I Can Talk to the Internal Organs-Chapter 174 - 147: Where Does the Human Body’s Self-Healing Ability Originate?
"Teacher, next up is Lu Jiu."
An Xianda handed the information to Huang Fusheng.
"Hmm, let me examine him." Huang Fusheng took the information.
The students sitting beside Huang Fusheng all glanced sideways.
"Teacher, isn’t that unnecessary?"
"Yes, teacher, you don’t have to be involved in this."
"Xianda, does this Lu Jiu have something special about him?"
"Teacher, if you want to eliminate him, let me handle it. I guarantee he won’t be able to answer."
"Teacher..."
Facing the inquiries from his fellow students, An Xianda could only helplessly spread his hands.
He feared that if he revealed Lu Jiu’s level, these fellow students would be shocked and then continue to question him.
Instead, it would be better to wait for Lu Jiu to come in and let them see for themselves how capable Lu Jiu is.
Since the teacher wants to take action, this exam will surely be something to watch.
"Candidate No. 19, please enter."
As the words fell, Lu Jiu walked into the examination room.
Facing the somewhat familiar yet unfamiliar Huang Fusheng, Lu Jiu tried to present himself more calmly.
He had already known about this National Master of Chinese Medicine during his student days and had absolute admiration for him.
As for adoration, yes, but it was not for the medical skill, rather for the things he accomplished.
Whether it was establishing herb bases or promoting traditional Chinese medicine into primary and secondary schools, these were all for the future of Chinese medicine.
These deeds deserved Lu Jiu’s admiration.
"Lu Jiu, take a seat," said Huang Fusheng.
Lu Jiu didn’t find anything unusual, assuming the previous examinees were also questioned by Elder Huang.
"Thank you, Elder Huang," Lu Jiu expressed his gratitude and then sat down.
Huang Fusheng gazed at Lu Jiu, recalling the scene where he executed the Heaven-Piercing Cool Needle Technique.
Since his acupuncture was at this level, Huang Fusheng certainly couldn’t pose some basic questions.
That would be uninteresting.
"If you’re ready, I’ll start asking questions," said Huang Fusheng.
"Please go ahead," responded Lu Jiu.
"Explain to me the causes, pathogenesis, and evolution of lung abscess, and provide your approach to treatment," asked Huang Fusheng.
Huh?
An Xianda and the others peeked at Huang Fusheng.
No way, starting with such intensity?
This question was at least two or three times harder than the ones for the previous eighteen candidates.
Because understanding the cause, pathogenesis, and evolutionary process of a disease requires reading numerous historical medical texts to master accurately.
Just being knowledgeable already requires a lot of time and effort, and if you additionally have to remember and articulate it, then this person must have a very comprehensive knowledge system.
In other words, he needs to understand and grasp the human body thoroughly, forming his own logical thinking, thus using this logic to remember the causes, pathogenesis, and evolution of these diseases as if effortlessly.
But how old is Lu Jiu?
Can he just casually articulate these things about any disease?
Teacher, you’re deliberately making things difficult, it’s too much!
Upon hearing the question, Lu Jiu bowed his head in thought for a moment.
He hadn’t only read a few classic medical texts; even before university, he had thoroughly studied the "Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor," "Treatise on Cold Pathogenic and Warm Pathogenic Diseases," and other major works, so during university, while handling his studies, he was also familiarizing himself with numerous works of other physicians.
With these classical texts establishing a correct foundation for differential diagnosis, the works of other physicians would not confuse him but rather be a supplement.
At this moment, he was also making an effort to recall memories related to lung abscess while organizing his words for an answer.
The examiners sitting across from him, watching Lu Jiu’s pensive demeanor, couldn’t help but sigh.
Even for them, it would be quite challenging to perfectly answer the question posed by Huang Fusheng.
Half a minute passed, and Lu Jiu was still deep in thought.
Huang Fusheng didn’t rush him; he simply watched Lu Jiu quietly, anticipating his answer.
The reason for asking this question was to see if Lu Jiu had a solid foundation.
If his skills in acupuncture were extraordinary without a solid foundation, he wouldn’t go far.
The core of traditional Chinese medicine isn’t in techniques like acupuncture, classical formulas, bone setting, or cupping, but in differential diagnosis.
Differential diagnosis is the strategy, and techniques are the tactics.
Only with accurate diagnosis can the techniques be effective.
It’s like waging a war; an incompetent general will drag down the entire army.
Differential diagnosis is akin to that general.
Soon, a minute passed, and Lu Jiu finally raised his head, speaking slowly, "Lung abscess is a disease characterized by cough, chest pain, fever, and coughing up foul-smelling sputum mixed with pus and blood, classified as an internal abscess."
