Chapter 398: Chapter 398: Chilblain Syndrome Differentiation

A vehicle from the Environmental Protection Bureau pulled up beside the ditch, and two staff members got out.

Holding cameras, they started taking photos of the eggplant stalks in the ditch as evidence.

"This much agricultural waste piled up here has already polluted the waterway and poses a fire hazard."

One of the staff members said with a frown, "Who piled this here? This needs to be dealt with seriously!"

The uncle from before immediately stepped forward and pointed. "Officers, it was Sun Weiguang from our village. He throws this stuff here every year. I’ve reported him many times."

The bureau staff immediately contacted the village committee, and soon, a somewhat overweight, middle-aged man came running over.

It was the very same Sun Weiguang the uncle had mentioned.

When Sun Weiguang saw the staff from the Environmental Protection Bureau, his bravado vanished. He knew he was in trouble this time.

The bureau staff gave Sun Weiguang a stern lecture and ordered him to clear the site as soon as possible. Only after they were done did Li Xu approach him. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Sun Weiguang was sighing in frustration. A few years ago, he could have just taken these stalks home to use as fuel for his stove.

But now, with strict environmental regulations, burning firewood at home was forbidden; only natural gas was allowed.

Taking them home would be useless, just taking up space.

Just as he was worrying about what to do, Li Xu found him.

He offered to help him dispose of the stalks.

Upon hearing this, Sun Weiguang said happily, "Yes, absolutely! The stalks are all yours. As long as you haul them away, you can do whatever you want with them."

As for charging a fee, the thought didn’t even cross Sun Weiguang’s mind.

He would be eternally grateful just to have someone help him deal with these stalks.

Li Xu contacted Ding Kaifang and had him send a truck and some men to haul away the eggplant stalks. Then, he cut off the eggplant roots, filling two large bags.

By the time he finished and returned to the clinic, it was already noon.

Then, he saw two familiar faces.

Yang Qing and Lin Xiaoyu.

"Doctor Li, you’re finally here."

Yang Qing let out a sigh of relief.

"Ms. Yang, Editor Lin, what brings you both here together? And this is?"

Li Xu looked at Yang Tian.

Yang Qing quickly made the introduction. "Doctor Li, this is my younger brother, Yang Tian. He just got back from the frontier. He has severe frostbite on his hands and ears, and we were hoping you could take a look."

Li Xu nodded, then looked at Lin Xiaoyu. "Xiao Yu, are you here to see a doctor?"

Lin Xiaoyu looked a bit awkward but managed a smile. "Yes, Doctor Li. I’m not feeling well either, but I also wanted to see how you treat frostbite. I’m thinking of publishing a feature story in our magazine."

"Let’s take a look at the frostbite first, then."

Li Xu pointed to a chair in the consultation room. "Please, have a seat."

’The system’s intel is as timely as ever,’ Li Xu thought. ’I get a patient with frostbite today, and the intel provides the corresponding treatment. However... for frostbite, just the Potato Root Water probably won’t be enough. He’ll need to take a medicinal decoction as well.’

Yang Tian sat down and held out his frostbitten hands.

Li Xu observed them carefully.

The backs of Yang Tian’s hands and his knuckles were swollen, dark, and red. Some areas were already chapped and scabbed over. There were similar dark red patches on his ears and cheekbones, which were cold to the touch.

Li Xu then had Yang Tian stick out his tongue. It was dark purple, and his pulse was deep and choppy.

"In Traditional Chinese Medicine, frostbite is primarily caused by the body’s exposure to pathogenic cold, which leads to poor circulation of qi and blood, blockage of the meridians, and eventually results in heat from stagnation or a deficiency of both qi and blood."

Li Xu explained as he conducted the examination.

