Taoist Doctor - Chapter 12

Waiting Area of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, Third Hospital

 

It was a few minutes before the afternoon shift, but patients were already waiting for the doctors to start calling numbers.

 

In the first row sat a middle-aged couple. The husband’s face was pale, with dark circles under his eyes and cracked lips.

 

An elderly woman in the next seat struck up a conversation out of boredom: “Which doctor are you here to see? What’s wrong?”

 

The wife, closest to her, answered, “We have an appointment with Director Xie. My husband fainted a couple of weeks ago and has been sick since.”

 

“He doesn’t look well. Do you know what illness it is? If it’s an emergency, you should go to a Western medicine doctor,” the elderly woman advised, thinking that fainting might require urgent care.

 

The wife hesitated, “Um… let’s still see Director Xie. It’s nothing serious…”

 

The elderly woman leaned in, interested in examining her husband. Having been ill herself for a long time, she knew a bit about common ailments: “Oh my, your complexion looks like your kidneys aren’t doing well…”

 

Before she could finish, the man’s mouth suddenly opened unnaturally wide, his entire tongue hanging out and down to his chin, his expression contorting as drool dripped from the tip of his tongue.

 

“Ah!” The elderly woman clutched her chest in shock and leaned back: “A hanging ghost!”

 

The term “hanging ghost” was a local term in Haizhou City for a person who had hanged themselves. The patients in the waiting area were drawn by the shout and, seeing the man’s entire tongue hanging out and his unnatural expression, they too thought he looked like a hanging ghost.

 

The shout was so loud that the few patients in the waiting area all started to buzz with excitement. A hanging ghost in broad daylight?

 

Seeing the man still unable to retract his tongue, with the tip still moving slightly, everyone realized it was indeed a “hanging ghost”!

 

In Haizhou, hard times in the past led many impoverished people to hang themselves during famines. Trees were often filled with bodies, leading to many folk tales about hanging ghosts. There were even places named after these ghosts, such as Laodiaoling.

 

“Did your husband start acting like this after he fainted? It must be the hanging ghost illness! He’s possessed by a hanging ghost!” The elderly woman, familiar with local stories, quickly concluded.

 

There’s a local belief in Haizhou about being “struck by a guest,” referring to various supernatural encounters. The most famous in Haizhou is the hanging ghost illness, though it’s not seen much in modern times.

 

Other patients, familiar with Haizhou’s strange tales, chimed in: “The old saying is that if you’re struck by a hanging ghost, you have to kneel at Laodiaoling for three days!”

 

Despite their discussions, they kept their distance, wary of any lingering evil spirits.

 

Some younger people, skeptical of these tales, watched out of curiosity.

 

“We went to Laodiaoling and burned paper, but it didn’t work,” the wife said helplessly as everyone had already noticed. “Ever since he fainted, he’s been irritable and can’t speak clearly. His tongue suddenly sticks out at least seven or eight times a day, and it takes a long time to slowly retract.”

 

A nurse at the guidance desk, hearing the commotion, came out of the duty room: “What’s going on?”

 

She had just gone to get a drink of water, only to find an uproar upon her return.

 

“It’s him. He has hanging ghost illness!”

 

As this explanation was given, the husband turned around, his long tongue sticking out as he faced the nurse.

 

“Oh my!” The nurse took a step back.

 

“He’s possessed by a hanging ghost…”

 

“It’s hanging ghost illness.”

 

Many people had heard of the term but never seen it, so they eagerly gathered to watch and discuss.

 

“This… this is an illness. Everyone, stop thinking about superstitions,” the nurse quickly recovered and raised her voice.

 

“You must be from out of town. Do you know Laodiaoling?”

 

This was a famous Haizhou tale. The nurse, though an outsider, had heard about it after starting work. But as a medical professional, she said, “You’re in a hospital. How can you talk about ghosts? This is just a condition where he can’t control his body.”

 

“What kind of condition makes someone look like a hanging ghost?”

 

“Uh…” Diagnosing wasn’t the nurse’s strength. Fortunately, the TCM doctors had just finished their meeting and were returning. She quickly stood on tiptoe: “Director Xie, there’s a patient with a strange illness here!”

 

The young nurse hurried over to introduce the situation to Xie Min: “It’s him. They say he got struck by a guest at Laodiaoling.”

 

Xie Min immediately echoed something Zhou Jinyuan had said before: “All madness and evil are just illnesses!”

 

Other doctors agreed: “There’s no such thing as hanging ghost illness. Don’t believe in superstitions.”

 

Some younger interns quietly speculated: “Could it be a type of neurosis?”

