Chapter 666: Rebellion

Chapter 666: Chapter 666: Rebellion

Mitsuyama sized up the mother and daughter.

The girl’s face was expressionless, even a little cold.

When the mother spoke, she tugged on her daughter, trying to get her to say a few words, but the girl irritably shook her hand off and turned her head away.

’Puberty. Rebellious phase,’ Mitsuyama concluded to himself.

Li Xu gestured for the girl to place her arm on the Pulse Pillow and began to take her pulse.

"This condition started appearing about a year ago?"

Li Xu asked while continuing his diagnosis.

"Yes," the girl’s mother hurried to answer. "She used to be normal, but for the past year, her period only comes once every two or three months. And every time it does, the pain is excruciating. Her flow is also very light, and the color is dark."

"Before this started, did anything unusual happen? For instance, did she catch a cold? Or... experience any emotional turmoil?"

Li Xu had hit upon the crucial point.

The mother thought for a moment and sighed. "It was around the time of her high school entrance exams. Her grades were slipping, and I said a few things to her... maybe my tone was a bit harsh. After that, this child got angry with me, ignored me for days, and refused to eat."

"This child... she’s always had a temper. We spoiled her growing up, and now you can’t say or do anything to cross her. She explodes at the slightest touch, like a powder keg."

Li Xu withdrew his hand, a clear picture forming in his mind.

This illness wasn’t in her body, but in her heart.

"This condition is caused by anger."

Li Xu stated bluntly, "She suffers from chronic liver qi stagnation, leading to a blockage in her qi’s flow. Qi is the commander of blood; when qi stagnates, blood stasis occurs. With poor blood circulation, the stasis obstructs the uterus. Obstruction causes pain, which is why her cramps are severe and her menstrual blood is dark purple."

"Furthermore, liver depression overwhelms the spleen, disrupting the spleen and stomach’s transformative and transportive functions. This cuts off the source for qi and blood generation, resulting in a light flow and a delayed cycle."

Li Xu had just looked through her previous medical records and found that the girl had seen many doctors and taken a pile of both Chinese and Western medicine.

Most of the previous doctors had treated it as "cold in the uterus," prescribing many medications to warm the meridians, dispel cold, warm the uterus, and stop pain. They had used things like Ai Fu Nuan Gong Wan and Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang.

But the results were poor.

The reason was simple: their approach was wrong.

It’s true that cold coagulation can cause dysmenorrhea, but this girl’s tongue coating wasn’t white and greasy; rather, the tip and sides of her tongue were red. Her pulse wasn’t deep and slow, but wiry and fine.

This was a classic case of "qi stagnation and blood stasis," not a simple case of "cold coagulation and blood stasis."

Only warming the yang without soothing the liver is like pouring hot water into a clogged river. The water might get warm, but the silt is still there, and the river can’t flow.

"Try not to get angry so often. Keep your spirits up."

Li Xu advised gently while typing a prescription into the computer, "Getting angry all the time is bad for your health. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, we have a saying: ’For women, the liver is the congenital foundation.’ If the liver qi is not flowing smoothly, gynecological problems will arise. You’re only a sophomore in high school, a crucial period for your physical development. What is there to be so angry about? You need to be more open-minded."

The girl still didn’t say a word. She just looked up at Li Xu, her eyes filled with a trace of stubbornness and disdain, as if to say, ’What do you know?’

Li Xu glanced at the girl and knew his words were going in one ear and out the other.

Kids at this age are in their rebellious phase; they’re the last people who want to listen to lectures.

"When you get home, you should also guide her more. Don’t just fixate on her grades; pay more attention to her emotional well-being," Li Xu turned and instructed the mother.

"This prescription is a modification of Chaihu Shugan Powder combined with Dan Zhi Xiaoyao Powder. It soothes the liver and resolves depression, clears heat and cools the blood, and invigorates blood to regulate menstruation."

"One dose per day. Take it for half a month to start. We’ll see how things are before your next period."

Li Xu handed the printed prescription to the mother, then couldn’t help but add one more thing to the girl: "This is the age for building your body’s foundation. If you don’t pay attention now, prolonged qi stagnation and blood stasis could affect your fertility in the future, and could even lead to nodules or fibroids. When that happens, you’ll be the one who suffers."

From beginning to end, Mitsuyama had been in the corner of the waiting room, craning his neck and observing Li Xu’s every move with a piercing gaze.

Although he was a proper Western-style doctor, and a figure at the pinnacle of regenerative medicine,

in Japan, the research atmosphere for Traditional Chinese Medicine was extremely strong, and many Western medical experts also studied it.

Besides, the essence of medicine is universal; all roads lead to the same destination.

Mitsuyama listened with great interest as Li Xu performed his differential diagnosis and wrote the prescription for the rebellious girl.

Although there were some professional Traditional Chinese Medicine terms he couldn’t fully comprehend, the logic and grasp of the pathogenesis compelled him to admit that this young doctor from China indeed possessed a profound foundation of skill.

’Interesting,’ Mitsuyama thought to himself.

Before coming, he had assumed Li Xu was just some "barefoot doctor" who had gotten lucky with a bit of good fortune or an ancestral secret recipe. He even suspected that the so-called "Tooth Regeneration Formula" was a scam.

But now, it seemed the young man’s proficiency in the four diagnostic methods—observation, listening and smelling, inquiry, and palpation—as well as his analysis of the condition, all demonstrated an extremely high level of professionalism.

This made him shed his initial disdain and adopt a more scrutinizing perspective.

After the patient left, the young doctor next to Li Xu couldn’t help but speak up.

"Li Xu, that’s an excellent prescription. The diagnosis of liver qi stagnation and the method of soothing the liver to resolve depression are classics in TCM gynecology. Your formula resolves depression, soothes the liver, moves qi to disperse stasis, and clears damp-heat. You’ve considered every aspect. But..."

The one speaking was Hu Qiming.

Ostensibly, he was here today to "provide support," but in reality, he was here to sit in on the session and learn.

"Li Xu, there’s something I want to say, but I’m not sure if I should," Hu Qiming hesitated.

"Since when are you so wishy-washy? Just say what’s on your mind."

Li Xu said with a smile as he organized the medical records.

Only then did Hu Qiming say in a low voice, "I don’t think that young girl will stick with the medicine you prescribed for more than a few days. Two days at most, and that bitter decoction will probably be poured down the drain."

"You’re not wrong."

Li Xu nodded, not denying it. "That girl is clearly in her rebellious phase. She was spoiled by her parents and is covered in thorns. She treats her family’s words as if they’re going in one ear and out the other, let alone the words of a strange doctor. Besides, dysmenorrhea is so common for many women that a lot of them don’t even take it seriously. They think they can just endure it and it’ll pass."

For women, period pain has practically become a monthly "routine."

Unless the pain is so bad they’re rolling on the floor and it’s affecting their lives, they won’t even think about seeing a doctor.

Most just tough out any mild pain.

The prescription Li Xu gave the girl this time was a full half-month’s dose.

Given the girl’s impatient attitude just now, she most likely wouldn’t be able to stick with it.

"There’s nothing to be done about it. A doctor doesn’t knock on an unwilling door, and wisdom isn’t given lightly."

Li Xu spread his hands helplessly. "I’ve said everything that needed to be said and explained the stakes. If she doesn’t take it seriously and doesn’t care for her own body, there’s nothing a doctor can do. I can’t very well chase her home and pry her mouth open to pour it down her throat, can I?"

"Yeah, I was just saying. It just feels like a bit of a waste."

Hu Qiming sighed.

Often, a doctor must not only treat the illness but also the "heart," and struggle against the patient’s lack of compliance.