"Clinically, frostbite can be categorized into several types. One is Cold Coagulation and Blood Stasis, which is what you have. This presents with localized dark purple swelling and a stinging pain that worsens with warmth, along with a dark purple tongue. Another is Yang Qi Deficiency, which manifests as pale, numb patches and an aversion to cold in the limbs. There’s also Qi and Blood Deficiency, where the affected area is pale and accompanied by fatigue and a sallow complexion. Damp-Heat Accumulation presents with localized red, swollen, and eroded skin with discharge and intense itching. And there are even more complex cases of intertwined Cold and Heat."

Li Xu looked at Yang Tian. "Your condition is a classic case of Cold Coagulation and Blood Stasis. The dark purple swelling and stinging pain in your hands and ears, especially the way the pain intensifies in a warm environment, along with your dark purple tongue—these are all indicators. The treatment principle is to warm the meridians to disperse cold and to invigorate blood to resolve stasis."

He thought for a moment, then said, "I’ll write you a prescription based on a modified Danggui Sini Tang. It will contain herbs like Danggui, Cinnamon Bark, Peony, Asarum, Tetrapanax, licorice, and Large Dates, which can warm the meridians, disperse cold, nourish the blood, and free the vessels. At the same time, we can supplement this with a prepared Chinese medicine, like Guizhi Fuling capsules. They contain ingredients like Cinnamon Bark and Poria Cocos, which are effective at warming the meridians, freeing the collaterals, and invigorating blood to resolve stasis. They work very well for improving frostbite symptoms."

As he spoke, Li Xu began entering the prescription into his computer.

Lin Xiaoyu listened intently from the side, afraid of missing a single detail.

She took out her phone and recorded everything Li Xu said, occasionally looking up to ask for clarification on some of the technical terms, her professionalism on full display.

After writing out the prescription, Li Xu added, "In addition to the internal medicine, external application is equally important. I suggest you decoct eggplant root in water and soak the affected areas while it’s still warm, twice a day for fifteen to twenty minutes each time."

"Eggplant root?"

Lin Xiaoyu repeated in surprise, her face full of curiosity. "Doctor Li, can eggplant root really treat frostbite? Is... is that effective?"

Li Xu smiled and explained, "Eggplant root, also known as ’Qie Mu,’ is an underestimated folk herb. It has a sweet and cool nature and can invigorate blood, resolve stasis, reduce swelling, and relieve pain. By decocting it in water for a hot compress or soak, you can promote local blood circulation and accelerate the healing of the frostbitten areas. An ancient text once said, ’Eggplant root is sovereign for frostbite; boiling it into a soup for soaking is excellent,’ which confirms its efficacy. And as it happens, I just collected some extremely high-quality eggplant root from the outskirts this morning, so the effect will be even better."

Hearing Li Xu’s explanation, it dawned on Lin Xiaoyu, and she quickly jotted it down.

Li Xu turned to Song Sisi and said, "Sisi, go get some of the eggplant root I brought back and start boiling it in water."

"Right away, Boss!"

Song Sisi answered briskly and went to the back room.

Hope sparked in Yang Tian’s heart after hearing Li Xu’s words. He said gratefully, "Thank you, Doctor Li. After hearing your explanation, I feel much more at ease."

While Song Sisi was preparing the Potato Root Water, Lin Xiaoyu finally couldn’t hold back any longer.

"Doctor Li, I... I’m also not feeling well. I was hoping you could take a look at me, too."

Lin Xiaoyu’s face turned red; it was clearly a difficult topic for her to bring up.

Yang Qing understood Lin Xiaoyu’s predicament and said to Yang Tian, "Xiao Tian, why don’t you go sit outside for a bit, or wait for me in the next room? Doctor Li, Xiao Yu, and I have something to discuss."

Yang Tian immediately understood his sister’s intention, nodded, and left the consultation room.

After Yang Tian left, Lin Xiaoyu finally relaxed a little.

"Doctor Li, my old problem is acting up again. It’s... hemorrhoids," Lin Xiaoyu said in a low voice.

Li Xu nodded, gesturing for her to continue.

...