Farmhouse Green Plum

"To be precise, the patient's emotional distress is the key symptom to focus on. Combined with symptoms such as decreased appetite and weak pulse, it is considered to be an internal injury resulting from liver excess and spleen deficiency, with the liver overpowering the spleen and the spleen failing to control the blood, leading to the appearance of rashes."

"This..." Doctor Fang frowned slightly, somewhat doubtful.

Master Sheng was very pleased. Before the ink on the prescription was even dry, he urged the servants to get the medicine and loudly instructed them to make sure to get it from Baohetang, where Doctor Fang practiced medicine.

Shen Jing reminded him, "Uncle, let's arrange lunch first. Sister Song and the others have been traveling for most of the day and haven't had lunch yet."

"Look at my own brain, I've been negligent! I've been negligent!" Master Sheng said with a face full of regret. "Someone, quickly tell the kitchen to prepare a feast, pick out the freshest seasonal ingredients to make a table full of top-quality food and wine!"

After giving his instructions, he turned around and said warmly, "Dr. Song, Lord Yuan, let's go to the flower hall to rest first. Doctor Fang, you come too. Let the servants do the decoction. You've been worrying about my son these past few days, you should get some rest."

Doctor Fang was very worried, but seeing how happy Master Sheng was, as if his son would be cured immediately after taking Song Ying's medicine, he didn't want to pour cold water on him at this time.

Moreover, although he was older, his reputation was nowhere near that of Song Ying.

Dr. Fang had no choice but to leave.

Ahead, Shen Jing suddenly seemed to remember something and turned his head to ask, "Brother Yuan, when you passed through Xiangru County, did you throw copper coins into the Qin Terrace?"

"Throw copper coins?" Song Ying asked curiously. "Is there any particular custom associated with it?"

Xiangru County is named after Sima Xiangru, a writer of fu (a type of Chinese prose-poetry) in the Western Han Dynasty, and Qintai (a type of zither platform) was built to commemorate his elopement with Zhuo Wenjun using the zither.

To this day, local examinees throw their failed essays into the Di Yan Chi (Inkstone Washing Pool) next to the Qintai (Piano Terrace), signifying "washing away the old and obscure."

"So you didn't throw in any?" Shen Jing asked with great regret. He first explained to Song Ying, "It is said that the Qin Terrace is very effective. If you throw three copper coins into the Di Yan Pond before taking the exam, the clearer and longer the sound of the coins falling into the water, the more prominent your academic success will be."

He then berated Yuan Qing: "I know you are exceptionally talented and disdain these omens-seeking matters, but it's just something you do casually and doesn't take much effort, so why not do it?"

"The story of Sima Changqing and Zhuo Wenjun, which ended tragically, carries a bad connotation."

Shen Jing: "..."

He shouldn't have asked.

After the meal, Song Ying and Yuan Qing rested in the guest room of the Sheng family's house.

Although there's a carriage and you don't have to walk, sitting for days on end is still quite tiring.

After waking up from her nap, Song Ying fanned herself and walked around the room to stretch her muscles. Through the window, she suddenly saw Doctor Ma sitting on a rock outside the guest room courtyard.

She was somewhat surprised, opened the door and went out, asking the maid who was pruning the flowers in the courtyard, "What is Doctor Fang doing sitting there?"

The maid was meticulously grooming herself and didn't hear Song Ying's footsteps. The sudden question startled her.

Turning around and seeing that it was Song Ying, he hurriedly replied, "He said he had something to discuss with you. When he learned that you were taking a nap, he waited outside and refused to leave no matter how much we tried to persuade him."

"Looking for me?" Song Ying was taken aback. In this sweltering heat, what could possibly require waiting until she woke up under the blazing sun?

Hearing their conversation, Doctor Fang outside quickly got up and came over. He first bowed deeply to Song Ying, saying, "Dr. Song, I apologize for disturbing you."

Song Ying quickly reached out to stop him, "Dr. Fang, what are you doing?"

Doctor Fang insisted on bowing, his face sincere: "I had some doubts about Doctor Song's medical skills before, but now I am completely convinced. About an hour after Young Master Sheng took the medicine, the small purple spots have already decreased, which shows that Doctor Song's prescription is effective."

