Bao Mi hesitated. But no one was forcing her at this point. Of course, Du Heng wasn’t going to plead with her either.
While Bao Mi was contemplating, Du Heng and Xu Pinglin chatted, mostly about dical journals and techniques. Other topics were unsuitable for discussion in this setting.
Soon enough, Bao Mi spoke up, "Since I’m already here, let’s give it a try."
Wu Buwei was very unhappy when he heard this. He wanted to say sothing, but Du Heng waved his hand to stop him.
They were doctors; healing the sick and saving lives was their duty. To earn trust, they needed genuine skill, not just argunts. Indeed, arguing would only make them appear unprofessional and insecure.
Since the patient had difficulty moving, Du Heng rose and squatted beside him for an examination.
His examination revealed the patient’s condition was similar to that of Zuo Shucai from Mubangou: both suffered from hemiplegia, a sequela of cerebral infarction.
The patient was well-cared for, with no signs of muscular atrophy. However, he had been over-nourished, exhibiting signs of agitated qi and blood heat.
"Do you have any previous treatnt records? A disease record, details of dications taken, things like that?"
"Yes, I brought them all." Bao Mi retrieved a thick stack of docunts from her bag and handed them to Du Heng.
Du Heng flipped through them, selecting the hospital’s disease records and the prescription from the Traditional Chinese dicine Clinic. However, he found no detailed treatnt records or information about the treatnt process from the clinic itself.
This seed to be a common issue with all clinics nowadays—they rarely provided patients with their diagnostic and treatnt records.
Du Heng examined the prescription and quickly grasped the situation.
"This doctor prescribed a modified version of the Three Raw Agents Beverage. This formula is used to treat conditions like stroke, unconsciousness, and hemiplegia. The prescription itself is appropriate for these conditions."
When Bao Mi heard this, a flicker of disappointnt crossed her eyes; she thought there was no hope left.
Xu Pinglin approached it from a different angle. After hearing Du Heng’s explanation, he asked, "If the prescription was correct, why wasn’t it effective?"
Du Heng smiled faintly, shaking the prescription in his hand. "It’s simple. This prescription contains an ingredient called aconite. For so reason, the doctor only included 3 grams of it, while the other ingredients were in sufficient quantities. Furthermore, the amount of Ginseng used was excessive. It would be a wonder if this concoction actually worked."
Xu Pinglin wasn’t familiar with traditional Chinese dicinal materials, nor did he need to be. But since Bao Mi clearly needed to understand, he pressed on, "Why use so little aconite? Does that significantly impact the treatnt?"
"It has a major impact. In this prescription, aconite and Ginseng are the primary ingredients; the others are supplentary. However, the amount of aconite is too small to be effective, aning only the Ginseng is exerting any real effect. But Ginseng used alone rely enhances bodily functions; it has no therapeutic effect on hemiplegia. Both ingredients must work in concert for the treatnt to be successful."
"Then why didn’t he use more aconite? Is it very expensive?"
"Expensive?" Du Heng chuckled, shaking his head. "Aconite itself is toxic, and quite potent. The Pharmacopoeia stipulates a dosage between three and fifteen grams. This doctor, perhaps fearing complications, used only the minimum amount."
Du Heng sighed. He wasn’t sure whether to call the doctor overly cautious or simply too constrained by regulations.
Yet, this doctor didn’t seem to lack boldness either. The ratio of Ginseng to aconite in this prescription was an astonishing 1:40—it was essentially just a tonic!
Du Heng paused for a mont before continuing, "With such a small amount of aconite and an excessive amount of Ginseng, the dicinal properties of the aconite are completely neutralized. Adding it is worse than not adding it at all. Without it, the nourishing properties of the Ginseng would be better released, allowing the patient to actually strengthen his body."
Xu Pinglin was speechless. Though he practiced Western dicine, he too combined dications in treatnt, always considering which was the primary agent and which was auxiliary.
Du Heng set down the prescription and asked Bao Mi, "Can you show the points where he usually performs acupuncture?"
Listening to Du Heng’s analysis, Bao Mi’s internal skepticism had begun to shift.
Observing the locations Bao Mi indicated, Du Heng rely nodded slightly.
Bao Mi asked anxiously, "Is there a problem?"
"No, it appears to be standard practice." Du Heng gently pinched the patient’s arm; seeing no reaction, he released it.
"The choice of acupoints isn’t the issue. However, judging by the patient’s lack of response, the treatnt is largely ineffective. The technique is likely wrong, or the degree of stimulation is insufficient. I haven’t witnessed his needling sequence, but through reverse deduction, I can also tell that the order of acupoint stimulation is incorrect."
After speaking, Du Heng shook his head again. "Actually, I can’t definitively say it’s ’wrong.’ Each practitioner has their own acupuncture techniques. His particular thod, however, is not appropriate for treating hemiplegia."
A surge of hope filled Bao Mi. She quickly asked, "Doctor Du, is there any chance my father can stand up again? Could we just increase the amount of aconite, like you said?"
Du Heng shook his head once more. "No, that won’t work. Your father currently has excessive internal heat. Continuing with this prescription would be of little use."
"Then what should we do?" Bao Mi was growing anxious; she couldn’t bear for this glimr of hope to fade back into disappointnt.
"Don’t worry. Let consider what dicine would be appropriate."
"Do you want to see the dicine my father has been taking?"
"Did you bring it?"
"Yes. I had just picked up the dicine this morning when Director Xu called and asked to co. It’s still in the car; I haven’t taken it ho yet. Please wait a mont."
With that, Bao Mi hurried outside, retrieved a bag of dicine from her car, and returned.
Since she had brought them, Du Heng decided to take a look. He opened the dicine bag, carefully separated the ingredients one by one, and finally focused his gaze on a small pile of Ginseng slices.
He was at a loss for words.
So much Ginseng in a single dose... it was hardly different from just eating raw Ginseng.
Moreover, the price of Ginseng varied enormously. Ginseng from a reputable source, of good age, and with a long dicinal history could sell for tens of thousands of yuan. In contrast, Ginseng from inferior sources and with a short dicinal history might only be worth a few yuan or tens of yuan, and might not even find a buyer.
Du Heng picked up a slice, took a small bite, and let the taste linger in his mouth. After a mont, he tried another piece. He began cursing inwardly. This doctor’s problem wasn’t a lack of dical skill; it was his utterly rotten dical ethics!
PTUI. Du Heng spat out the residue, his expression grim. He hesitated, debating whether or not to reveal what he’d discovered.
If he kept silent, the patient would continue to suffer, and that doctor would carry on with his shaless practices. But if he spoke up, the patient would undoubtedly confront the doctor, leading to a massive uproar.
While Du Heng wrestled with this dilemma, Bao Mi, her hand on her father’s shoulder, looked at Du Heng with pleading eyes, desperate for an answer that offered them hope.
Du Heng t Bao Mi’s gaze, then looked at the patient in the wheelchair. He unconsciously straightened his posture. Looking at Bao Mi and her father, he stated, "The Ginseng in your dicinal ingredients isn’t genuine."
"Counterfeit?"
"Counterfeit?"
Not only was Bao Mi astonished, but even Xu Pinglin couldn’t help but shoot to his feet.
"Doctor Du, you can’t make such a serious accusation lightly," Xu Pinglin felt compelled to remind him, acutely aware of the severe repercussions of selling counterfeit dicine.
"Well, ’counterfeit’ might not be the right word either." After a mont’s thought, Du Heng anded his statent. He, too, felt that ’counterfeit dicine’ wasn’t entirely accurate.
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