Chapter 36: Showing Off (Part 2)
Under the gaze of Sun Simiao's astonished eyes, and the admiring glances of others, Chen Yi continued: "In a few more days, it will be summer, and the weather will turn warm. As the temperature rises in summer, the body's yang energy also reaches its peak for the year, especially during the three periods of extreme heat. The skin and pores are at their most open, making it the most convenient time to administer medicine. If we treat the symptoms at this time, we can achieve the best therapeutic effect, tonify the yang energy, enhance resistance to disease, and thus achieve the purpose of preventing and treating diseases." Chen Yi glanced at Sun Simiao, who had been watching him intently, and continued: "This is the method of treating winter diseases in summer. Perhaps by then, Master Sun will have prepared some effective medicines, and we can ask for them from the master!"
In later generations, Chen Yi combined traditional Chinese medicine theory and some ancient secret recipes to make some medicinal plasters with certain Chinese herbal medicines to treat respiratory diseases, which had a pretty good effect. As for how to make the plaster, Chen Yi had seen it in the preparation room of his own hospital, the formula of the plaster was determined by that doctoral supervisor and him together, he remembered all the herbs very clearly, he believed that as long as he had those medicines, he could make them out in a relatively short period of time. It's still one or two months before the hottest days, he will talk to Sun Simiao about how to make the plaster, and he believes Sun Simiao will understand and support it, and can also make some through his hands.
Chen Yi finished speaking and looked at Sun Simiao with a profound meaning. Sun, who was confused after listening, nodded slightly but still had some doubts. He looked at Chen Yi and then at Sun Simiao, unsure of how to express his own opinion.
Sun Simiao said in Sun Gongzi's doubt: "Sun Gongzi, just use the medicine and nourishment as Chen Gongzi instructed, your father's illness will definitely be effectively alleviated. Wait a few months until the weather is very hot, then bring your father to Zhongnan Mountain for diagnosis."
Sun Simiao was astonished at Chen Yi's words, but did not express his doubts on the spot, and instead spoke along with Chen Yi's meaning.
Sun Simiao's words gave Chen Yi a great deal of support, and the puzzled expression on the face of the Sun surname young master also disappeared.
"Then thank you, Master Sun, and thank you, Mr. Chen. We'll take our leave first," said the young man with the surname Sun after bowing to Sun Simiao and Chen Yi, then instructed a follower to bring out a bag-like object, "A small medical fee is not enough to show respect, please accept it, Master!"
Sun Simiao didn't stand on ceremony and ordered Wang Chong to take it down. This was Sun Simiao's temperament, when rich families came to see him for illness, he would charge a consultation fee and not give away medicine, those who needed it had to buy it, but if poor families came to see him, not only would he not charge a consultation fee, he would also give them medicine as a gift.
As he watched the young Mr. Sun leave the inn with his father and attendants, Sun Simiao nodded to Chen Yi and three disciples to follow him back to their room. The house where they had just diagnosed the patient was provided by the inn for Sun Simiao to receive ordinary visitors or some patients who came to seek medical treatment.
Chen Yi knew that Sun Simiao still had something to discuss with him, and it must be the idea of winter disease summer treatment he just mentioned.
As expected, after entering the house, Sun Simiao immediately asked about this matter: "Ziying, you and I will discuss the medical principles of winter disease summer treatment. I just heard what you instructed that young master Sun, it's very reasonable! Also, the medicine you mentioned for treatment is that paste, how to make it specifically, tell me!"
As for the plaster, Sun Simiao was not unfamiliar with it. He had made some before, but he was afraid that what Chen Yi said and what he did were different, so he wanted to listen to what Chen Yi had to say first!
"Yes, Daozhang! Then I'll just make a bold statement in front of you!" Chen Yi didn't show any modesty and began to expound on the theories about winter diseases being treated in summer that later generations had summarized from traditional Chinese medicine.
"According to medical books, winter is yin and summer is yang. Summer is the season when yang energy is at its peak and yin energy is declining, which is also the time when human body's yang energy is most vigorous. At this time, taking advantage of the human body's yang energy in summer that tends to rise and flourish, the cold air inside the body can be easily dissipated. Using tonifying and warming medicines or warm and dispersing cold medicines, combining with the natural environment, it is easiest to eliminate the evil qi of winter diseases when they are dormant. This is also the reason why 'nourishing yang in spring and summer' is emphasized in medical theory..."
