Chinese Medicine: Starting with Daily Intelligence-Chapter 141: Ten-Complete Great Replenishing Soup
"Sister Wang, you’re looking well today!"
During her lunch break, her colleague Huang Jiaojiao came over with a cup of coffee, looking Wang Ruiying over in surprise. "Just a few days ago, you were so pale from the pain. How come you look like nothing happened today?"
Wang Ruiying was instantly eager to share. "I went to see a doctor—that traditional Chinese medicine practitioner I told you about. The medicine he prescribed is amazing! The pain was gone after just one dose!"
She vividly recounted her whole experience, from her hair dryer therapy to the fiasco of buying fake medicine online, and finally how Li Xu had identified her body’s constitution and adjusted the formula for her Four-Ingredient Soup.
"Doctor Li said that the Four-Ingredient Soup has to be adjusted based on the season and a person’s constitution. Not everyone is suited for the exact same formula..."
Huang Jiaojiao’s eyes lit up as she listened, and she completely forgot about the coffee in her hand.
She was twenty-eight, a few years younger than Wang Ruiying, but her problems with menstrual pain were even more severe.
"Sister Wang, I... for the past six months, I’ve been getting dizzy and light-headed during my period. Sometimes the pain is so bad I break out in a cold sweat. I’ve seen several doctors, but nothing has helped."
She lowered her voice. "Western doctors said it’s primary dysmenorrhea and that I can only take painkillers. I also had a TCM doctor prescribe Four-Ingredient Soup, but I actually felt worse after drinking it..."
"Then you have to go see Doctor Li!" Wang Ruiying declared, patting her chest confidently. "He’s definitely not one of those doctors who just parrots what’s in the textbooks. He could tell my medicine was fake with just one glance!"
But Huang Jiaojiao looked troubled. "But I’m on a tight deadline with my project right now. I’ve been working overtime until nine every night, so I have absolutely no time to go to the clinic..."
She hesitated for a moment, then her eyes suddenly lit up. "Sister Wang, how many doses did Doctor Li prescribe for you? Could you... spare one for me to try? It looks like you’re almost completely better..."
Wang Ruiying froze.
She remembered Li Xu telling her to come back for a follow-up in five days, which clearly meant the medicine needed to be taken consecutively.
But seeing the hopeful look in Huang Jiaojiao’s eyes and recalling how much pain she was in, Wang Ruiying’s heart softened. "I... I feel a lot better. I probably don’t need all of it. You can have..."
Wang Ruiying thought for a moment.
’Our situations are pretty similar.
And it’s all happening right now, which fits what Li Xu said about the season.
My medicine should be right for what she has.’
After work, Wang Ruiying was so helpful that she even brewed the medicine for Huang Jiaojiao.
She then brought it to the office
for Huang Jiaojiao, who was still working overtime, to drink.
Gazing at the dark brown herbal brew, Huang Jiaojiao accepted it gratefully. "Thank you so much, Sister Wang! If it really works, I’ll definitely go thank Doctor Li in person next week! And then I’ll take you out to eat."
Wang Ruiying added, "Don’t you stay too late, either. You need to rest when you have cramps."
"I know, Sister Wang. You should go home now."
...
The next day at noon, Wang Ruiying eagerly sought out Huang Jiaojiao. "How is it? Are you feeling any better?"
But Huang Jiaojiao’s complexion was even worse than the day before.
She shook her head, her voice weak. "It still hurts... and I’m even dizzier..."
She forced a smile. "I guess Doctor Li’s medicine just doesn’t work for me. But thank you anyway."
Wang Ruiying looked incredulous. "That’s impossible! Doctor Li’s medicine is obviously very effective..."
Then, she suddenly realized something, and her face fell.
She also recalled what Li Xu had said about how traditional Chinese medicine focuses on treating the specific pattern of disharmony.
’Everyone’s condition is different; the formula needs to be adjusted.
Even though it’s the right season,
which fits what Li Xu mentioned...
...everyone’s constitution is different.
What if I’ve made Huang Jiaojiao worse?
If so, I’m responsible too.’
"Come on, forget about work. Let’s go see Doctor Li right now."
Wang Ruiying grabbed Huang Jiaojiao, ready to leave.
Huang Jiaojiao hesitated. "But my project proposal isn’t finished yet."
Wang Ruiying said urgently, "This is no time to be thinking about work! I’ll go ask for leave for you."
Now also a little panicked, Huang Jiaojiao nodded in agreement.
With that, Wang Ruiying went to ask for their leave.
Their manager was initially reluctant to grant them leave.
But when he heard there was a problem with some medicine, he didn’t dare make things difficult for them and approved the request.
The two of them hailed a cab and headed for Li’s Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic.
On the way, Wang Ruiying called Li’s Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic.
She was on the verge of tears. "Doctor Li, I... I’ve done something terrible..."
