Du Heng didn’t wait for Yu Haiting to ask further, continuing, "From a Western dicine perspective, liver cirrhosis is indeed irreversible. However, traditional Chinese dicine bases its diagnosis on syndro differentiation and always treats the patient holistically, rather than just addressing symptomatic areas."
As he spoke, his typing paused. He turned to Yu Haiting and said, "The issue with Yang Yuansheng is that his early treatnt involved a large amount of cold-natured dicinal ingredients, which damaged his foundational constitution. Subsequently, for over twenty years, right up until his liver cirrhosis was diagnosed, Yang Yuansheng was a habitual drinker.
"Therefore, my syndro differentiation is as follows: alcohol consumption damaged his spleen, leading to an accumulation of damp-heat in the middle burner. Due to the excessive use of bitter and cold purgatives, the heat was cleared, but the dampness lingered, transforming into cold dampness. This cold dampness then trapped the spleen yang, causing water to accumulate in the middle burner. Over ti, this extended to damage the kidneys. Once the kidney yang weakened, its transformative power diminished, and qi circulation beca impaired. This, in turn, led to qi stagnation and blood stasis, culminating in ascites with palpable abdominal masses—a single abdominal distension syndro."
Yu Haiting wasn’t entirely uninford, but he found Du Heng’s explanation sowhat difficult to accept.
Liver cirrhosis—the problem is in the liver. Yet, according to Du Heng, the problem lay with the spleen, the kidneys, qi, and blood—everywhere but the liver itself.
Du Heng observed Yu Haiting’s expression and smiled faintly. "The treatnt thod involves nourishing the source of fire to dispel dampness, invigorating the spleen, promoting qi circulation to resolve stasis, and rebuilding the qi transformation of the triple burner. Once these are addressed, all problems will naturally be resolved."
At that mont, Wu Buwei entered. "Senior Brother, the patient is settled, and the initial check-up is complete."
Du Heng acknowledged and turned to input information into Yang Yuansheng’s disease record. As for Yu Haiting’s lingering questions, Du Heng felt he had explained all he could. Those who were receptive would have understood by now; for those who couldn’t, further explanation would be futile.
Once he finished typing, he turned to Wu Buwei. "I’ve prescribed the redy for Yang Yuansheng: an augnted Wen’s Running Piglet Decoction.
"When you prepare the decoction, be careful: aconite, cinnamon, and agarwood should not be decocted with the other herbs. They need to be ground into a powder and then stirred into the strained decoction. Each dose should be a concentrated 300 ml, taken three tis a day. Notify when Yang Yuansheng’s appetite improves."
"Understood, Senior Brother. I’ve noted it down." Wu Buwei nodded and left imdiately. Seeing Du Heng offered no further explanation, Yu Haiting also left with Wu Buwei.
However, doubts still lingered in Yu Haiting’s mind. He felt it wasn’t appropriate to press further at the mont and decided to wait and see the effects after Yang Yuansheng took the dicine.
After they both left, Yang Wei, who had been helping Yang Yuansheng tidy up the hospital room, ca in.
Seeing Du Heng, Yang Wei looked like he wanted to say sothing but hesitated, appearing quite uncomfortable.
Du Heng suddenly rembered he had brought two patients back today. He had been so focused on Yang Yuansheng that he had forgotten about Yang Wei.
"Oh, my apologies," Du Heng said to Yang Wei with a slight expression of regret. "I’ll sort it out for you right now. Give the prescription I wrote for you this morning, and please go to the registration office to get a number."
Joy instantly spread across Yang Wei’s face upon hearing Du Heng’s words. He eagerly agreed, quickly pulling the neatly folded prescription from his pocket. After handing it to Du Heng, he hurried out to register.
Yang Wei’s prescription was for pellet dicine, not a decoction. The reason for prescribing pellet dicine was Yang Wei’s work schedule, which made taking a decoction inconvenient. After all, he needed to take this dicine for at least a month to see effects, and potentially for a long ti thereafter. Pellet dicine would be far more convenient for him.
