Chapter 371: Chapter 371: Bold Prescription

Zhang Lin specialized in integrated Chinese and Western medicine.

He was also highly accomplished in Traditional Chinese Medicine, with a particular focus on the pharmacology of Chinese herbs.

’Li Xu’s prescription... to treat terminal lung cancer?’

’That’s completely absurd.’

"Didn’t you always scoff at Traditional Chinese Medicine? Why are you suddenly studying herbal formulas?"

Zhang Lin teased.

Dong Chen said impatiently, "Cut the crap and take a look at this prescription for me. I want to see just what tricks this ’TCM Divine Physician’ has up his sleeve."

Zhang Lin opened the message.

Dong Chen had sent a photo of it.

He began to study it carefully. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Descurainia seed, Large Dates, Poria Cocos, Cinnamon Bark, Raw Atractylodes, baked licorice, plus Ginseng, Astragalus Root, and Agrimonia Pilosa... His brow furrowed.

"This Li Xu is certainly bold with his use of herbs!"

Zhang Lin remarked. "Especially the Agrimonia Pilosa. The dosage is more than double the normal amount."

"So is this prescription effective or not?"

Dong Chen asked.

Zhang Lin explained, "Judging from the formula, his main goal is to promote diuresis and disperse fluids to eliminate the pleural effusion. The Descurainia seed purges the lungs and promotes urination, and the Linggui Shugan Decoction warms the yang to transform fluid retention. On top of that, the Ginseng and Astragalus Root replenish qi and blood, while the Agrimonia Pilosa stops bleeding and tonifies deficiency. After taking this formula for a short time, the pleural effusion will lessen and the patient’s symptoms will ease, but that’s only treating the symptoms, not the root cause."

"The lung cancer is the patient’s ’interior’—the root of the problem.

This prescription doesn’t target the root of the lung cancer at all.

In the short term, the reduced fluid will make the patient feel better. But once the medication is stopped, or its superficial effects wear off, the ’interior’ illness will backlash even more severely.

The patient’s condition will become even worse, and it might even hasten his death."

Hearing Zhang Lin’s analysis, Dong Chen was instantly relieved.

"Excellent, Old Zhang, you’re the man. My head starts to ache whenever I see all that TCM talk about interior/exterior and cold/heat."

Dong Chen said excitedly, "Looks like that Li Xu has really shot himself in the foot this time."

"That’s right."

Zhang Lin also said with a sneer, "TCM places the greatest emphasis on diagnosis and treatment based on pattern differentiation, but this Li Xu has clearly only seen the surface symptoms. Does he think the illness will be cured just by draining the fluid? What a joke."

The two of them went back and forth, quickly devising a plan.

"Professor Dong, we have to get this reported."

Zhang Lin said sinisterly, "Let the media follow the story. When Li Xu’s prescription fails and the patient’s condition deteriorates, we’ll expose it. We’ll completely shatter the myth of the ’TCM Divine Physician’."

Dong Chen slammed the table in approval. "Brilliant idea! Let’s do it. I want everyone to see that if Western medicine can’t cure an illness, TCM can’t either."

After hanging up, Dong Chen immediately contacted a newspaper agency.

He told the editor-in-chief that there was a case concerning the conflict between Chinese and Western medicine that was worth a follow-up report.

He briefly mentioned that Li Xu had taken on a patient with terminal lung cancer.

The moment the editor-in-chief heard there was a story to be dug up, he perked up.

He didn’t care who was right or wrong in the debate between Chinese and Western medicine; he only knew that this kind of controversial topic was the best way to attract eyeballs.

"Good, I’ll send someone to follow up on it right away."

The editor-in-chief made the decision on the spot and assigned the task to a reporter, Li Yang.

When Li Yang received the assignment, she felt a little hesitant.

She knew about the "grudge" between Dong Chen and Li Xu, and she understood Dong Chen’s intentions.

She respected Li Xu and didn’t want to be a part of kicking someone when they were down.

After a moment of thought, Li Yang decided to contact Li Xu first and inform him of the situation.

"Dr. Li, Professor Dong contacted our paper. He assigned me to follow the story of you treating the terminal lung cancer patient..." Li Yang’s tone was laced with worry.

Hearing this, Li Xu just smiled calmly. "It’s fine. Just report on it as you normally would. The truth will come out eventually."

Hearing how composed Li Xu was, Li Yang also felt relieved.

Soon, Li Yang published a short article in the newspaper, briefly introducing the story of Li Xu treating the terminal lung cancer patient and stating that the paper would continue to follow the case.

Because the buzz from Dong Chen’s online "challenge" to Li Xu hadn’t died down yet, this small report immediately garnered attention as soon as it was published.

Many people started to gather for the drama, and all sorts of speculation and discussion ran rampant.

"What? Li Xu actually dared to treat a terminal lung cancer patient? Isn’t he a little too bold!"

"Western medicine already gave up. What can TCM possibly do? I think he’s done for this time."

"But Dr. Li is said to be able to cure anything! Maybe he can really create a miracle!"

For a time, many people turned their attention to Li Xu and Ai Shengbing’s condition.

In the classmates’ group chat, everyone was also discussing it.

[Miaoli: Oh my god, Li Xu actually took on a terminal lung cancer patient? Western medicine said he has less than a month to live. This... this is too risky!]

[Hu Qiming: Yeah, treating lung cancer, especially the terminal stage, is a long shot. Was Li Xu a bit too impulsive this time?]

[Lu Junwei: We all know how skilled Li Xu is, but he’s not a god. Even for him, a case like this is probably impossible, right?]

[Jiang Peng: Stop it, guys. All we can do is support him quietly. I believe in Li Xu. He must have his reasons.]

Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Professor Gao Guanghui also saw the report.

He made a special call to Li Xu, his voice full of concern. "Li Xu, I heard you’ve taken on a terminal lung cancer patient. This kind of illness is no small matter. If you need any help, just say the word. I’m on standby for you."

Li Xu said gratefully, "Thank you for your concern, Professor. I already have a complete treatment plan. Don’t worry, I wouldn’t fight a battle I’m not prepared for."

Hearing such confidence in Li Xu’s voice, Gao Guanghui, though still harboring doubts, could only let it be.

...

After drinking the first dose of the herbal medicine, Ai Shengbing exhaustedly lay back down on the bed.

The bitter taste of the decoction still lingered on his tongue, but his body showed no discernible change.

The tightness in his chest was the same as before, his wheezing hadn’t lessened, and palpitations still raged in his chest.

Wang Xiufang kept watch by the bedside, anxiously observing her son. One hour, two hours...

Time slipped by quietly, but Ai Shengbing remained in the same half-dead state.

Her heart sank, bit by bit. The tiny spark of hope that had just been kindled was mercilessly extinguished by the cold, hard reality.

"Son, how are you feeling? Are you any better?"

she asked softly.

Ai Shengbing weakly opened his eyes and shook his head.

He had long since grown numb. The verdict from the Western doctors had already stripped him of all hope.

The Chinese medicine was nothing more than a last straw his mother was grasping at in her desperation.

He even felt like he was just playing along with his mother in a futile drama.

He was tired. All he wanted was to quietly wait for his life to end.

The first day passed in disappointment.

Early the next morning, Wang Xiufang forced herself to get up and continued to brew the medicine for her son.

Watching the decoction bubble once again in the clay pot, she knew that hope was now minuscule.

Brewing the medicine was just a way to console herself, a way to buy her son even one more day.