under the influence of the drugs, the condition could slowly become chronic, making the illness even more complex.

If the medication is too aggressive, only blindly warming the liver and kidneys without relieving the tension in the principal tendon, its function will become limited. Even if it doesn’t retract in the future and urination returns to normal, it will be of no use other than for urination.

The patient is only in his thirties, in the prime of his life. Such an outcome, to put it mildly, could lead to his wife and children leaving him; more seriously, it could shatter his family and ruin his life.

In today’s society, if a woman in her thirties is forced to live like a widow due to her partner’s condition, not many would remain by his side until old age.

When Du Heng finished speaking, all eyes turned to Wu Buwei. A mixture of envy, jealousy, and resentment began to swirl around the young man.

Even some of the older individuals felt a touch of shame.

It was quite mortifying that after so many experienced practitioners had deliberated, a young upstart had ultimately grasped the key insight.

Although their gazes were complicated, none of them questioned Du Heng’s judgment as the arbiter.

Du Heng’s accomplishments over the past three months were enough to command their silence and submission.

Wu Buwei, however, had grown accustomed to such scrutiny during his time at the Health Clinic. He was now quietly contemplating Du Heng’s question, unfazed by the stares.

After some thought, Wu Buwei had a clear idea and calmly said, ”The liver stores the Hun (ethereal soul), while the kidney stores essence. The first step is to warm the liver and kidneys. This will help soothe the patient’s emotional distress, release suppressed feelings, reduce internal cold, and address the issue of genital retraction.”

”As for the herbs, Cassia twig, cinnamon...”

He paused, thinking for a moment, then continued, ”Among these, Wu Zhu Yu should be the principal herb, with the dosage increased to twenty-five grams.”

Dr. Ma frowned slightly as he listened. Wu Zhu Yu indeed has the function of warming and tonifying the liver and kidneys, as well as astringing essence to stem desertion. It is appropriate to use it here. However, Wu Zhu Yu has slight toxicity, and its general dosage is between 1.5 and 4.5 grams. It is rarely used in amounts exceeding ten grams.

Moreover, when other herbs in the prescription are dosed around ten grams, twenty-five grams of Wu Zhu Yu is indeed startling.

Although Wu Buwei was personally taught by President Du, who often prescribed even larger doses, Wu Buwei himself is merely an undergraduate who graduated only a year prior. For him to use such a large dose seems rather reckless, Dr. Ma thought.

Thinking this, Dr. Ma slowly raised his hand. Wu Buwei noticed and paused, ”Dr. Ma, please share your thoughts.”

”I have just one question. While Wu Zhu Yu is appropriate here, isn’t this dosage a bit excessive? Dr. Wu, how do you explain this?”

Wu Buwei took a shallow breath and slowly explained, ”The *Emperor’s Inner Classic* states: ’All cold gives rise to contraction and pulling, and all [such conditions] are related to the Kidney.’ The patient exhibits symptoms of cold qi surging upward, indicating severe internal cold that cannot be resolved by ordinary yang-warming herbs.”

”Wu Zhu Yu acts on both the liver and kidney meridians, so it can warm both the liver and the kidneys. This single herb directly addresses the symptoms. Furthermore, I have included Cassia twig to pacify the upward rush and direct rebellious qi downward, so this dosage is not excessive.”

Given the rationale for the dosage and the synergistic auxiliary herbs, Dr. Ma reflected for a moment and then signaled Wu Buwei to continue.

Meanwhile, Li Shuxun’s eyes were gleaming.

We’re both Du Heng’s junior fellow apprentices—well, actually, I’m his senior fellow apprentice, but never mind that, Li Shuxun mused. The key point was that Wu Buwei’s achievements after following Du Heng for only a year deeply impressed this new junior fellow apprentice.

I’ve been with Li Jianwei for three years, and I still don’t possess Wu Buwei’s current level of skill! It seems that in the future, I’ll have to rely heavily on my senior fellow apprentice. With my additional three years of Master’s study experience, my progress will surely be faster than Wu Buwei’s.

Wu Buwei, oblivious to the others’ expressions, continued to carefully consider the next phase of the treatment plan. ”This stage of treatment should not be too long; three to five doses of medicine would be best.”

”Once the patient’s liver and kidneys are warmed and nourished, we must add Yin-nourishing herbs that target the liver. The purpose is to generate Yin to balance Yang, and to replenish Yang with Yin. This will further alleviate the symptoms of genital retraction and also relax the principal tendon without damaging the body’s foundation.”

”As for the herbs... this time, should I add Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang to the previous formula?”

As he finished, Wu Buwei’s voice trailed off slightly, a hint of uncertainty creeping in, and he turned to look at Du Heng.

Du Heng offered an encouraging smile, merely gesturing for him to continue.

This smile greatly boosted Wu Buwei’s confidence. ”This formula utilizes the pungent and sweet properties of Cassia twig and licorice to transform Yang, and the sour and sweet properties of peony and licorice to generate Yin. This approach replenishes Yang with Yin and subdues the counterflow of rebellious qi.”