 

This is a Western medical term because they weren’t sure what the condition was at first.

 

Liu Qi had never seen such symptoms before, so he quietly asked Zhou Jinyuan, “Master, do you know what’s going on?”

 

With his hands in the pockets of his white coat, Zhou Jinyuan replied in a low voice, “When I was apprenticing with my father, we once treated a patient whose tongue was always sticking out and constantly moving. It has the same origin as this case—’glossospasm.’ But this one isn’t moving, just sticking out. Glossospasm is rarely seen in clinical practice. You’re lucky to encounter it today!”

 

Encountering such rare conditions is indeed a stroke of luck for a doctor, as it helps to accumulate experience.

 

The doctors’ presence sobered up those who had been lost in superstition, but they were still curious and gathered around to watch.

 

At this moment, Xie Min frowned and asked, “Has the patient’s temper worsened?”

 

The family members were delighted and said, “Yes, yes, he’s become very irritable since he got sick.” They had previously thought it was due to being possessed by a spirit. “Doctor, can this be treated?”

 

Xie Min replied calmly, “Yes, acupuncture can treat the tongue thrusting.”

 

Hearing Director Xie say this, Liu Qi glanced at the master again, thinking that the luck wasn’t just encountering a rare case today but also sharing a clinic with the master.

 

The family members hurriedly said, “Director Xie, we have registered under your name, so please treat him!”

 

Xie Min’s photo was on the wall, so after a few glances, they recognized her.

 

The sick husband also nodded vaguely, “Mmm, mmm.”

 

“I’d like to recommend another doctor here. He is very suitable.” Xie Min turned around and called out, “Dr. Zhou.”

 

Other doctors: “…”

 

Everyone’s minds were instantly filled with thoughts.

 

Wow, isn’t it fitting for a young Daoist to treat this “possessed” patient… Director, you’re quite something…

 

Zhou Jinyuan, feeling the strange stares: “…”

 

Seeing their expressions, Xie Min became anxious and said, “Dr. Zhou is very skilled in acupuncture!”

 

In fact, she also wanted to promote Zhou Jinyuan a bit. Moreover, the couple had registered quite late. If they transferred to Zhou Jinyuan, they could receive treatment immediately, quickly and effectively.

 

Who knew what these people were thinking! She was already busy enough with making Zhou Jinyuan practice talismans every day!

 

Everyone: “Hmm…”

 

Even so, having the young Daoist treat the possessed patient still seemed more fitting…

 

However, when Zhou Jinyuan stepped out, he was met with skeptical looks from the patients.

 

Seeing this, Xie Min didn’t wait for the patients to speak and said, “Dr. Zhou, please explain the condition to the patients first.”

 

So young? The patient couple continued to hesitate.

 

“Alright. Come with me to my clinic, and I’ll explain as we walk,” Zhou Jinyuan said calmly. “Before the onset, the patient must have had a severe outburst of anger, and since then, his tongue uncontrollably protrudes several times a day, even for extended periods.

 

“In Chinese medicine, the tongue is the opening of the heart. When the heart fire is excessive and kidney yin cannot control it, the tongue sticks out. After the outburst of anger, the patient’s mood became suppressed, turning into fire. This unvented fire further aggravated his irritability. That’s why Director Xie asked if the patient had become more irritable.”

 

Not only the patient couple but also some other patients who weren’t in a hurry, as well as some inexperienced interns and residents, couldn’t help but follow him to the clinic to hear his explanation.

 

Although it was just a brief encounter, Zhou Jinyuan had accurately described the events before the onset and explained it clearly, showing that it had nothing to do with any superstition.

 

In simple terms, it was just being extremely angry!

 

The patient’s family nodded in agreement. Her husband had indeed had a heated argument while playing cards before falling ill.

 

With this, they willingly walked towards the clinic.

 

…

 

As they reached the clinic, Zhou Jinyuan finished explaining the condition and said, “Please sit down. I will carefully take your pulse and then perform acupuncture.”

 

Liu Qi also seized the opportunity. After Zhou Jinyuan finished his diagnosis, he examined the patient’s tongue coating and took his pulse. Nowadays, many Chinese medicine practitioners also use Western medical instruments for diagnosis, but there are few who, like Zhou Jinyuan, stick to the traditional pulse diagnosis. Having witnessed Zhou Jinyuan’s precise pulse diagnosis, Liu Qi was determined to emulate it.

 

Zhou Jinyuan turned on the computer, prescribed the needles, and the family went to pay the fee. He then took out the acupuncture tools and began the treatment.

 

At this moment, the clinic door was open, and a lot of people were watching outside.

