I Can Talk to the Internal Organs-Chapter 310 - 276: Seven Days of Change

Since it’s the late stage of uremia, obviously Zhenwu Decoction is not suitable.

After all, strengthening the heart is the top priority.

Generally, for patients with kidney failure, as long as the heart is preserved at the first moment to prevent heart failure, the cycle of disease transmission will be broken, and the patient won’t die easily.

After all, when the five viscera are diseased, it transmits to what it can overcome.

The kidney belongs to water, which overcomes fire, the heart belongs to fire which overcomes metal.

Once kidney failure occurs, if the heart is not preserved, heart failure will gradually follow, then comes lung failure, and a vicious cycle begins.

Of course, in general, patients can’t even endure until lung failure, since heart failure pretty much leads to death.

Currently, Lu Jiu aims to ensure Xiang Ye’s heart function does not deteriorate further.

Therefore, the prescription must include the Four Reversals Decoction.

After all, this is the most classic formula for reviving Heart Yang and rescuing from adversity, playing a significant role in the recovery of Heart Yang.

However, having only Four Reversals Decoction is obviously not enough, so another formula, Circulation Revival Tonic, must be added, to warm the meridians and dispel cold, altering Xiang Ye’s overall temperature, allowing for smoother flow of qi and blood.

One formula strengthens Heart Yang, the other changes the flow of qi and blood in the meridians; combined, they significantly alleviate the strain on heart function.

At first glance, these two formulas seem only to differ by Danggui, but their medicinal composition is quite different.

The Four Reversals Decoction consists of raw aconite, dried ginger, and baked licorice, while Circulation Revival Tonic includes ingredients like Danggui, cinnamon bark, Chinese dates, and asarum.

Even though the names are similar, the different composition leads to significantly different effects.

Since the heart is strengthened, the next step is to clear the kidneys and promote diuresis.

So, the prescription must also include the classic Zhenwu Decoction, with some modifications.

After much contemplation, Lu Jiu finally wrote down the prescription.

Cinnamon bark, white peony, baked licorice, ginger, Chinese dates, raw aconite, dried ginger, Atractylodes, poria, Akebia, Danggui, asarum, roasted aconite.

Thirteen herbs in total, mainly focusing on strengthening the heart and promoting diuresis.

This formula can also assist in restoring Xiang Ye’s spleen and stomach function.

Because after warming the meridians and dispelling cold, the body’s dampness reduces, allowing Spleen Yang to recover on its own.

That’s why Lu Jiu didn’t add spleen-strengthening herbs, since most spleen-strengthening herbs are somewhat greasy.

Patients with uremia already have plenty of dampness, consuming greasy herbs wouldn’t strengthen the spleen and would instead increase the burden on the spleen and stomach.

This thirteen-herb prescription showcases Lu Jiu’s diagnostic skill to the fullest.

After writing the prescription, Lu Jiu handed it to Xiang Ye and his wife.

Seven doses in total, come back for re-evaluation after finishing them.

That night, after consuming one dose of herbal medicine, Xiang Ye went to the bathroom several times.

It seemed like he was urinating out all the accumulated urine of months.

As the urine kept being expelled, Xiang Ye felt his body becoming much lighter.

His abdomen even shrank remarkably!

Such significant change made Xiang Ye and his wife extremely excited.

On the second day, after taking another dose of herbal medicine, Xiang Ye felt less nauseated and even regained some appetite.

Although he appeared plump, it was all due to edema; he actually didn’t eat much daily.

He did want to eat, but strangely, he felt full after just a couple of bites, yet his mind still felt hungry.

This simultaneous feeling of fullness and hunger tormented him deeply.

After the second dose, he unprecedentedly finished a bowl of rice without any stomach discomfort.

That sense of fullness finally made Xiang Ye feel like a normal person.

It’s been four or five years!

He deeply missed this feeling!

As a result, during the meal, this grown man even broke into tears in front of his wife.

On the third day, after taking the medicine, he still expelled a lot of fluids.

His bloated appearance diminished, and symptoms of palpitations and shortness of breath eased.

The changes weren’t as dramatic as the previous days.

The fourth and fifth days were approximately the same.

By the sixth day, his breath had lessened in odor, no longer toxic with every word spoken; his complexion also changed, still somewhat dark, but lighter than before, and the skin itching improved.

This was not something Xiang Ye could notice himself - his wife told him.

By the seventh day, after finishing all the herbal medicine, Xiang Ye felt quite apprehensive.

After all, Lu Jiu had told him that if the expected effect was not achieved within a week, they should seek another doctor.

Over these seven days, Xiang Ye wasn’t sure how much he had recovered or if he met Lu Jiu’s expectations.

But indeed, after consuming the herbal medicine, aside from being quite bitter, Xiang Ye’s feelings were very positive.

Not only did his body feel lighter, but his appetite also returned, and his sleep quality improved significantly compared to before.

Of course, he still continued taking antihypertensive medication.

With a nervous heart, Xiang Ye and his wife returned to Lu Jiu TCM Hospital, Difficult Diseases Department.

After more than an hour of queuing, the two finally arrived in front of Lu Jiu.

"So, how are you feeling recently? Your complexion seems to have improved," Lu Jiu smiled.

Kidney failure patients’ faces usually appear dull black, like their skin has been sandblasted.

But today, seeing Xiang Ye again, Lu Jiu noticed he appeared a bit paler, and some sheen had returned to his face.

In seven days, having an oily sheen on his face means heart function not only hasn’t worsened but is actually in a state of recovery.

Just this one detail convinced Lu Jiu that Xiang Ye has definitely experienced significant changes these past days.

This is also the knowledge gained from his continuously improving observation skill.

Of course, knowing is one thing, but specific details need to be double-checked with Xiang Ye.

In TCM, one cannot rely solely on subjective judgment to diagnose.

"So, where should I start, Dr. Lu?" Xiang Ye was momentarily at a loss for words.

Lu Jiu said, "Start with your daily urination and bowel movements, appetite, sleep, emotions, and how you feel physically."

Xiang Ye nodded, "As for urination, it was especially frequent in the first two days. By the third day, it was better, even if I was thirsty and wanted to drink water, I wouldn’t feel discomfort anymore. Before, being thirsty meant even water felt unbearable as the nausea and vomiting would become more apparent."

"Regarding appetite, these past few days, I’ve indeed been eating more than before, and I don’t feel uncomfortable after eating. Recently, I haven’t experienced that full and hungry feeling simultaneously, and sleep-wise, since my body feels much better than before, I fall asleep easier, though I can’t sleep long, and wake up around three or four in the morning unable to go back to sleep."

"As for emotions, I’m not sure how to express it, but I’ve felt pretty good. These past days, I feel much lighter, not as fatigued even when at rest, uh~ that’s about it."

It seems the prescription indeed worked, far better than Lu Jiu himself expected.

Perhaps encountering uremia for the first time made Lu Jiu underestimate his abilities.

Of course, there was also an element of fear involved.

After all, after four years of dialysis, whether heart damage could recover was unknown to Lu Jiu.

But Xiang Ye’s condition before him demonstrated that even after four years of dialysis, Chinese medicine still had a significant impact on heart recovery.

"It seems the medication can continue," Lu Jiu said.

Upon hearing this, Xiang Ye’s anxious heart settled instantly, then overjoyed, he exclaimed, "Really!?"

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