novelraw Chapter 486 - 205: Selecting Herbal Medicine Requires Care
Chapter 486 - 205: Selecting Herbal Medicine Requires Care
The family was utterly shocked.
Lu Guoquan had lost track of how many times he had breathed in, his eyes filled with relief and even gratitude...
Grateful that he hadn’t stopped his son from studying traditional Chinese medicine back then, otherwise, he might not have witnessed this scene today.
However, while not fully understanding the intricacies, he wasn’t too focused on that.
What concerned him more was Lu Qinian’s illness, so he pressed on: "Xiaoxuan, what medicine does your grandpa need for this illness? Write a prescription for me, and I’ll go to the pharmacy to get it filled."
Lu Xuan turned to look at his father, Lu Guoquan, and said thoughtfully, "Grandpa’s decision to refuse surgery and chemotherapy is correct. Many evidences show that in cancer treatment, Western surgical methods can lead to cancer cell metastasis and even shorten survival time, whereas using traditional Chinese medicine can alleviate such concerns."
As Lu Xuan spoke, Lin Yongzhen wanted to interject, but before he could, Lu Xuan interrupted him: "Cousin, I know what you want to say, but let me finish first, and then you can see if I’m right."
Lin Yongzhen reluctantly nodded. Having studied orthodox Western medicine, he was naturally sensitive to Lu Xuan’s criticism and didn’t quite agree.
But since Lu Xuan said so, he had no choice but to listen quietly.
Lu Xuan took a deep breath and explained: "Cousin, although your specialty isn’t gastroenterology, you must have had some exposure. The high malignancy of duodenal cancer is undisputed. Tumors that are insensitive to treatment will quickly recur and metastasize after surgery. Both surgery and chemotherapy are ineffective, and the survival time is short. Most patients die within two years post-operation, and these are not baseless claims but well-evidenced facts.
If you don’t believe me, you can check the data on colorectal cancer patients in your Second Provincial Hospital’s gastroenterology department to see that I’m not belittling Western medicine.
Western medicine has its advanced features, especially in surgical techniques, which traditional Chinese medicine can’t compete with. Even though traditional Chinese medicine has included surgery since ancient times, it’s undeniable that Western medicine has developed surgical methods to their pinnacle.
But in cancer treatment, I believe traditional Chinese medicine offers a more scientific approach."
Instead of confronting cancer cells directly, it involves changing the patient’s internal environment and boosting the immune system, allowing the body to combat cancer cells itself.
It’s not about using the knife-and-cut method, which ultimately leads to cancer cell spread to vital organs with no cure in sight.
Such incidents have happened far too often.
Even Lin Yongzhen, who wasn’t wholly convinced by Lu Xuan’s remarks, had to admit this was a flaw of Western medical treatments.
If this isn’t addressed, cancer will always be an insurmountable barrier for Western medicine.
Seeing Lin Yongzhen silent, Lu Xuan didn’t say more. Instead, he turned to his father, Lu Guoquan, and said, "I understand grandpa’s condition: bloating, discomfort in the liver area, fever, cough with small amounts of white phlegm, red tongue, greasy yellow coating, slippery pulse. This falls under the pattern of liver and gallbladder damp-heat syndrome, which should be treated by clearing heat, facilitating dampness, detoxifying, and resolving lumps, using a modified Longdan Xiegan Decoction.
Gentiana, Yinchen, and tiger cane for clearing heat and detoxification; Qing Pinellia, Zhe Fritillaria, and Qianhu for resolving phlegm and lumps; Polygonum and Lotus Leaf for facilitating dampness; raw Rehmannia to cool blood; Su Geng to regulate qi and aid dampness transformation; Vine Pear Root and White Flower Snake Tongue Grass for anti-cancer and lump dissolution.
In addition to the decoction, you can also take the proprietary Chinese medicines cinobufagin and Brucea Javanica Oil Oral Emulsion, which are anti-tumor Chinese medicines that enhance the direct tumor-controlling properties of the decoction."
As Lu Xuan spoke, he got up and went to his room, took out some cash, and wrote down the prescription:
Gentiana 5g, Yinchen 15g, Tiger Cane 12g, Raw Rehmannia 12g
Polygonum 10g, Qing Pinellia 10g, Su Geng 10g, Lotus Leaf 10g
Zhe Fritillaria 15g, Qianhu 15g, Vine Pear Root 15g, White Flower Snake Tongue Grass 15g
Lu Guoquan took the paper with the prescription he’d written down.
"Don’t bother looking; you won’t understand it anyway. Instead of wasting time, go to the pharmacy and get the medicines now, so I can decoct the herbs for the old man while Xiaoxuan is still home. Let’s try it for a week and see how he does," Lin Fangling said irritably from the side.
Lu Guoquan was a bit embarrassed: "I’m just curious!"
But despite his embarrassment, Lu Guoquan didn’t say much more and immediately turned to leave with the prescription in hand.
"Dad, you give me the address; I’ll go get the medicine," Lu Xuan quickly stopped Lu Guoquan from leaving with the prescription.
"Let your dad do it; he knows the way. It’s been years since you’ve been around town, and even if I told you the place, you might not be able to find it. Besides, I also need him to buy a ceramic pot for decocting herbs at the market, which is better than the stainless steel we have at home."
"You stay home and chat with your grandpa, and I’ll go get the medicine."
Lu Guoquan said quickly, "Besides, getting the medicine is simple work. I just give the prescription to the pharmacy, and the staff will know what to do."
Lu Xuan had to explain: "This isn’t about whether the work is simple or not; the main issue is that you can’t distinguish the quality of Chinese medicinal materials. Nowadays, to make Chinese herbs look appealing and easier to store, many are sulfur-fumigated.
With advances in technology, most Chinese medicines no longer require sulfur fumigation for drying and mildew prevention. As awareness of health preservation increases, calls for sulfur-free Chinese medicine are growing louder and louder.
However, the practice of sulfur-fumigating Chinese medicine is rampant. To make the herbs look good and increase their weight, many unscrupulous vendors still use industrial sulfur to fumigate and sell medicinal materials, turning many lifesaving medicines into ’poison’."
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