Chapter 355: Chapter 355: Temporarily Lying Low

The buzz surrounding the "loess soil treatment" incident continued to grow, and many TCM experts seized the opportunity to step forward and educate the public on the vast and profound nature of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Among them, Professor Gao Guanghui gave an interview to an authoritative media outlet.

"Hello everyone. Doctor Li Xu’s use of loess soil in this treatment fully demonstrates the essence of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Many people mistakenly believe that TCM uses medicine the same way Western medicine does—by looking at a drug’s ingredients and its molecular structure as analyzed by modern science."

"In reality, that’s not the case. When TCM uses medicine, it’s more important to consider the medicine’s Yin-Yang and Five Elements properties, and its nature to float, sink, ascend, or descend."

Gao Guanghui explained with an example: "Take the loess soil from this case. From a modern scientific perspective, it’s just dirt with no medicinal value. Its components are simply silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, calcium oxide, and the like."

"But in the eyes of TCM, loess soil is sweet and neutral in nature. It enters the spleen and stomach meridians and has the effects of strengthening the spleen, tonifying qi, harmonizing the stomach to stop diarrhea, and astringing to stop bleeding."

"More critically, loess soil belongs to the Earth element, which can subdue the evil of Water."

"And the loess soil from under a stove, having been smoked and baked by fire, becomes even warmer and drier in nature. This makes it better at warming the kidneys, assisting Yang Qi, and restraining the overflow of Water evil."

"This aligns perfectly with the TCM principle of treatment based on pattern differentiation."

Gao Guanghui then emphasized, "In TCM, we don’t just look at the medicinal ingredients themselves; we place greater importance on the holistic regulatory effect they produce within the human body."

"That which floats, ascends. That which sinks, descends. This ascension, descension, exiting, and entering is the essence of life."

"Some medicines can raise and lift Yang Qi, while others can sink and descend turbid Yin."

"Some medicines can warm and supplement, while others can clear heat."

"All of these effects are determined by the Five Elements properties and the nature and flavor of the medicinal materials, not by simple chemical analysis."

"Doctor Li Xu’s treatment this time was a perfect embodiment of this holistic TCM concept."

Professor Gao Guanghui’s interview, combined with the case of Li Xu’s "loess soil treatment," gave more people a deeper and more scientific understanding of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It also triggered a societal re-evaluation of traditional medicine.

After seeing these related reports, Li Yang, a reporter for the News Daily, felt a little regretful.

She hadn’t been on-site to witness such an incredible event herself.

She was annoyed with herself for missing such a prime news opportunity.

’Are there any other news angles left to dig up?’

Just as Li Yang was thinking this, her editor-in-chief called. "Come to my office."

Li Yang went to the editor-in-chief’s office.

The editor-in-chief said happily, "Xiao Li, I have a new assignment for you. Professor Dong Chen contacted our paper himself, hoping we’ll interview him."

Hearing the name "Dong Chen," Li Yang’s brow furrowed slightly.

Dong Chen was a renowned figure in the medical world. He was not only an authority in the field of Western medicine but also someone who had always held a strongly dismissive attitude toward Traditional Chinese Medicine.

He had made public statements on multiple occasions questioning the scientific basis of TCM, even denigrating it as "pseudoscience."

"Chief, isn’t Dong Chen usually very cautious with the media? Besides, he’s always been against TCM. Why does he want an interview now? What’s he up to?"

Although Li Yang asked this, she already had a guess.

The editor-in-chief laughed. "What’s he up to? Isn’t that exactly what we journalists want to know? Controversial figures and topics like this attract the most attention."

"Go interview him and see what brilliant insights he has. Maybe you can dig up another huge story this time."

Li Yang accepted the assignment and immediately headed to the hospital where Dong Chen worked.

In Dong Chen’s office, Li Yang met the controversial Western medicine expert.

Dong Chen wore a crisp suit, his hair was impeccably combed, and though there was a smile on his face, it didn’t feel friendly at all.

