Taoist Doctor - Chapter 6

Liu Meilan grabbed the medicine at the hospital. After taking two doses as instructed by Zhou Jinyuan, the incessant menstrual bleeding indeed stopped completely, just as he said! 

 

The symptoms of abdominal pain and dizziness had also improved significantly after the acupuncture treatment that day, and they were basically no longer bothering her.

 

However, during the period of taking the medicine, Liu Meilan didn’t pay attention to Zhou Jinyuan’s advice, caught a cold, and experienced some abdominal pain again.

 

Liu Meilan hurried to the hospital again, wanting Zhou Jinyuan to give her another two acupuncture treatments. But when she arrived, Zhou Jinyuan was nowhere to be found. Just as she was about to leave, she saw another doctor, Liu Qi, in the office.

 

She had met Liu Qi before, so she leaned in and asked, “Doctor, hello, I came to see Dr. Zhou, is he not here?”

 

Liu Qi glanced at her, “Dr. Zhou is off today, can you come back tomorrow?”

 

“He’s asking Dr. Mao for advice in Dr. Mao’s office today. Dr. Mao demonstrated and explained the operation of burning the mountain fire that day, but he still has some questions.” 

 

Liu Meilan looked disappointed and remembered something, “Can you perform acupuncture, doctor? I have dysmenorrhea.”

 

“Of course, wait a moment, I’ll let him know,” Liu Qi said. “Then you wait here, I’ll inform Xiao Zhou.”

 

The hospital adheres to a system where the first doctor who sees a patient is responsible for subsequent diagnosis and treatment, unless there is a referral later on. In Liu Meilan’s case, there was nothing to argue about, but Liu Qi still told Zhou Jinyuan.

 

Liu Qi took Liu Meilan to the corridor and made a call to Zhou Jinyuan.

 

After listening, Zhou Jinyuan let Liu Meilan take the call and said, “I told you that day not to catch a cold again, including after the illness has healed, you still need to pay more attention and avoid colds moderately. Although the dysmenorrhea won’t recur after taking the medicine, it’s also based on taking care of your own body. If you’re uncomfortable now, let Dr. Liu give you some acupuncture.”

 

Liu Meilan quickly agreed, “Yes, Dr. Zhou, I remembered. By the way, Dr. Zhou, I remembered that day on the mountain, you said there was black energy on my husband’s face?”

 

They used to regard Zhou Jinyuan as a deity, but now they proved that Zhou Jinyuan’s medical skills were amazing, so they remembered the face-reading he mentioned, and took it to heart.

 

Black energy is just a description. In physiognomy, various colors and positions are significant, and Zhou Jinyuan had some research experience when he was studying Dao.

 

“Well, yes, I feel that your husband needs to be careful in the workplace, especially when it comes to money matters in the next month. He should be cautious when making decisions and be kind to others.” Zhou Jinyuan didn’t examine Liu Jilong carefully. He said so based on his impression.

 

Zhou Jinyuan is a Daoist doctor, and even when he reads fortunes, he will refer to physical conditions, even pulse conditions, for mutual reference and verification.

 

Liu Jilong’s Qi was obviously out of balance and a little anxious. Recently, he must have been indecisive, coupled with the apparent blackening of the San Yang and Tian Ming sections, which prompted Zhou Jinyuan’s reminder.

 

“Okay, thank you.” Liu Meilan thought that her husband did seem to have some problems at work recently, and he didn’t even accompany her today, so she had even more trust in Zhou Jinyuan.

 

After hanging up the phone, Liu Qi brought Liu Meilan into Dr. Mao’s office.

 

Because she was Zhou Jinyuan’s patient, Liu Qi didn’t choose the acupuncture points herself. Following Zhou Jinyuan’s plan, she performed acupuncture on the Shui Dao and Sanyinjiao points.

 

However, Liu Qi couldn’t help but feel a bit skeptical in her heart. Since the last treatment was only average, why did the patient come for a follow-up? The great god seemed quite young after all… Although she used the correct acupuncture points this time, she doubted her technique. Acupuncture mainly depends on skill.

 

Liu Qi followed Dr. Mao’s instructions to insert the needles properly. Dr. Mao nodded approvingly beside her. Although her technique wasn’t very experienced, she managed well enough.