However, preparing pellet dicine was more labor-intensive for Du Heng. It was almost closing ti before Du Heng finally finished preparing Yang Wei’s dicine. Just as Yang Wei was about to leave, Du Heng stopped him again. "Rember," he stressed, "you must abstain from sexual activity for the first month. It would be best if you could manage two months."
Yang Wei looked a little embarrassed but listened intently to Du Heng’s instructions.
After Yang Wei left, Wang Zhenzhen ambled over. "I heard Xiao Fang arrived in Jinzhou today?"
"He arrived at noon. Xiao Qiu went to pick him up."
"Then let’s all go together. I haven’t seen Xiao Fang in ages. My treat tonight, a welco dinner for him."
"That sounds wonderful," Du Heng readily agreed, smiling. He didn’t ntion that he and Wang Shuqiu had also planned a welco dinner for Zhao Xinfang that evening.
As they were packing up to leave, Wang Zhenzhen suddenly asked, "Do you still have any of that ’all-in-one’ dicine of yours?"
Du Heng chuckled, looking at Wang Zhenzhen. "You’ve finished that bottle I gave you already?"
"Finished it ages ago! I was just wondering if you had any more. If not, could you make so for ?"
"That won’t do," Du Heng refused with a smile and started walking towards the backyard.
Wang Zhenzhen hurried after him. "Why not?"
Du Heng opened the car door, inviting Wang Zhenzhen in. Once she was seated, he asked, "First, tell why you want more. I warned you when I gave it to you last ti not to take too much, especially since you’re trying to conceive. Too much could lead to multiple births. What if you ended up with triplets or quadruplets? Could Gong handle that?"
Hearing Du Heng’s explanation, Wang Zhenzhen looked conflicted, her expression a mixture of desire and apprehension. "I don’t know if your dicine will help conceive twins," she admitted, "but my skin has improved so much recently, and my complexion is far better than before. Nowadays, I only need light makeup when I go out. This all started after I began taking your herbal dicine."
Du Heng started the car, and they soon drove out of the backyard.
That particular effect Wang Zhenzhen ntioned, Du Heng mused, was rely a side effect of the dicine.
When they reached the restaurant they’d agreed to et Wang Shuqiu at, she and Zhao Xinfang were already there.
Seeing Du Heng and Wang Zhenzhen enter, Zhao Xinfang greeted them cheerfully, "Third Sister, Brother-in-law!"
Wang Zhenzhen affectionately linked her arm through Zhao Xinfang’s. "Our Xiao Fang is getting more and more handso!"
Whether he was actually more handso was debatable, but Du Heng did observe that the young man’s complexion was much better than a month ago; more importantly, his spirits seed high and his energy levels robust.
With Wang Zhenzhen present, they avoided sensitive topics during dinner. It wasn’t until they returned to the house and Wang Shuqiu had served tea that Du Heng, Wang Shuqiu, and Zhao Xinfang finally prepared to discuss serious matters.
"Xiao Fang," Du Heng began, asking the question foremost on his mind, "has your condition relapsed at all this past month?"
Zhao Xinfang shook his head, his voice light and cheerful. "I’ve felt really good this past month. Even when I see those two, I have no issues at all. I can completely control myself."
Everyone present knew who "those two" referred to.
Du Heng took Zhao Xinfang’s hand, listening to him speak while simultaneously performing another diagnosis.
"If the dicine is effective, continue taking it. Don’t stop."
Du Heng paused, choosing his words carefully before continuing, "Your sister told about your condition. This illness is inherited from your mother, so a complete cure isn’t possible. However, with dication, it can be controlled, potentially even preventing recurrence for your entire life. Therefore, you must continue taking the dicine I prescribed for another two months."
"I understand, Brother-in-law," Zhao Xinfang affird. "I’ll be sure to follow your instructions carefully."
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