"Reporter Li, I’ve heard so much about you."

Dong Chen said politely, "I’ve been following your paper’s reports on that Doctor Li Xu. Especially the ’loess soil treatment’—it’s an absolute laughingstock."

Li Yang didn’t respond, instead turning on her voice recorder and signaling for Dong Chen to begin.

Dong Chen cleared his throat and spoke eloquently into the recorder. "I’ve always stressed that medicine is a rigorous science. All treatments must be based on clear pathological mechanisms and extensive clinical data."

"And what about TCM? Yin-Yang and the Five Elements? Such mysterious and abstruse theories."

"This business about loess soil treatment is utterly absurd."

"Dirt can cure diseases? Does that mean the next time we get sick, we should just go dig up some mud and eat it?"

"And then there are the Lianhua Suanzaoren Granules, the paper in *The Lancet*... Hmph, can a single paper prove its scientific validity? You should know, the international medical community’s acceptance of proprietary Chinese medicines has always been very low. That paper was likely just a coincidence from an isolated case. I dare say the efficacy of most proprietary Chinese medicines wouldn’t stand up to the scrutiny of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial."

Dong Chen grew more agitated as he spoke, as if he’d found an outlet to vent years of frustration with TCM. "As for that Li Xu, I admit he might be clever in some minor ways, but his grandstanding will ultimately mislead the public and hinder the modernization of medicine in Dragon Country. All this talk about the miraculous skill of acupuncture and treating illness with loess soil—it’s all just cheap parlor tricks."

After his long-winded tirade, Dong Chen was tired of talking.

He took a sip of water, paused for a moment, then suddenly changed the subject. "Since Doctor Li Xu is so confident, I might as well issue him a challenge. I have a patient here whose condition is extremely complex. We’ve tried all sorts of Western medical treatments, but with very little effect."

"If Doctor Li Xu can cure this patient, I will admit that TCM has its unique merits. Otherwise, he must publicly acknowledge the limitations of Traditional Chinese Medicine and stop this misleading behavior."

Hearing Dong Chen’s words, Li Yang felt a thrill of excitement.

’This is definitely a news story packed with controversy.’

As a nationally renowned expert in Western medicine, Dong Chen taking the initiative to challenge Li Xu would undoubtedly push the debate between TCM and Western medicine to a new climax.

She excitedly recorded Dong Chen’s every word.

After the report was published, it ignited public opinion once again, just as Li Yang had expected.

Dong Chen’s challenge rang out like a war drum, causing the entire society to turn its gaze toward Li Xu.

However, unexpectedly, Li Xu didn’t respond at all.

In recent days, more and more reporters had shown up. In addition to professional media outlets, there were also many independent bloggers, internet celebrities, and even curious onlookers, all swarming to Li’s Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic and crowding it to the point of being impassable.

They not only took over the clinic’s waiting area, but even the sidewalk out front was completely blocked.

This unprecedented commotion severely disrupted Li Xu’s ability to treat his patients.

Patients could barely enter the clinic, and normal operations were completely thrown into chaos.

While Li Xu understood everyone’s curiosity, he was more aware that his duty was to heal the sick, not to be a media spectacle.

As for Dong Chen’s "challenge"... Li Xu had no intention of responding to it.

’Who uses patients as gambling chips?’

If a patient came to him for treatment on their own initiative, he wouldn’t refuse.

But he would not participate in a situation like this, where another doctor was using a patient as a wager.

Besides, if he actually accepted the challenge, there was no telling when things would ever quiet down.

Li Xu decided to go away for a few days to find some peace and quiet.

This kind of hype came on fast and would fade just as quickly.

Rather than being bothered by all the interviews and onlookers, it was better to lie low for a while.

As it happened, there was still one thing he needed to take care of.

He still hadn’t leased the land in Qinling’s Bailingyu Village.

He would go there this time, complete the land lease procedures, and then hire the surrounding villagers to look after it. That way, he would have enough foxtail grass next year to produce Mao Duddu Eye Drops.