I Can Talk to the Internal Organs-Chapter 336 - 302: I Want to Smash This Cake

"Dean Lu, don’t laugh, but when I first saw this purely traditional Chinese medicine treatment plan, I was very resistant. I thought these few simple herbs couldn’t possibly contain anything that would inhibit blood sugar, let alone heal diabetic foot."

"When a patient reaches this stage, their lower limbs are basically half-disabled. It’s not just the blood metrics; the motor nerves and bone strength are also deteriorating. I really can’t understand how just three medicinal ingredients, plus sugar, could restore their blood flow, even revive the motor nerves, significantly improve bone hardening, and magically heal the sores on their feet. Even the stubborn pus and blood were completely absorbed."

"Even now, with the efficacy right in front of me, I still don’t understand the principles behind it. But that’s okay; medicine should prioritize efficacy. We can figure out what we don’t understand over time. Today, I just want to ask you, can you explain why the Vital Energy Warming Formula can restore a patient’s necrotic lower limbs?"

While asking for advice, Ma Dongqi also wanted to see if Lu Jiu could speak to the key elements.

He knew he didn’t understand traditional Chinese medicine, but it’s okay, as long as it’s medicine and it’s effective, then there must be a way to make sense of it.

Just like a high-precision object can be created, it can’t be without theoretical guidance.

For instance, a cellphone—you absolutely can’t make one without some theoretical knowledge.

Medicine is naturally the same; without theoretical guidance, how could there be efficacy?

This is also why Ma Dongqi didn’t believe in Chinese medicine initially but was still willing to give it a try.

Even though he studied Western medicine, he is very accepting of traditional Chinese medicine. In his view, Chinese medicine is just lagging behind the times; many things can’t be explained in straightforward terms, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong.

Otherwise, how could it have survived till now!

Especially after three years of the pandemic, Ma Dongqi naturally came to trust Chinese medicine even more.

When Lu Jiu heard Ma Dongqi’s question, he patiently started to explain, "Actually, using the Vital Energy Warming Formula with sugar to treat diabetic foot was a last resort. Of course, the reason the Vital Energy Warming Formula works is not just because it can expel pus; its most important function is to warm Yang and dispel cold, as well as replenish the middle and benefit Qi."

"Why is this function important? First, when diabetic patients initially get sick and haven’t taken medications yet, the hospital check-up shows there’s too much sugar, but Chinese medicine believes there’s too little water in the patient’s body. The most obvious characteristic is that diabetic patients always feel thirsty and want to drink water, but drinking water doesn’t quench their thirst."

"Blood sugar-lowering medications can treat symptoms because they maintain patients in a state of pathological balance."

Ma Dongqi frowned, "Pathological balance?"

Lu Jiu said, "Yes, because patients feel thirsty and want to drink water, but drinking doesn’t quench their thirst. This indicates that the functions of generating fluids and retaining water in their bodies are malfunctioning, which leads to a water deficit that cannot be replenished. When the total amount of water decreases, sugar naturally becomes more concentrated. At this time, blood sugar-lowering medications burn off some sugar, indeed providing temporary stability for diabetic patients, but the dehydration problem still remains unsolved."

"So where is the root of this dehydration issue? The small intestine! When the small intestine’s temperature is insufficient, the food in the digestive process cannot be fully vaporized upon reaching the large intestine. Thus, water content from food can’t flow through the large intestine to the lungs. Consequently, the lungs can’t generate fluids properly, and the kidneys don’t receive fluids, leading to depletion of Kidney Essence. Since the kidneys control retention, damage to them means they can’t store water."

"This is why patients feel thirsty but drinking water doesn’t quench their thirst!"

"If a problem arises in any part of the body’s circulation, multiple symptoms will appear. Excessive consumption of blood sugar-lowering medications doesn’t address this circulatory problem after burning sugar; rather, it leaves behind hidden dangers. Of course, I’m not criticizing blood sugar-lowering medications, but one major cause of diabetic foot is overconsumption of these drugs."

"The dampness, pus, and blood in diabetic foot patients’ lower limbs are indeed just turbid matter that results from sugar being burned and combining with cold damp and stasis. The Vital Energy Warming Formula, combined with sugar, can quickly expel these turbid materials. Simultaneously, the formula warms Yang and dispels cold, eliminating excess cold and dampness in the Lower Jiao, restoring the body’s Yang Qi. Simply put, it raises the patient’s body temperature a bit."

