"Dr. Lu, as a person and a doctor, living without regret is enough, but in your mind, what is the standard for a good Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) doctor?"

Zhang Guangli murmured the phrase "living without regret" in his mind for a long time before he looked up and asked the question that puzzled him.

In his heart, although his father’s medical skills were not exceptionally brilliant, he certainly counted as a good TCM doctor.

But the evaluation of TCM varies in everyone’s heart.

Different people have different standards in their minds.

Zhang Guangli was eager to know what the standard for a good TCM doctor was in Lu Xuan’s mind.

Is it like his father, or is there another standard?

Lu Xuan didn’t expect Zhang Guangli to ask this suddenly; he pondered for a moment before saying, "To answer this question, we can first discuss what an unqualified TCM doctor looks like."

Zhang Guangli looked at him.

After speaking, he continued, "Some of our TCM colleagues always shine in various events and different media, eloquent and articulate, but their actual skills remain in the realm of disease prevention and health care. When faced with critical emergencies, they don’t dare to step forward. This is the first type."

Zhang Guangli nodded; these doctors indeed exist, and there are quite a few of them.

They are always busy handling various scenes with a terrifying reputation, and the media scramble to report them. But when it comes to their medical skills being high, it’s not necessarily the case, mainly because they spend a lot of time dealing with these various matters, leaving little time to study TCM theory.

Or to encounter more patients and accumulate more clinical experience?

Without a solid foundation of TCM theory and the assistance of clinical experience, some may not even be able to manage disease prevention and health care, let alone treat diseases and save lives.

Zhang Guangli had also encountered this type of TCM doctor before. Because of their big reputation, he was quite enthusiastic. But after several contacts, he realized they were just empty shells.

They understand TCM but not deeply, and can deceive some ignorant people.

But when meeting someone who genuinely understands TCM, it’s like encountering the vigilant Monkey King with fiery eyes; no matter how beautiful the demon is, it must reveal its true form.

Since then, Zhang Guangli rarely engaged with those TCM doctors who were very famous online and constantly dealt with various media.

Hearing Lu Xuan mention this type of TCM doctor again, Zhang Guangli felt deeply resonant.

Such TCM doctors indeed cannot be considered good TCM doctors.

While thinking about this, Lu Xuan did not intend to stop. He continued, "Nationwide, many TCM doctors are satisfied with managing chronic diseases. When conditions become slightly severe, they immediately advise patients to switch to Western medicine. This is the second type. Of course, this is understandable, as it seems to bear less responsibility, but in the long run, where will the experience in treating acute and severe diseases come from? How will TCM methods for treating acute and severe diseases develop?"

At this point, Zhang Guangli fell into deep thought.

Currently, TCM doctors tend to focus on managing chronic diseases, which is a consensus in the medical community.

Whenever faced with emergencies, they are usually transferred to Western medicine, which is an undeniable fact.

Even Zhang Guangli himself has always done so.

It’s not that he doesn’t want to treat, nor is he afraid of taking responsibility; it’s just that confronting acute diseases, he genuinely feels helpless.

If there was a way, he wouldn’t need to refer patients to Western medicine.

This type of TCM doctor also cannot be considered a qualified TCM doctor.

Zhang Guangli sighed and said, "Dr. Lu, what you said is correct, but TCM is indeed helpless against some acute diseases. We can’t just watch patients die in front of us; transferring to Western medicine is really a last resort."

"Dean Zhang, I somewhat disagree with what you said, about TCM being helpless against acute diseases?" Lu Xuan countered.

"Uh..."

Zhang Guangli was at a loss for words, not knowing what to say for a moment.

He thought Lu Xuan would agree with him, but unexpectedly, Lu Xuan provided a different response.

The current situation was somewhat beyond his expectation.

Lu Xuan’s tone softened a little as he said, "Many people believe that TCM is for treating chronic diseases, and even think that TCM can only treat minor illnesses, and for life-threatening major, severe, or acute diseases, TCM definitely doesn’t work. This view acknowledges part of TCM’s role but overlooks most of its value.

In fact, can TCM really not treat acute and severe conditions?"

Zhang Guangli opened his mouth but didn’t know how to respond.

At this moment, he heard Lu Xuan’s voice continue, "Quite the opposite, TCM, first and foremost, treats acute conditions, not just chronic diseases. Look at Zhang Zhongjing’s ’Treatise on Cold Pathogenic and Miscellaneous Diseases,’ where many of the diseases listed are acute or severe, even critical conditions.

The Medical Saint has demonstrated to us the heart methods of TCM in treating acute and severe illnesses. The experience of TCM in treating acute conditions has a history of over two thousand years. How can one say TCM is helpless against acute conditions?"

"Then..."

Before Zhang Guangli could speak, Lu Xuan continued, "In TCM emergency treatment, acupuncture is paramount. Therefore, in learning TCM, one must learn acupuncture. In learning acupuncture, one must also know that acupuncture can save acute and critical conditions. Acupuncture showcases TCM’s emergency capabilities and allows the world to recognize the significant effects of TCM in emergency fields.

Moreover, acupuncture, in retrieving unconsciousness, pain, spasms, and certain hematological conditions, has effects that immediately relieve symptoms. Its miraculous and swift effect even surpasses some Western medicines in speed.