After listening to Wang Ruiying’s story, Li Xu sighed on the other end of the line. "Sister Wang, traditional Chinese medicine is about ’pattern differentiation and treatment.’ It’s like tailoring clothes; one size doesn’t fit all."
His voice grew serious. "Bring your colleague over. I’ll take a look at her."
"We’re on our way now. We’ll be there soon."
By the time the taxi pulled up in front of Li’s Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic, Huang Jiaojiao’s face was as white as a sheet.
Wang Ruiying helped her into the clinic, where Li Xu was already waiting in the consultation room.
"Doctor Li, please, take a look at her!" Wang Ruiying’s voice trembled. "It’s all my fault. I never should have given her my medicine..."
Li Xu waved a hand, signaling her not to blame herself, as his gaze fell on Huang Jiaojiao.
The young woman was gaunt, with heavy, dark circles under her eyes. Her lips were nearly colorless.
She walked with a slight hunch, as if she lacked the strength to even stand up straight.
"Sit down," Li Xu said gently, gesturing to the consultation chair.
Huang Jiaojiao sat down weakly, her hands instinctively pressing against her lower abdomen.
Li Xu carefully observed her complexion, then asked her to stick out her tongue. The body of the tongue was pale, and the coating was thin, like frost.
"Tell me about your symptoms," Li Xu asked.
Recounting her symptoms, Huang Jiaojiao said, "My period is always late, the flow is very light, and the color is pale... It’s gotten worse over the last six months. I’m often dizzy and light-headed, I can’t sleep at night, and then I’m exhausted during the day..."
Li Xu’s fingers rested lightly on her wrist, and his brow gradually furrowed as he took her pulse.
Wang Ruiying stood to the side, her palms sweating with nervousness. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂
"The pulse is fine, weak, and without strength. When I press down, it’s almost imperceptible." Li Xu withdrew his hand. "This is a classic case of Qi and Blood Deficiency syndrome."
"Qi and Blood Deficiency?" Huang Jiaojiao repeated, confused.
Li Xu nodded and turned to the medicine cabinet to start gathering herbs. "The Four-Ingredient Soup is too mild for your condition. What you need is a modified version of the Ten-Complete Great Replenishing Soup."
Wang Ruiying edged closer, her curiosity piqued. "Ten-Complete Great Replenishing Soup? That sounds impressive. What’s the difference between it and the Four-Ingredient Soup?"
Seeing Wang Ruiying’s curious expression,
Li Xu finished writing the prescription and handed it to Song Sisi to weigh out the herbs. Then, he began to explain in detail to Wang Ruiying.
"The Four-Ingredient Soup is a classic formula for enriching and nourishing the blood. It’s also a fundamental prescription for regulating menstruation.
The clever physicians of old used this as a base, making various modifications to its four ingredients, which led to the creation of many other classic and clinically effective formulas.
Take the Peach Blossom Four Substances Soup, for example.
This formula is made by adding peach kernel and Red Flower to the Four-Ingredient Soup. It specifically treats conditions like excessive menstrual bleeding caused by blood deficiency and blood stasis.
When used correctly, it nourishes and invigorates the blood and can even help clear the bowels. It’s effective for nourishing blood, resolving blood stasis, and reducing skin blemishes.
Then there’s the Eight-Treasure Soup.
The Eight-Treasure Soup is formed by combining the Four-Ingredient Soup and the Four Gentlemen Soup, with the addition of ginger and Large Dates.
The Eight-Treasure Soup is the representative formula for tonifying both Qi and blood. It’s used to treat symptoms of dual deficiency, such as heart palpitations, shortness of breath, a pale or sallow complexion, dizziness, poor appetite, fatigue in the limbs, a pale tongue with a thin white coating, and a pulse that is fine and weak or large and deficient.
If a woman suffers from insufficient Qi and blood and has a constitution that is both deficient and cold, she is prone to painful periods, a sallow complexion or skin spots, dry hair, and rough skin. Taking Eight-Treasure Soup replenishes both Qi and blood, leading to an abundance of both, a refreshed spirit, and a natural, moving beauty.
There is also Jiaotang Soup. This classic formula is made by adding mugwort leaf, donkey-hide gelatin, and licorice to the Four-Ingredient Soup. It’s used to treat excessive menstrual bleeding and is a key prescription for calming a fetus, nourishing the blood, and stopping abnormal bleeding.
And the most powerful of all is the Ten-Complete Great Replenishing Soup. It’s created by adding Astragalus Root and Cinnamon Soup to the Eight-Treasure Soup.
The Ten-Complete Great Replenishing Soup has the effect of tonifying both Qi and blood, boosting Yang, and consolidating the body’s defensive Qi. It is used for deficiencies of Qi and blood, weakness from chronic illness, a sallow complexion, mental fatigue, and sores that won’t heal."
"The Ten-Complete Great Replenishing Soup is very tonifying," Li Xu said. "Some cancer patients who are deficient in both Qi and blood after surgery can take it to replenish their Qi and nourish their blood."