 

“Place your hands on the table, palms down,” Zhou Jinyuan said as he inserted fine needles into the Zhongzhu points on the back of both hands, twisting them clockwise. The patient mumbled that he felt a sour and distending sensation.

 

“It’s okay,” Zhou Jinyuan reassured him, telling him not to move. He continued twisting and then released the needles. “Sit for a while. It will be better soon.”

 

It will be better soon? Just two needles in the hands, and it will be better already?

　

Having nothing else to do while waiting for their number to be called, the patients outside continued to watch with folded arms.

 

Just two minutes later, the patient’s tongue moved and quickly seemed to break free from some restraint, retracting back into his mouth. He took a tissue from Liu Qi to wipe his saliva and spoke clearly, “It’s really not sticking out anymore. Doctor, how many more sessions do I need?”

 

His tongue used to protrude from time to time. Although it had retracted now, he thought more sessions were necessary for a complete cure.

 

“No need, it’s already cured,” Zhou Jinyuan said.

 

There was a stir inside and outside the clinic. Just two needles and a short wait, and the tongue retracted and the patient was completely cured? This young doctor was really skilled!

 

An old patient remarked that they had never seen this doctor before, but since Director Xie recommended him, he must have real expertise.

 

Although it was just a simple acupuncture point, selecting a point is like prescribing medicine. The Zhongzhu point has the effect of opening the orifices and clearing heat. Once the patient’s internal fire was extinguished and the meridians were cleared, he naturally recovered immediately, with no need for further treatment.

 

Moreover, looking at the payment receipt, Zhou Jinyuan didn’t use electroacupuncture or moxibustion, nor did he prescribe any medication. It wasn’t even a special acupuncture point, and it only required one session. Including the registration fee, it cost just fifteen yuan!

 

To put it in perspective, fifteen yuan was cheaper than the fare for the two of them to travel from their town to the hospital. It was even cheaper than the tissues they had been using to wipe saliva or the ointment for his cracked lips.

 

If they had known it was so simple, with just two needles and less than three minutes without having to wait for registration or undergo any additional tests, they would have come long ago instead of burning paper offerings at the so-called haunted ridge.

 

“Alright, you can go home now. In the future, don’t take things too much to heart. Getting sick from anger isn’t good for you,” Zhou Jinyuan said gently.

 

“Thank you, thank you, doctor.” The patient was extremely grateful to Zhou Jinyuan for his kind advice. The cost-effectiveness was amazing! They had been prepared for tests and scans, even bringing money for them.

 

An onlooker outside the clinic added, “Doctor, you’re amazing! No wonder Director Xie recommended you.”

 

“Then you should register under my name,” Zhou Jinyuan joked.

 

“Alright, alright!” Some were serious about switching to his registration to try it out.

 

“…Master, I’m afraid that’s not possible.” At this moment, Liu Qi suddenly spoke. He was staring at Zhou Jinyuan’s computer screen, looking shocked. “Your slots seem to have suddenly filled up!”

 

“What?” Zhou Jinyuan bent down to look at the screen, and indeed, the system showed all his afternoon slots were taken.

 

Normally, he wouldn’t have any patients at all.

 

…Could the system be malfunctioning? Should they call a number to check?

 

“I’ll go check!” Liu Qi quickly ran outside.

 

In less than a minute, Liu Qi returned, panting and looking indescribable. “Well, your slots might really be taken. There are a lot of bald patients outside…”

 

Receding hairlines, bald patches, male pattern baldness, all kinds of hair loss, men and women, mostly middle-aged. There were at least a dozen or twenty people, forming quite a sight when they stood together.

 

It looked like a group because they seemed to know each other and were chatting!

 

Based on the total number of registrations, there must be another batch of people who chose later time slots and might not be in the waiting area yet.

 

And those people, judging by appearances, were also likely bald…

 

Zhou Jinyuan: “???”

 

**Haizhou City and Local Superstitions:**

 

– **Hanging Ghost (“老吊”):** In Haizhou folklore, “老吊” refers to the spirit of someone who has died by hanging. It’s believed that such spirits can possess people, leading to an illness known as “hanging ghost illness.” This illness is characterized by symptoms like the tongue hanging out unnaturally, which locals interpret as signs of possession.

 

– **Laodiaoling (“老吊岭”):** This is a specific location in Haizhou associated with the “hanging ghosts.” The name suggests a place historically linked to many hangings, making it a significant part of local folklore. It’s believed that to cure the “hanging ghost illness,” one might need to visit this place and perform rituals.

 

These superstitions reflect the cultural context of Haizhou, where traditional beliefs about spirits and possession coexist with modern medical practices.