Astragalus Decoction for Strengthening the Middle?

Chaihu with Longgu and Oyster Soup?

Mu Fangji Decoction?

Poria, Almond, Licorice Soup?

Adjustments?

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man’s expression appeared somewhat peculiar, these prescription adjustments indeed seemed rather excessive.

Having suffered from rheumatic heart disease for so many years, he had consulted both Chinese and Western medicine practitioners, and he knew a bit about some Chinese medicine prescriptions and Western medicines.

He had heard of Astragalus Decoction for Strengthening the Middle, but he was less familiar with the others, especially the last two prescriptions, which he was hearing for the first time.

However, like Lu Xuan, giving him the use of four prescriptions with adjustments at once was something he was seeing for the first time, leaving him somewhat astonished.

"Dr. Lu, is my condition very serious?" the middle-aged man asked with a frown.

"I don’t mean to doubt you, it’s just that I’ve taken quite a few medications before, but it’s the first time I’ve seen so many prescription adjustments," he added, seemingly worried that Lu Xuan might read too much into it.

Lu Xuan smiled slightly, not minding the man’s remarks, and explained, "After all, it’s been a problem for over ten years. If I said it wasn’t serious, you probably wouldn’t believe it."

The middle-aged man gave an embarrassed smile.

Lu Xuan continued, "Astragalus Decoction for Strengthening the Middle is a method of sweet warmth to support the spleen, treating all kinds of deficiency and damage in fatigue and injury. If there is chest fullness and shortness of breath, add fresh ginger; if there is lung Qi deficiency, add Pinellia.

Chaihu with Longgu and Oyster Soup treats symptoms like chest fullness, vexation and fright, difficulty urinating, pain all over, and inability to turn the body. Add Dragon Bone and Oyster to gather spirit and calm palpitation, and Cinnamon to guide Yang Qi and dispel mixed and heavy ailments.

The combination of Astragalus Decoction for Strengthening the Middle and Chaihu with Longgu and Oyster Soup can harmonize and supplement deficiency of the organs, as well as expel external pathogens from the meridians, achieving a dual effect on both the exterior and interior, and taking Qi and blood into account for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatic heart disease."

The middle-aged man understood these words, because just now, when Lu Xuan discussed his symptoms, he mentioned both exterior and interior symptoms. Based on this explanation, the combination and adjustments of these two prescriptions indeed seemed necessary.

Even if Lu Xuan explained the pharmacology and medical theory, he might not fully grasp it.

But having had some education, there were things Lu Xuan could explain that he could understand, albeit just the surface compared to Lu Xuan or Ji Xiuwen beside him.

Nevertheless, the middle-aged man sat upright, looking extremely serious.

He had seen more than one or two Traditional Chinese Medicine doctors, but he had never encountered one like Lu Xuan who would explain everything clearly to him.

Perhaps he might not fully comprehend, but his trust increased significantly.

Lu Xuan was not surprised by this at all.

Human beings are peculiar; even if they don’t understand, explaining can have a great effect.

Many practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine don’t understand this logic; when diagnosing patients, beyond necessary instructions, they just prescribe some medicine for the patient to take home, without explaining the process of differentiation and prescription, thus reducing trust.

Patient trust is crucial for practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

With trust, results are often twice as effective with half the effort.

Without trust, achieving half the results with double the effort is not unlikely.

Therefore, whenever possible and if the patient wants to know, Lu Xuan would explain the situation clearly and thoroughly.

Of course, some practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine aren’t unwilling to explain; they themselves are not very knowledgeable, have poor memory, and while they can prescribe medicine, explaining the reasoning to the patient in Traditional Chinese terms is not easy for everyone.

Even at the United South Chinese Medicine Association, apart from Huang Beishan, Zhang Jingcai, and a few others, others might not be capable.

Even compared to them, Huang Beishan and the others were significantly inferior to Lu Xuan in this regard.

It is precisely because Lu Xuan has a thorough understanding of this knowledge that he can diagnose and treat with ease.

Coupled with the assistance of Heart’s Voice, differentiation and prescription become second nature.

But these words were not for public sharing, so he smiled at the middle-aged man and continued, "Mu Fangji Decoction treats symptoms like thoracic interstitial effusion, wheezing fullness, chest congestion, and dark complexion.

This prescription uses Mu Fangji to enter the lung meridian; the lung governs Qi, and Qi regulates water naturally.

Cinnamon enters the bladder meridian; the bladder governs water, and water regulates Qi naturally.

The combination of these two herbs ensures water movement and dispersion, eliminating chest congestion spontaneously.

Ginseng nourishes stomach Yin, gypsum calms deficiency and rebellion; when Yin is restored, wheezing fullness is naturally cured.

Generally, when encountering compensatory heart disease, this prescription is often used for treatment, with adjustments based on specific patient symptoms.

As for why to add Poria, Almond, Licorice Soup at the end, this prescription is effective for heart valve disease, so it is used in conjunction with Mu Fangji Decoction."

The latter explanation was not only for the patient but mainly for Ji Xiuwen.

The patient may want to understand, but doesn’t need to be that detailed.

Knowing too much about this prescription’s use wouldn’t benefit the patient.

However, for Ji Xiuwen, although his primary focus is on digestion, knowing this knowledge can be advantageous.

Traditional Chinese Medicine is a discipline that requires considering the entire body, and digestive issues are not only related to the digestive system but can be closely connected with the liver, heart, or other areas as well.

Some diseases are even interconnected with the entire body of the patient.

At such times, one cannot solely consider the digestive system; the prescribed medicine must relate to the whole body, otherwise, treating just the digestive system would be no different from the Western approach of treating symptoms without addressing root causes.

The reason Traditional Chinese Medicine is remarkable is precisely because of this holistic approach.