 

About ten minutes later, Liu Meilan gradually felt the pain subsiding. This was only her second acupuncture treatment, so she found it a bit strange.

 

This time, there was only a slight soreness upon needle insertion. This sensation, called “deqi” or “needle sensation,” is a normal reaction after acupuncture. It’s often said that the stronger the deqi, the better the effect.

 

It’s not hard to understand that the sensations of heat and cold during acupuncture, like “burning mountain fire” and “penetrating cold,” are also types of deqi.

 

However, compared to Zhou Jinyuan’s acupuncture last time, this time the soreness wasn’t as strong, and there was no warm sensation either. It took about ten minutes before she gradually stopped feeling pain.

 

Liu Meilan didn’t know much about it, so she casually asked Liu Qi after she removed the needles, “I didn’t feel the warm sensation this time. Will it affect the subsequent effect?”

 

She was afraid that the pain relief wouldn’t last long.

 

“What warm sensation?” Liu Qi was a bit confused for a moment. She knew she hadn’t practiced inducing a warm sensation yet, but what did she mean by “there wasn’t any” this time?

 

Even Dr. Mao paused and looked at Liu Meilan.

 

“You mean, you felt warm after the great god treated you last time? Was it along these two meridians? Was it very obvious?” Liu Qi stuttered a bit, knowing she hadn’t induced any warmth yet, but what did she mean by “this time there wasn’t any”?

 

Liu Meilan nodded vigorously, “Yes, it was here. I was sweating that day.”

 

Sweating? Are you kidding?

 

…But this patient didn’t seem like she was joking.

 

Liu Qi and Dr. Mao exchanged a glance, doubting their own ears infinitely.

 

Is this a mistake? Little Zhou, who only knows how to cultivate immortality every day, can actually make people sweat with the “burning mountain fire” technique?!

 

—

 

“It smells good, is this stewed yam and pork ribs soup?” When Zhou Jinyuan returned home, he smelled the fragrance. After moving into this not-so-large two-bedroom apartment for a few days, it was already filled with the atmosphere of life, with golden and silver flowers and perilla on the balcony.

 

Rong Xixue came out of the kitchen with a soup pot, “Brother, you came back just in time. It’s ready to drink.”

 

She also brought a ladle and bowl, serving the soup to Zhou Jinyuan. In the past, sometimes Zhou Jinyuan was too busy treating patients to eat, and it was Rong Xixue who kept an eye on him. At that time, Rong Xixue was still a little girl.

 

Zhou Jinyuan glanced, “Huh, are you making medicine at home?”

 

Rong Xixue nodded, “Practicing making Huai yam.”

 

Although he had just started school, he had learned many techniques for preparing medicinal herbs from his grandfather, some of which were highly confidential.

 

The preparation of Chinese herbal medicine is a discipline unto itself. It is well known that Chinese medicinal herbs need to be prepared before they can be used, especially those with toxicity. Besides using herb combinations, the most important aspect is the preparation process, which removes toxicity while retaining efficacy.

 

The basic techniques passed down in Rong Xueyue’s family are mostly traditional methods, but now he is also learning modern techniques. Traditional techniques are generally more cumbersome. For example, when his family prepares Danni Star, they use the technique of Jiuzhuan Danni Star, which takes a full nine years to complete.

 

Modern techniques have been simplified long ago. However, some medicinal herbs have better effects when prepared using traditional methods, so when Rong Xueyue’s grandfather was still alive, despite his old age, he continued making medicine, and people clamored to buy from him.

 

“Oh, Haimei, have you finished washing your hands? You didn’t put them in the soup, did you?” Zhou Jinyuan asked jokingly with a smile.

 

Although Haimei sounds similar to some other names like Xiangyu or Yangyu, it is actually a highly poisonous plant. The juice of Haimei is irritating and corrosive, and the most serious consequence of accidental ingestion may be suffocation or heart paralysis.

 

“If it’s poisonous, poison me first. I’ve tried the taste.” Rong Xueyue said, examining Zhou Jinyuan who was sitting across from him and eating. At this moment, Zhou Jinyuan’s phone screen lit up, indicating an incoming video call.

 

Zhou Jinyuan, holding a bowl of soup, gestured with his eyes for Xiaoxue to answer the call.

 

Xiaoxue clearly saw the name and reluctantly answered the call, quickly switching to voice mode.

