Chapter 42 Ginseng

  The left Shao Yang received the Fangzi's glance, which is the Xunming Tang of "Jin Kui Yao Lue" attached to "Gu Jin Lu Yan". This prescription can unblock the meridians, harmonize the nutrient and defensive Qi, and dispel the pathogen from the exterior. It is mainly used for treating apoplexy, hemiplegia and other symptoms.

  He secretly doubted in his heart that the "Jin Kui Yao Lue" was written during the Song Dynasty, so how did someone know about this prescription at the beginning of the Tang Dynasty? After thinking for a moment, he understood that although the "Jin Kui Yao Lue" was written during the Song Dynasty, it was compiled by the people of the Song Dynasty from the "Shang Han Za Bing Lun" of Zhang Zhongjing, the medical sage of the Eastern Han Dynasty. The book is actually a summary of the medical achievements before the Eastern Han Dynasty, and many of the prescriptions used are already circulating in the world at that time and widely used by doctors. Although the "Shang Han Za Bing Lun" was lost for hundreds of years, its prescriptions have been passed down through folk handwritten copies and other forms among folk doctors. Therefore, although the doctors at the beginning of the Tang Dynasty did not know about the "Jin Kui Yao Lue", they knew about the prescriptions recorded in it, and this Xun Ming Tang was probably the same.

  He took a glance at the prescription written by Lao Taitai and found that it was indeed the Continuation of Life Powder, except that the key ingredient "ginseng" in the amount of three to two had been replaced with "astragalus" in the same amount.

  After reading the prescription, Zuo Shaoyang immediately understood why Hui Min Tang and other pharmacies refused to treat this patient. In the past, before the Tang and Song dynasties, people's understanding of stroke was based on the perspective of "internal deficiency and external evil". The treatment also adopted the method of dispelling wind and eliminating evil, supplementing and benefiting the righteous qi. As for tonifying qi, ginseng is the first choice. Ginseng is a great tonic for the original qi, restoring pulse and saving lives. However, ginseng is an extremely valuable medicinal material, with top-grade ginseng worth more than gold and silver. This prescription uses three liang of ginseng, which is equivalent to at least three liang of white silver, or 15,000 yuan! How can these people in tattered clothes afford such expensive medical expenses? If the pharmacy provides free diagnosis and medication, how can they afford it?

  Because ginseng is too expensive, Gui Zhi Tang doesn't have this medicine. Otherwise, selling a few people's worth of ginseng would be enough to pay the rent and they wouldn't have to worry anymore.

  Lao Die Zuo Gui replaced ginseng with astragalus, although astragalus is also a tonic herb, but compared to ginseng, its effect on greatly replenishing the vital energy is vastly different. If replacing it wouldn't have a big impact on the therapeutic effect, others would have done so already.

  The doctors of the Tang Dynasty were very helpless, but Zuo Shao Yang was not worried, because after the Tang and Song Dynasties, there was a significant progress in the understanding and treatment of stroke. Since the Jin and Yuan dynasties, many doctors have renamed stroke as "inner wind" and established new theories. Through the efforts of famous doctors from various dynasties such as Liu Hejian, Zhu Danxi, Zhang Jingyue, Li Zhongzi, Ye Tianshi, etc., especially with modern medical research, a complete set of treatment principles for stroke has been formed, which is far superior to that of the Tang and Song Dynasties. The treatment methods have become diversified, and the efficacy has also been greatly improved.

  According to the patient's condition, the left Shao Yang decided to use "Lingyang Hook Decoction" with additions and subtractions combined with Zixue treatment. The Lingyang Hook Decoction originated in the Qing Dynasty, mainly for cooling the liver and extinguishing wind, combined with nourishing yin, transforming phlegm, and calming the mind, treating both symptoms and root causes, and is a representative prescription of the cooling liver and extinguishing wind method.

  Because the patient's evil heat is closed inside, he is unconscious, so he needs to be treated with medicine that opens up and awakens the mind. Zuo Shao Yang's prescription includes Zi Xue, which was used yesterday to treat the child from Lao Huai Village who had a sudden convulsion, with remarkable results. Unexpectedly, it has been used again very soon.

  Zuo Shaoyang asked the man, "Are you decocting the medicine here or taking it back to decoct it yourself?"

  The man said with a bitter face: "It's troublesome for the little brother to stay here, I'm afraid my mother's illness can't last that long, and the sooner we use the medicine, the better."

  "Alright! Let's try taking some medicine first and see if it works, then we can continue with more, okay?"

  "Go on!" The man turned his head and glanced at the few men behind him, hesitated for a moment, and asked in a low voice: "Excuse me, young brother, how much does this medicine cost?"

  "Please wait a moment." Zuo Shaoyang quickly picked out the herbs needed for Lingyang Jiaodu Decoction and said, "One set of medicine, a total of twelve copper coins."

  The cost of this medicine is naturally calculated according to the price of the ginseng life-saving powder that Old Man Zuo had taken, and the actual cost plus Zi Xue's share would be even more expensive than this, but Zuo Shao Yang couldn't say anything.