"You’ve been observing diabetic foot patients long-term, and you must know they often have cold limbs, which is a severe cold syndrome. The Vital Energy Warming Formula not only warms Yang and dispels cold but also replenishes the middle and boosts Qi. It fortifies the Spleen Yang, allowing the Spleen and Stomach functions to recover somewhat, enabling the patient’s Qi and blood to rise, thereby maintaining their internal circulation and temporarily alleviating some symptoms."

"In fact, this doesn’t completely cure the patient but simply preserves his leg. The patient’s functions of generating fluids and retention haven’t recovered, so they still need blood sugar-lowering drugs to manage high blood sugar."

After listening, Ma Dongqi, though not particularly understanding, could more or less grasp Lu Jiu’s meaning.

He actually knew himself that blood sugar-lowering medications couldn’t cure diabetes.

Just like blood pressure-lowering drugs can’t cure hypertension.

But the existing research on medications can only achieve this much.

As a Western medicine practitioner, to some extent, the medication’s efficacy also determines his medical skill.

Often, there are only a handful of drugs to choose from, and he’ll obviously recommend the best available to the patient.

Whether the patient recovers or not depends on the drug, not really on him.

This is a frequent point of criticism from patients; they say if you can read the medication instructions, anyone can be a Western doctor.

Of course, there’s a problem with this kind of statement.

"So according to you, theoretically, if we resolve the functions of generating fluids and retention for many diabetic patients, they wouldn’t have to progress to diabetic foot?" Ma Dongqi asked.

Lu Jiu replied, "In theory, yes, but it’s impractical."

Ma Dongqi asked, "Why?"

Lu Jiu replied, "There aren’t many practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine, and even fewer who understand diabetes and can prescribe the White Tiger Decoction specifically. Curing diabetes is far more complex than treating diabetic foot. I do hope that most diabetic patients could be cured, but at this stage, we can only conduct palliative, generalized treatment."

Indeed, they say traditional Chinese medicine is tailored to each individual.

Lu Jiu’s exploration of using the Vital Energy Warming Formula with sugar to achieve such a high cure rate in diabetic foot patients is remarkable.

This completely breaks traditional Chinese medicine’s principle of individual-based prescriptions, which greatly impresses Ma Dongqi.

"I’ve learned something. Next, let’s quickly compile this paper. I heard Professor Liu mention you handled the traditional Chinese medicine explanations for the sugar paper, so it seems we’ll trouble you as the first author again for this one," Ma Dongqi said with a smile.

"No problem," Lu Jiu replied.

"Alright then, Professor Liu, Elder Mo, Mr. Feng Sr., shall we end today’s meeting?" Ma Dongqi suggested.

"Okay, Director Ma, see you!" Liu Xing said.

After finishing the conversation, the video call ended.

In the office, the smiles on everyone’s faces lingered.

"Dean Lu, I’m very much looking forward to seeing the waves this paper will stir up when published in the Huaxia Medical Journal. The medical field will be quite exciting then, hahaha!" Liu Xing laughed.

"There might be some who won’t appreciate it," Mo Linxun remarked.

"Not likely. If he claimed that certain Chinese medicines could challenge the status of blood sugar-lowering drugs and compete for that market, then he might be under pressure," Feng Shaohua said.

"As Dean Lu mentioned earlier, the White Tiger Decoction would suffice, but it requires traditional Chinese medicine for dialectical diagnosis and specific prescriptions for each individual. So even if such a case existed, it wouldn’t be easy for Chinese medicine to compete in that market," Liu Xing added.

Listening to their conversation, Lu Jiu smiled.

"Who says it must be medicine to shake this market?"

Upon hearing this, everyone suddenly turned to look at Lu Jiu.

They saw Lu Jiu stand up with a gentle smile, "I’ll first work on eliminating diabetes in Jianghan City. You folks haven’t forgotten the experience from this period, right? If Lu Jiu TCM Hospital leads the entire city’s lifestyle, how many diabetic patients will still remain?"

"I don’t intend on competing for that market—I just want to smash it!"

"Anyone interested in joining?"