 

Zhou Jinyuan didn’t notice and asked, “What? Why did you switch to voice mode? Are you taking a shower?”

 

“No, I’m eating. What’s up?” Zhou Jinyuan asked. The person on the other end was Xiaoxue’s brother who had taken the name Zhaokong upon entering monastic life.

 

Zhaokong sighed faintly. “Just wanted to ask if you saw the WeChat articles I sent you. The one about ‘the huge harm caused by spoiling children’ and ‘over 80% of parents accompany their children to college, and most of them end up like this!'”

 

Xiaoxue: “…”

 

Zhou Jinyuan almost sprayed out his soup. Of course, he had seen them, but he didn’t reply.

 

Because of his decision to accompany Xiaoxue to college, there had been some disagreements between the Rong brothers, and they were still at odds. Zhaokong heard that Zhou Jinyuan planned to accompany Xiaoxue, and he disapproved, saying that Zhou Jinyuan was spoiling Xiaoxue.

 

But as someone who had left his family to become a monk, teaching Xiaoxue was not something Zhaokong had the right to do, and Xiaoxue naturally resented it.

 

“Brother, I’ll take it.” Zhou Xue wiped a few drops of soup from the table, and his expression didn’t reveal anything unusual.

 

Upon hearing Xiaoxue’s voice, Zhaokong fell silent for two seconds, then casually said, “Haha, Xiaoxue is here.”

 

In his heart, he cursed the brat. Compared to the closeness between these two, where was he, the so-called elder brother? He was just a neighbor.

 

Xiaoxue: “Hehe.”

 

Zhou Jinyuan looked at his expression, stifled a laugh for a moment, then coughed twice. “What are you doing? Are you so free, looking at soft articles on WeChat and sending them to me every day?”

 

It could be said that the die had been cast, and Zhou Jinyuan considered it thoroughly. What use was there in looking at parenting articles now?

 

“Oh, anyway, just take a look when you have time. I’m not free at all… Alright, I won’t say anymore, the abbot is here!” I don’t know if Zhaokong deliberately used a fake voice, but he hurriedly hung up when he saw the abbot.

 

Xiaoxue’s face didn’t look very good.

 

周錦淵 saw the situation and put down his chopsticks, standing up and saying as he walked to the side, “Ignore your brother…”

 

He didn’t pay attention to his steps, tripping over the table leg and stumbling forward.

 

Rouxixue reached out and caught Zhou Jinyuan, pulling him back into the sofa.

 

Zhou Jinyuan lay on Rouxixue, just now, Rouxixue’s reaction was extremely quick, steady using his embrace to catch him, his arms supporting him. This made him feel once again moved, Little Snow had really grown up.

 

He looked up, and Rouxixue was looking at him expressionlessly, as if still angry about what had just happened.

 

Seeing this, from childhood to adulthood, the young man showed an extremely adult side, whether it was his deep eyes or his pursed lips, even a somewhat compelling aura.

 

It seems he’s really upset. Zhou Jinyuan climbed up a bit, sitting on Rouxixue’s lap, pinching his face, “Alright, I won’t look, I’ll delete it, I’ll spoil you.”

 

Rouxixue quickly laughed, hugging Zhou Jinyuan’s waist, “Brother…”

 

Zhou Jinyuan looked at his sudden change in mood, thinking to himself: Haha, haha, haha, my brother is still easy to coax.

 

—

 

Hospital Three, a certain office

 

Vice Dean Xiao pushed open the door, striding in, sweeping a glance at everyone, and expressionlessly said, “How’s the situation?”

 

They were currently conducting a difficult case consultation here, with two departments jointly treating complications of acute myocardial infarction, and it wasn’t the first time for this patient.

 

The patient was brought in three days ago, early on with complicating arrhythmias, timely treatment had already resolved that. But not long after, another symptom familiar to Vice Dean Xiao appeared: hiccups, a very severe form of hiccups, almost incessant in frequency, sometimes accompanied by nausea, the patient was suffering greatly, had no appetite, eating reluctantly would worsen the hiccups, and difficulty sleeping, losing quite a bit of weight in just a few days, greatly affecting recovery.

 

Many patients with heart attacks have gastrointestinal symptoms, at the time they had invited gastroenterologists for consultation, after medication, the symptoms had temporarily eased, but only to this extent, they still couldn’t be stopped. And then relapsed.

