This Doctor Is Too Wealthy

However, Director Lv did not respond to Du Heng but frowned again.

He seemed to feel that his previous judgment was wrong. This formula wasn’t based on the Mirabilite and Radish Seed Decoction. It seemed to be... a modification of the Major Qi-Coordinating Decoction he’d seen earlier. But upon closer thought, that also seemed incorrect. Because Du Heng’s formula no longer contained rhubarbs, the main ingredient. With the main ingredient gone, could it still be considered a Major Qi-Coordinating Decoction? Not to mention, Du Heng had also removed many of the supplementary herbs.

Soon, Director Lv seemed to realize something. Although he didn’t want to admit it, looking at the prescription in his hand, he had to concede that Du Heng had created his own formula. While it bore traces of the Major Qi-Coordinating Decoction and the Mirabilite and Radish Seed Decoction, it was undeniably Du Heng’s own creation. Moreover, this formula seemed more complete and reliable than the previous large-dose Major Qi-Coordinating Decoction. At the very least, these dosages were within his acceptable range. Even if the dosages were a bit unconventional, he could genuinely accept them.

After taking a deep breath, Director Lv looked at Du Heng and asked, ”Deputy Director Du, why don’t you explain the characteristics of this formula to everyone?”

Du Heng smiled.

As soon as Director Lv spoke, Du Heng knew he had conceded.

”The patient developed intestinal adhesion and partial obstruction after the surgery, which was caused by qi deficiency leading to stagnation and obstruction,” Du Heng began, explaining his prescription’s composition in response to Director Lv’s question. ”In this case, I significantly increased the use of ginseng and astragalus to greatly tonify the patient’s original qi, with a small amount of costus and agarwood ground and added to promote the circulation of the patient’s greater qi. As for the radish seed in the formula, it is the mature seed of the white radish. It shares the properties of radish and also has the effect of breaking qi and resolving phlegm.”

Du Heng spoke calmly and fluently, explaining his self-formulated prescription from the beginning, ”This time, I’ve used a large dose of ginseng and astragalus as the chief ingredients. Leveraging the excellent patency-promoting properties of radish seed, I aim to mitigate its potentially drastic breaking effects and avoid the potential harm that using rhubarbs, as in the previous instance, might have caused.”

Director Lv nodded, agreeing with Du Heng’s method. ”Indeed, using radish seed instead of rhubarbs is much more reassuring.”

Du Heng also nodded. He had chosen this particular combination precisely because Director Lv had expressed concerns about the large dosage of rhubarbs earlier.

After a slight pause, Du Heng continued, ”This time, I’ve reduced the dosage of magnolia but added red ocher. Together, they descend rebellious stomach qi. They also help rapidly restore the qi transformation of the triple burner and flush out obstructions, thereby quickly resolving all symptoms.”

Director Lv fully accepted this explanation. He nodded again and said, ”Deputy Director Du, this formula is inherently different from the Major Qi-Coordinating Decoction’s approach of breaking stagnation and smoothing qi. Its main focus is to directly and strongly tonify the qi. When qi is sufficient, its movement, rotation, ascent, and descent will return to normal, and the distension and oppression will naturally resolve. It’s a different path to the same destination. Deputy Director Du, this shows the caliber of a true master.”

With that, he handed the prescription to the Proctology Department Director. ”I see no issues with this prescription; you can use it for the patient.”

However, the Proctology Department Director was still hesitant. Especially since Director Lv had expressed opposition before, he harbored similar reservations this time. ”Deputy Director Du, Director Lv, can the patient withstand this prescription? We absolutely cannot afford any uncontrollable situations. If it really comes to it, we can perform a second surgery. Although there’s some risk, the problem shouldn’t be too significant.”

Director Lv smiled and said, ”This prescription doesn’t contain any harsh attacking or drastically purgative medicines, so you can use it with confidence. In this formula, Deputy Director Du used white radish. White radish is a vegetable available year-round, has a warming nature, promotes ascent when raw and descent when cooked, and is a superior ingredient in dietary therapy. When eaten raw and swallowed, it immediately causes belching and relieves hiccups, ascends qi, and expands the chest, clearing the upper burner first. When cooked, it promotes the passing of gas, causes the intestines to gurgle, rapidly descends qi, facilitates both defecation and urination, and clears the middle and lower burners. Moreover, the formula also contains mirabilite. When mirabilite is cooked with radish, it becomes the famous traditional Chinese medicine dietary therapy, ’Mirabilite and Radish Seed Decoction,’ which has the effect of softening hardness and promoting downward movement by moistening. The characteristic of concentrated radish juice to effectively descend qi helps push things downward, accelerating intestinal peristalsis. This rapidly unblocks obstructions without harming the body’s vital qi. As for the other medicines, they are all tonics and won’t harm the body.”

