This Doctor Is Too Wealthy

Would Du Heng disappoint them?

Of course not!!!

With a clear syndrome differentiation and the patient's vital energy still intact, he could certainly find a way to manage it.

Xu Pinglin had been observing Du Heng. Seeing him exhale softly, he knew that Du Heng had come to a conclusion. He asked softly, "Doctor Du, have you reached a conclusion?"

"The patient's dampness-heat has generated phlegm, obstructing the qi mechanism. This impaired transport has, over time, led to the formation of toxins, which have accumulated into a tangible mass. This tangible mass should be the tumor at the lesser curvature of the stomach."

Du Heng's answer was delivered in a soft voice, but it carried an extraordinarily powerful weight.

This response made both Xu Pinglin and Doctor Hou's eyes light up with anticipation.

Though they had only witnessed Du Heng's diagnostic process twice, each time Du Heng expressed his syndrome differentiation in this manner, he followed up with a corresponding treatment plan.

And all completed or ongoing treatment plans had been quite successful.

The results were especially apparent in the case of the gastric ptosis patient. The effect of the prescribed treatment was immediate, and the illness was completely eradicated.

Now, with Du Heng once again articulating his diagnosis in the same tone, a sense of indescribable excitement surged within them.

Xu Pinglin immediately asked, "Is there a treatment plan?"

"Yes. The patient's vital energy is still strong, and he is young. His overall constitution is quite good. In cases of serious disease, drastic medicine is appropriate."

"Doctor Du, what herbs should be used?"

Doctor Hou, unable to contain his excitement, blurted out his question.

But Du Heng suddenly fell silent, his brows furrowing slightly.

As they were discussing earlier, a multitude of verified and famous herbal prescriptions whirled across his mind, each one swiftly rejected by Du Heng. He had thought of many, but all seemed to be missing something, failing to achieve the anticipated outcome he had in his mind. Since they weren't meeting his expectations, they clearly weren't going to be effective, or at least not to a considerable extent. If he were to use any of these, it could very well become the conservative or palliative treatment they had discussed. Such treatment would merely alleviate the patient's suffering, slow the progress of the disease, and provide no substantial help.

"What's wrong?" Xu Pinglin inquired urgently.

Du Heng remained silent for a moment, then said, "Give me some time. I need to carefully consider the medication."

"Sure." Xu Pinglin's response was decisive; he promised at once. "Doctor Hou, lead Doctor Du to my office. Whatever Doctor Du needs, bring it to him."

No sooner had he said this than he immediately corrected himself. "On second thought," he said, "you get Gu Ping. Have him assist Doctor Du."

Without a second thought, Doctor Hou led Du Heng to Xu Pinglin's office.

Once the two had left, Xu Pinglin turned to the unaware Xue Yiwen and said, "You've heard it, right? Doctor Du has gone to prescribe the medicine for you."

"When can I be discharged?" For Xue Yiwen, his primary concern was going home as soon as possible to see his child.

Xu Pinglin sighed. "Do you know who Doctor Du is? Do you understand what he has just said and what it means for you?"

"What?" Xue Yiwen was still clueless.

He knew that Du Heng's surname was Du, but that was about it. His personal affairs had taken up his full attention these past few days, leaving him no time to inquire about other matters.

Xu Pinglin's introduction, it seemed, had fallen on deaf ears.

"Never mind. Just be patient and wait for news."

"What news?"

Xu Pinglin wanted to give him some reassurance but was reluctant to say anything that might be binding or negatively influence Du Heng. Therefore, he decided it would be wise not to make any further promises. "Just wait patiently. It's not like getting discharged is a matter of urgency."

「In the office」

Du Heng paused in between writing each herb's name on a piece of paper, pensively contemplating the dosage and accordingly adjusting it.

This lasted for a full hour and a half before Du Heng finally put down his pen.

He immediately picked up the prescription and reread it from the beginning.

Gu Ping, who was standing beside him, was stunned. His mouth agape, he gawked at the prescription Du Heng had written.

The phrase 'severe illnesses require drastic medicine' was known even to those who do not practice Traditional Chinese Medicine.

But how 'drastic' is 'drastic'? Ordinary people wouldn't know, and even Gu Ping, as a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, did not know until now.

But now he did; now he knew what was meant by 'drastic medicine'.

Standing behind Du Heng, looking at the prescription in his hand, Gu Ping felt his legs tense up, his back straighten, and his hands tremble slightly.

Raw rhizoma pinelliae, a toxic herb that numbs the tongue and irritates the throat.

xanthate is another toxic herb. If ingested in excessive doses, it causes pain, numbness, and inflammation of the mouth, tongue, and throat, among other symptoms. Severe cases can lead to unconsciousness, breathing difficulties, paralysis of the heart, and even death.

realgar is also toxic. An overdose can affect cellular metabolism and cause damage to blood vessels, the liver, kidneys, brain, nerves, and gastrointestinal organs.

When a prescription includes a highly toxic herb, doctors are typically extremely cautious. They tend to use such herbs sparingly, sometimes omitting them entirely or substituting them with less potent ones to reduce risk, even if it means lower efficacy.

But in Du Heng's prescription, not one but three such toxic herbs were included. And not only that, they were included in large amounts, all well in excess of the recommended dosage.

The lightest of them all was the raw rhizoma pinelliae, prescribed at 30g, which was within the regulated dosage range but very close to the upper limit.

However, xanthate was also prescribed at 30g, twice the maximum recommended dosage.

realgar, with a standard dosage of 0.05 to 0.1g, was prescribed by Du Heng at 0.3g—three times the maximum dose.

What is drastic medicine? This is drastic medicine!!!

Gu Ping felt that he wouldn't be able to write out this prescription without his hand shaking uncontrollably.

Not only was Du Heng's choice of medicine "drastic," but it was also diverse.

Apart from common traditional chinese medicine like red ginseng and licorice, it also included mineral medicine such as realgar and red ocher, as well as insect medicine like geckos and centipedes.

The combination of herbs was diverse, and the prescribed quantities were substantial. For example, he prescribed a total of eleven whole geckos.

Gu Ping had previously admired Du Heng for his extensive knowledge and application of traditional Chinese medicine, particularly demonstrated by his successful treatment for the patient with gastric atrophy. However, the prescription Du Heng held today left him even more in awe.

Du Heng was oblivious to the fact that Gu Ping was astonished by the prescription. Having completed it, he started to double-check everything from the beginning, scrutinizing the pairing of herbs and the dosage.

Indeed, as Gu Ping had noted, this prescription was extraordinary and formidable. Even the slightest mistake could potentially hasten the patient's death. Therefore, no matter how careful he was, it was necessary. He had to constantly deliberate and reason. This wasn't just about his reputation and future; it also concerned a precious human life. Being meticulous was a show of respect for the individual. There was absolutely no room for sloppiness in such matters.