 

Complications of hiccups in such situations, don’t sound as scary as heart failure, or heart rupture, but they’re also highly harmful.

 

So, they were here for the second time discussing how to improve the treatment plan.

 

The attending physician reported the current situation, regarding the patient’s stubborn hiccups, multiple stomach examinations had been done, various medicines like Gastrodin and Domperidone had been tried, orally, intravenously, and injection into the Zusanli acupuncture point… Unfortunately, none had been able to completely stop them.

 

Vice Dean Xiao raised an eyebrow when he heard that the patient also had hiccups, the gastroenterologist buried his head, feeling a bit frustrated. As a doctor, it’s not that every patient can be cured, difficult and complicated cases are unavoidable.

 

But within such a short period of time, first they couldn’t cure Vice Dean Xiao’s mother’s neurological hiccups, and now another case of complications with stubborn hiccups…

 

Furthermore, the identity of this patient is not simple either. The patient’s son is a local entrepreneur who donates to Hospital Three every year, providing assistance to needy patients and sponsoring their academic activities.

 

That’s why even Vice Dean Xiao and other hospital leaders are very concerned about this case, frequently inquiring about it.

 

Actually, they are also anxious and doing their best to treat, but they simply can’t stop it. It’s estimated that they may have to invite authoritative experts from other hospitals to take a look, or consult with experts online or from other places.

 

“What do you mean ‘try’? Do we have any certainty? The patient is critically ill and needs absolute rest, but he keeps hiccupping, unable to eat or sleep well. We must quickly alleviate the patient’s suffering!” Vice Dean Xiao said this with empathy, thinking of his own mother’s condition.

 

“Otherwise, shall we invite Professor Zhao Haiping from XX Hospital to take a look?” someone suggested.

 

Vice Dean Xiao fell silent. It’s not that he’s unwilling to invite experts from other hospitals for consultation, but suddenly he remembered that he had taken his mother to see Professor Zhao Haiping before, but unfortunately, she wasn’t cured.

 

So, although the causes may not be exactly the same, it’s still stubborn hiccups…

 

Vice Dean Xiao didn’t speak, and the others quietly looked at him.

 

Suddenly, Vice Dean Xiao spoke up, “Let’s invite doctors from the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine for consultation.”

 

Everyone looked at each other, somewhat surprised.

 

Vice Dean Xiao wasn’t the first to suggest this, but it was indeed unexpected for him to bring it up.

 

Many present knew that Vice Dean Xiao’s mother had suffered from persistent hiccups before, and it was ultimately cured by a traditional Chinese medicine prescription, but wasn’t the doctor who cured Vice Dean Xiao’s mother not from their hospital? Bringing someone who made the condition worse…

　

 

The Shui Dao (水道) point and Sanyinjiao (三陰交) point are both acupuncture points used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for various purposes:

 

1. **Shui Dao (水道) Point**: Also known as the Water Pathway, the Shui Dao point is located on the Spleen Meridian of Foot Taiyin (SP6). It is found on the inner side of the lower leg, about four fingers’ width above the inner ankle bone. In TCM, the Shui Dao point is commonly used to regulate menstruation, alleviate abdominal pain, and harmonize the Spleen and Kidney.

 

2. **Sanyinjiao (三陰交) Point**: The Sanyinjiao point is also known as the Three Yin Intersection or Spleen 6 (SP6). It is located on the Spleen Meridian of Foot Taiyin, about three finger-widths above the inner ankle bone, in the depression formed between the tibia and fibula bones. Sanyinjiao is a crucial acupuncture point in TCM used to regulate the Spleen, Liver, and Kidney meridians. It is commonly used to treat gynecological issues such as irregular menstruation, menstrual pain, and menopausal symptoms, as well as digestive disorders and insomnia.

 

These points are often stimulated through acupuncture or acupressure techniques to restore balance and promote health within the body according to the principles of traditional Chinese medicine.

 

Abbot – An abbot is the superior of a monastery or abbey, typically a male religious leader who is in charge of the administration and spiritual guidance of the religious community. In Buddhist and Christian contexts, the abbot holds authority over the monks or nuns residing in the monastery or abbey. They are responsible for overseeing the daily operations, ensuring adherence to religious practices, providing guidance and teaching, and often representing the monastery or abbey externally.