"The name of this disease first appeared in the ’Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet,’ where a special Chapter is dedicated to its discussion."
"In ’Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet·Lung Wilt and Lung Abscess, Coughing, and Shortness of Breath Disease Pulse and Treatment,’ it states, ’When there is cough and chest fullness with vibrating cold, a rapid pulse, a dry throat without thirst, and occasionally turbid foul sputum emerges, and after a long duration, pus is vomited like rice gruel, it is lung abscess.’ It suggests the cause is external contagion and wind-heat damaging the lungs, leading to stagnation of qi and blood, forming abscesses. It advises those in the initial stage can be saved, while once pus forms, it results in death, emphasizing early treatment and suggesting treating unformed pus by draining the lungs with Tingli Dazao Xiefei Decoction; formed pus is treated by expelling pus with Platycodon Decoction."
"The ’Surgical Classics·Lung Abscess’ categorizes lung abscess into three stages based on its pathogenesis and symptom manifestations: onset, maturity, and rupture. The early stage has symptoms of chilling and fever, coughing, and chest pain, dealt with by dispersing wind-heat, clearing the lungs, and resolving phlegm, treatable with Yin Qiao Powder; the suppuration stage shows increased body heat, sweating with unresolved heat, chest pressure, and coughing up thick yellow sputum, treated by clearing heat and detoxifying, resolving stasis, and diminishing abscess, using decorated Poliomyelitis Decoction combined with Jinjie Detoxifying Powder as I recommend; during the pus rupture stage, extensive discharge of pus and blood sputum appears, sometimes accompanied by hemoptysis, flushed complexion, thirst, and difficulty breathing and lying down, requiring draining of pus and detoxification which I believe can be managed with flavored Platycodon Decoction."
"That’s my answer for now. Of course, the classical formulas I mentioned are for general cases; whether they can cure depends on the patient’s condition. After all, once lung abscess reaches the suppuration stage, it already shows a substantial pattern, and by then, it’s uncertain how much damage the abscess has done to the patient’s kidney function. However, one thing is certain: addressing lung disease alone seems insufficient, as it may only treat the symptoms without tackling the root cause."
As the words fell.
The room fell silent.
No surprises, no applause—only faces frozen in disbelief.
In merely a minute, Lu Jiu gave his answer.
And this answer turned out to be the epitome of a standard answer.
Not only did he cite classical texts to explain the cause of lung abscess, but he also elucidated its pathogenesis and evolution, giving different prescriptions for each stage, from onset to rupture.
By this part alone, An Xianda and others already considered it a perfect answer.
Yet, Lu Jiu went further by discussing contextual aspects beyond the illness.
This is vital knowledge in Chinese medicine; once a disease worsens to a certain degree, it affects more than just a single organ.
Solely treating the disease might not always succeed, as the pathogenesis may no longer reside in the affected organ, possibly passing to another one. Even if the disease is treated, it might just alleviate symptoms rather than addressing the root cause, as Lu Jiu suggested.
Because the pathological qi transferred to another organ hasn’t been resolved, when it resurges, new illnesses may emerge for the patient.
Therefore, Lu Jiu’s answer not only achieves perfection but also progresses a step further.
This is why An Xianda and the others were so astonished.
The foundation that Lu Jiu displayed was utterly beyond what someone in their twenties should have.
Watching Huang Fusheng, who not only wasn’t surprised but instead showed approval, the students’ gossiping expressions increased.
They immediately turned towards An Xianda and exchanged glances.
[Xianda, be honest, does the teacher know this Lu Jiu?]
[Indeed, they know each other.]
[How do they know each other?]
[Well, I can’t explain it clearly in just a few words.]
[Hmm? Is it very complicated?]
[The estranged illegitimate grandson of the teacher?]
[Nonsense, when has traditional Chinese medicine ever hinged on bloodline?]
[Hahaha, just kidding.]
...
Huang Fusheng looked at Lu Jiu with satisfaction. He couldn’t find a single flaw in this answer.
This was enough to show that Lu Jiu had no shortcomings in his diagnostic capabilities, either.
With that, Huang Fusheng felt assured.
Next, he planned to test another aspect of Lu Jiu’s abilities.
"Hmm, not bad; let’s try the second question. Where do you think the body’s self-healing capability originates from?"
This question was indeed somewhat abstract.
However, Lu Jiu didn’t hesitate.
He glanced out the window and then smiled, "It originates from the sun, the moon, and... the stars in the sky."
A gleam of interest flickered in Huang Fusheng’s eyes, "Oh? Do continue."
