After drinking it for a while with little obvious effect, Xiaoya started dieting, hoping that combining the two would yield better results. Indeed, after about a month, her weight had dropped significantly. However, it was also from that time that she lost her appetite. Previously, she could eat some fruit daily and some staple food every few days, but gradually, she couldn't eat anything at all, and her weight plummeted. It took a month and a half for her weight to drop from the initial 106 pounds to 95 pounds, but it only took two more months to go from 95 pounds to the current seventy-something pounds. Little Uncle, please take a look at Xiaoya. I'm afraid if this continues, she'll starve to death."

Du Heng frowned, not because of Gu Ya's condition, but because Du Xuejing's account completely lacked focus, hardly sounding like something a medical student would say.

"Is it that she doesn't feel hungry and doesn't want to eat, or is it that she can't eat?" As soon as he finished asking, Du Heng saw Du Xuejing about to speak and added, "You remain quiet. Let Gu Ya speak for herself."

Seeing Du Heng's expression, Du Xuejing stuck out her tongue and gently nudged Gu Ya. "You speak."

Gu Ya timidly glanced at Du Heng and whispered, "Sometimes I do feel hungry, but when I see food, I lose all desire to eat. I know my current condition isn't right and that I need to get nutrients. However, as soon as I eat anything, I vomit. The nausea is uncontrollable." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

After listening to Gu Ya, Du Heng pondered for a moment and then asked, "Your weight has dropped so quickly, and you're both medical students. Didn't you go to a hospital for a check-up?"

Du Heng's slightly stiff tone made Gu Ya lower her head, her voice dropping even quieter. "We went to the school hospital. They said I had gastric ulcers, but after a week of treatment, there was no effect at all. So I switched to another hospital. That doctor said I had anorexia, a psychological condition, as well as gastric ulcers and gastric atrophy. After more than two weeks of treatment there, there was still no improvement."

Upon hearing this, Du Heng's frown deepened, not because of the complexity of her condition, but because of her choices as a student.

Who is she? She's a student of traditional Chinese medicine and has completed a year of study, yet her first choice for treatment was Western medicine. This clearly shows that the teaching in her class is substandard; these teachers haven't managed to instill any confidence in their students regarding TCM. And can a student who lacks faith in traditional Chinese medicine truly learn it well? Will she even study it seriously?

Gu Ya, head still lowered, didn't see Du Heng's expression and continued, "Later, I went to see our traditional Chinese medicine teacher. He diagnosed me with insufficient stomach yang and qi stagnation due to dampness obstruction. He prescribed me Costusroot and Amomum Stomach-Nourishing Decoction. However, after taking the Costusroot and Amomum Stomach-Nourishing Decoction, I didn't just feel nauseous when eating; I actually started to vomit. If I ate even a tiny bit of anything, whether it was staple food or fruit, I would throw it up. So, I quickly stopped taking it after four days. I went back to the teacher to explain the situation, and he recommended another doctor to me. This doctor said I had spleen and stomach qi deficiency but no dampness. Therefore, the Costusroot and Amomum Stomach-Nourishing Decoction was a bit too strong for my condition. Instead, he prescribed me Costusroot and Amomum Six Gentlemen Decoction. After taking this decoction, my vomiting indeed wasn't as severe. I could eat a little bit each day, but only about three or four mouthfuls. Any more than that, and I'd still vomit. Plus, ever since I started this medicine, I've been having constant hiccups."

Du Heng took a deep breath, looking closely at her pale complexion again. "Sit properly. Give me your hand; I'll take your pulse."

After examining both her wrists, Du Heng slowly said, "Most weight-loss pills on the market today contain substances like ephedrine, orlistat, and sibutramine. These substances work by suppressing the brain's appetite center to reduce hunger and achieve weight loss. To make the effects of these weight-loss pills more pronounced, manufacturers often increase the dosage of these three components. However, all these components can damage the liver and kidney. Taken in large doses, they can cause irreversible harm and potentially lead to dangerous conditions like liver and kidney failure. As for the products you bought from wechat businesses on Ins, I'd say there's a ninety percent chance they don't have things like prenatal examination reports or any similar official documentation. So, initially, the weight-loss pills likely damaged your liver. The first thing you should have done was focus on protecting and nourishing your liver. After some time, you would have recovered on your own. Instead, your current condition is an illness brought on by all the medication you've taken."

Du Xuejing quickly moved closer to Du Heng. "But Little Uncle, Xiaoya's check-ups did show she has gastric ulcers and chronic gastritis! Why didn't the treatments work? If anything, her condition only worsened."

"The root of the illness lies with the liver and kidney. What use is there in only treating the stomach? Liver wood overcomes stomach earth; not only will she have no appetite, but eating too much will surely lead to vomiting. Didn't you learn this in your basics of traditional Chinese medicine class?" Du Heng glanced coolly at Du Xuejing. "If the cause isn't identified correctly, then the medication will definitely be wrong. Moreover, subsequently using medicines like the Costusroot and Amomum Stomach-Nourishing Decoction and the Six Gentleman Decoction has, on the contrary, directly damaged her stomach qi. It hasn't just damaged the stomach; it has also damaged the spleen. This has reduced her from being able to eat a little to now only managing two or three bites. Simultaneously, the symptom of Hiccup has also appeared."

Du Xuejing asked blankly, "Little Uncle, could you explain it in more detail? I don't understand."

Looking at Du Xuejing's expression, Du Heng deeply regretted not insisting that the girl simply major in oral cavity when she was choosing her field of study last year.