According to traditional Chinese medicine, some virtual cold diseases such as respiratory system diseases are mostly caused by the decline of body resistance due to the dominance of yin and the decline of yang; In Western medicine, it is also roughly the same view that when the weather turns cold, human resistance also declines, especially when the temperature changes greatly, after being exposed to cold, the resistance drops sharply, some pathogenic microorganisms easily break through the body's immune system and invade the human body, and some conditional pathogens that parasitize on the surface or inside of the human body will also take advantage of the situation to cause the body to fall ill.
Another aspect, traditional Chinese medicine believes that virtual cold diseases are closely related to the lungs, spleen, and kidneys. Summer treatment is mainly based on tonifying the kidneys, strengthening the spleen, and nourishing the lungs. This also gets support from Western medicine, which theoretically states that this approach can improve neuroendocrine function, balance the excitability of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and enhance immune function to truly and thoroughly improve physical fitness.
The concept of winter disease summer treatment is based on this!
"In the summer, human body's yang energy is abundant, and blood circulation is vigorous. Medicines are most easily absorbed through the skin during this time. The three periods of the summer solstice are the peak of yang energy throughout the year. Treating patients with a combination of oral medication and external application during these periods can best restore the body's yang energy, enhance its defensive function, and improve its immune effect...". Chen Yi explained the concept of winter diseases treated in summer, then briefly introduced the production and usage methods of medicinal plasters."
According to the latest modern scientific research, summer paste application can promote rapid drug absorption, significantly enhance immune function, regulate immunoglobulin function, reduce β-receptor response, and improve immune status. Later generations' numerous practices have also proven that using internal medicine combined with external application of several medicinal pastes has a pretty good effect, and the many successful experiences gained from later generations' practices give Chen Yi's words some substance.
Chen Yi, under the admiring gaze of Ning Qing and others, spoke slowly: "Through preventive measures and treatment in advance during the summer, these diseases that are prone to occur in winter and have weak yang energy can be treated and regulated through medication and traditional Chinese medicine plastering during the summer when yang energy is strong but before the disease has occurred. This can alleviate symptoms and conditions when they do occur in winter, thereby promoting recovery..."
"The best therapeutic effect of winter disease summer treatment is respiratory system diseases, and its indications mainly include chronic bronchitis, pulmonary qi deficiency, asthma, and some diseases such as pulmonary emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, allergic rhinitis, etc. which are mainly yang deficiency or cold-heat mixed with cold dominance; it is also suitable for patients with weak constitution, fear of cold, fear of wind, easy to catch cold in daily life or repeatedly suffering from cold in winter."
"When the weather is hot in summer, general respiratory diseases will have alleviated symptoms. Some doctors used to think that since the symptoms had alleviated, they would stop treatment or not administer medicine. On the contrary, this is actually the best time for treatment. When the disease has alleviated, treating these chronic diseases can be very effective. This is also a way of prevention... Moreover, some people who have the potential to get sick but haven't yet, such as young people, or those whose parents had serious illnesses, taking preventive measures can help them prevent and treat diseases effectively."
Chen Yi spoke fluently, like he was giving a lecture to his students. His words were smooth and modern, with a hint of ancient flavor. He thought that the concept of prevention being better than treatment must have been known by Sun Simiao as well. But he wondered if Sun Simiao would understand those disease names he just mentioned.
When Chen Yi stopped speaking, Sun Simiao burst out laughing and said: "Ziying, what you said today is something that I have never heard before. It's really eye-opening, haha... it's truly admirable, and it has also made me realize my own shortcomings. What you said is indeed the essence of medical science, which has never been discussed before. Moreover, what you said is exactly the high-level realm of 'the superior doctor treats the disease that has not yet occurred, the middle doctor treats the disease that is about to occur, and the inferior doctor treats the disease that has already occurred'... Ziying, your explanation of medical principles has benefited me greatly, and it's truly my good fortune to have met you! In a few days, I will definitely study with you in detail how to make the medicinal paste by mixing multiple medicines together, and what effects it will have... haha!"