  That man oh-ed twice, took out his purse from his bosom, opened it, and poured out all the contents. After counting, there were only five copper coins. Before he could speak, several men behind him also took out their purses, poured out the money, and added it up to make a total of twelve copper coins. They carefully placed it on Left Precious's table.

  Zuo Gui glanced at the dozen or so coins on the table, but didn't reach out to take them. It was clear that he knew his own method wouldn't have any effect, and therefore didn't want to accept the money. However, he didn't know that Zuo Shao Yang had switched things around. He just lowered his head, gathered up his sleeves, as if waiting for an announcement of defeat.

  The medicine was brewed, and Zuo Shao Yang took out the purple snow pill and placed it in his palm. He walked over to the bedside, with his back to Lao Gu, and first pinched open the old woman's mouth. He fed her the purple snow, but since she was already unconscious and unable to swallow on her own, he had to use a special medicine spoon to slowly pour the medicine down her throat.

  Next is just quietly waiting.

  Guizhitang didn't have much business, these people guarding the main hall weren't delaying anything, they just attracted passersby to peek and take a look, hearing that they were treating critically ill patients, some idle people also leaned against the door to watch the commotion.

  Sister Hui Xiang and Mother Liang had already moved the chair from the handcart into the house with Miao Pei Lan's help, letting the man sit. The man repeatedly thanked them but didn't sit down, instead he stood there with his hands clasped together, worriedly staring at his old mother who was lying unconscious on the bed. The other men were all squatting on the ground beside the bed, their sleeves rolled up, and they weren't speaking either.

  Miao Peilan helped the woman who was sobbing quietly in the corner of the wall to stand up, and the two stood aside, sadly looking at the old woman on the bed. Zuo Shaoyang brought a chair over to invite her to sit down, she forced a smile but shook her head and didn't sit down. With so many people in the room, including critically ill patients, it was naturally not suitable for Zuo Shaoyang to chat with her. He could only stand behind the counter, lost in thought, his sleeves rolled up.

  The hall is very quiet, the entrance looks lively but it's always dull like this, there's nothing exciting to see, many people have left.

  The sun has set and the sky is finally dark, it's almost time for the night watch. Angelica lit the oil lamp, but she didn't want to rush them out either, thinking of waiting until the night watch before talking.

  At this moment, the man who had been standing beside the bed all along suddenly exclaimed with surprise: "Mother! Mother, you're awake? Mother! --- My mother is awake!"

  Those squatting men, upon hearing this, looked at each other in dismay, not daring to believe it. Suddenly, they all jumped up and surrounded the bed, shouting "Mother!" "Old Auntie" "Big Sister" "Aunt", chaotic as one.

  The woman, whose eyes were already swollen from crying, suddenly lifted her head and shook off Miao Peilan's hand as soon as she heard this. She rushed over in big strides, pushed aside the man in front of her, bent down beside the bed, looked at the old woman, and trembled with voice as she called out: "Mother! Mother, how are you? Mother! I was wrong, daughter-in-law is apologizing to you here!" With a thud, she knelt down beside the bed and knocked her head against the floor.

  An old woman's eyes slowly seeped out a turbid tear, rolling down her eye corners which were full of crow's feet.

  Miao Peilan's eyes were filled with tears as she came over and helped the woman up.

  Zuo Shaoyang pushed through the crowd, came to the bedside, lowered his head and took a look, and saw that the old woman's eyes were slightly open, her pupils slowly turning, looking at each person in front of her one by one.

  Zuo Shaoyang turned around with joy and said: "Dad! Your medicine really works, the old man has come to!"

  Huh? Zuo Gui was shocked, his mouth agape, and slowly got up, putting down the hand that had been covering it, muttering: "Awake... awake?"

  "Yes, Father, the old man is awake and seems to be able to recognize people!"

  Zuo Gui's small eyes widened: "Huang Qi... can it also have the effect of Ren Shen?"

  He muttered this sentence too lightly, and no one heard it. Although Huixiang didn't want her father to take on this patient, the reason was that their family really couldn't afford to pay for the medicine, but since they had already taken him in and now there were results, she was still very happy at heart. She went over with her mother, Liangshi, to take a look, and indeed saw that the old woman's eyes were moving as she looked at everyone, only unable to speak due to her stroke. Huixiang gazed joyfully at Lao Gui: "Dad! He really has come around! Come take another look!"

  Zuo Gui hastily came over, those few men hurriedly made way for him. Zuo Gui walked to the bedside, bent down and examined him carefully, saying: "Old man, I'm the doctor who's treating your illness. Can you hear me? If you can, blink your eyes."

  The old woman really blinked her eyes.

  The crowd of Han people around all cheered, with tears in their eyes shouting: "Alright alright! You are indeed a divine doctor!" "Exactly exactly!"

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  PS: Tomorrow is the first day of Lunar New Year, regular update, wishing everyone a prosperous new year!