“You don’t need to do that.” Song Ying felt that the old doctor was too upright. His so-called doubt was just an expression, without even a word of explicit or implicit suggestion.

"Please let me finish," Doctor Fang said more earnestly. "I have a favor to ask. I have been treating Young Master Sheng's illness for a year now, revising the prescriptions and preparing medicines many times, but I still cannot cure it. Could you please ask Physician Song for guidance?"

"I wouldn't presume to offer guidance; we're colleagues, so let's just consider this a chance to learn from each other." Since becoming a doctor, Song Ying has received countless compliments, but this is the first time a colleague has so politely asked to learn from her, especially an older doctor.

While admiring Dr. Fang's courage to ask questions without shame, she couldn't help but feel happy.

She has broken through the barriers of age and gender through her medical skills.

She led Doctor Fang to the shade of a tree in the courtyard. "Blood originates from the essence of food and water. It enters the heart, transforms into red blood, governs the heart, is controlled by the spleen, and is stored in the liver. Under the command of Qi, blood circulates along the meridians, nourishing the limbs and bones externally, and nourishing the five internal organs internally, circulating continuously to supply the whole body. This is what is meant by the harmony of Qi and blood..."

Liver stagnation transforms into fire, which in turn breaks up blood and causes it to flow in reverse. When the liver is excessive and suppresses the spleen, the blood has no way to be controlled, resulting in symptoms such as subcutaneous bleeding, nosebleeds, gum bleeding, and menstrual bleeding. Therefore, the treatment principle is to clear the liver and protect the spleen.

Antelope horn bone clears heat primarily from the liver; Ophiopogon japonicus nourishes the liver and replenishes fluids; Cyperus rotundus, Curcuma longa, and Bupleurum chinense regulate qi and soothe the liver; and the spleen is protected as a secondary treatment, with the Four Gentlemen Decoction as the main prescription; supplemented with Rehmannia glutinosa and Salvia miltiorrhiza to cool the blood, harmonize the blood, and eliminate spots, it has a consistently rapid effect. When the liver and spleen are harmonized, all symptoms can be relieved.

Doctor Fang suddenly realized, and after a moment said, "I have another patient with similar symptoms. She is a woman in her twenties. In addition to purple spots on her limbs, bleeding gums and nose, she also has irregular menstruation. This is her medical record. In your opinion, how should her illness be treated?"

Song Ying took the medical record and examined it carefully. "If your medical record is detailed and accurate, she should have a deficiency of heart and spleen, and a loss of blood control. She should nourish her spleen and heart, and replenish her blood and qi."

The prescription can include 4 qian of roasted licorice root, 6 jujubes, malt...

You can take four doses first. If the symptoms are relieved, continue taking four more doses according to the original prescription.

At this point, Song Ying frowned and thought for a moment, then continued, "If there is a significant improvement after the third consultation, five qian of white-flowered snake and six qian of salvia miltiorrhiza can be added to the original prescription."

Doctor Fang slowly repeated her words, carefully considering the herbs and dosages, and after a moment said, "This is mainly to replenish qi."

Song Ying nodded, "This patient's condition stems from 'internal organ damage and blood depletion,' leading to deficiency of the heart and spleen, and loss of blood control. To ensure the generation of essence and the proper control of blood, the primary approach is to tonify qi, using Ganmai Dazao Tang combined with blood-tonifying and qi-boosting herbs. This aims to achieve the effect of yang generating yin. The entire formula, Ganmai Dazao Tang, is sweet and moistening, benefiting the stomach and protecting the heart and spleen, thus replenishing nourishment and strengthening the body's defenses..."

As the sun dipped westward, the eaves were gradually tinged with an amber glow. Song Ying and Doctor Fang continued exchanging medical knowledge, completely oblivious to the dim sunlight.

"Dr. Song, Doctor Fang, dinner has been prepared. Sir, please move to the flower hall for your meal."

Hearing the maid's words, Song Ying looked up and realized that it was already late. She couldn't help but laugh, "I've completely forgotten the time. I wonder where my husband is..."

Before she could finish speaking, the maidservant hurriedly said, "We've already sent someone to invite them."