With Director Lv’s explanation, Du Heng didn’t need to elaborate further. He simply nodded after Director Lv finished, indicating his agreement.

The Proctology Department Director took a deep breath after looking at the prescription. ”Alright, I’ll arrange it now.”

As long as the patient experienced no further issues, the rest of the matter would largely be out of Du Heng’s hands. So he leisurely returned to his office and found the resident physician. ”Has that young man from yesterday come in?”

The resident doctor shook his head. ”I specifically asked the outpatient service and Director Wu, but they all said there was no news about that young man. I called him as well, but it just kept ringing, and no one picked up.”

Well, never mind then, Du Heng thought for a moment. ”Don’t worry about him anymore. He probably figured out the issue himself and was too embarrassed to return.”

The resident doctor felt a bit disappointed; he had wanted to see what the matter was.

After that, Du Heng truly didn’t concern himself with that patient any further and immersed himself in his work.

Just after work started in the afternoon, Du Heng was summoned by the Proctology Department Director. ”Deputy Director Du, about an hour after the patient took the medicine you prescribed this morning, his stomach began to RUMBLE, and his vomiting was also brought under control. You said this morning that this situation is normal, so I didn’t bother you. Just now, the patient had a bowel movement, and the abdominal pain disappeared.”

Du Heng smiled subtly. ”That’s good news.”

The Proctology Department Director’s attitude towards Du Heng was as warm and respectful as it had been towards Director Lv and Director Qian that morning. Meanwhile, the attending physician who had been accompanying them kept his head down, staring at the disease record in his hand. One might wonder if there were flowers on it, so completely was he captivated.

The Proctology Department Director chuckled. ”So, after the patient had a bowel movement, he said he was hungry and wanted to eat something. But I’m not sure if he can eat anything right now after taking the Chinese herbal medicine, or what he should eat. Also, since the patient’s bowels have moved and the issue seems resolved, should he continue taking the medicine? So I have to trouble Deputy Director Du again to help me solve these two problems.”

Du Heng smiled, offered some polite words, and then went to the hospital room with the Director. After the check-up, Du Heng addressed the patient, his family, the Proctology Department Director, and the attending physician, ”He can eat now, but be careful not to let him eat too much. His stomach and intestines have just recovered, so digestion is still a bit strenuous. Also, he shouldn’t eat raw or cold foods, and avoid anything that’s hard to digest.”

At this, the family members looked delighted and profusely thanked Du Heng and the Proctology Department Director. After this round of thanks, a family member asked, ”Doctor, I’d like to give my father something nutritious, like pork or lamb. Is that alright?”

Du Heng nodded. ”That’s fine, but when you prepare it, make sure it’s cooked until very soft and tender, preferably as a soup. For the first three days, he should stick to soup if possible and try to avoid eating solid meat. Once the Elderly gentleman has fully recovered, he can eat whatever he likes then.”

After leaving the hospital room, Du Heng addressed the Proctology Department Director regarding the second question. ”The medicine is working well. I think two more doses should be sufficient. For everything else, you can proceed according to your usual methods.”

The Proctology Department Director asked, somewhat puzzled, ”Didn’t you say the patient is deficient? Wouldn’t taking a few more doses of medicine to help tonify him further be better?”

It seemed this Proctology Department Director was now thoroughly convinced of the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine; he was even proactively suggesting his patient take more Chinese herbal medicine to aid recovery. This was a good thing.

Du Heng chuckled. ”Director, your intention is good, but in traditional Chinese medicine, we have a saying: ’Deficiency does not accept supplementation.’ The viscera function as an integrated whole. Maintaining balance and stability among them is paramount. As long as the transport and transformation functions of the intestines and the Spleen and Stomach can operate harmoniously with the qi and blood circulation throughout the body, it’s best to let them self-regulate and recover. If we continue to tonify the intestines and Spleen and Stomach, it will disrupt the newly established balance, and the patient may develop other issues.”

The Proctology Department Director chuckled heartily. ”Alright, we’ll follow Deputy Director Du’s advice.”