Chinese Medicine: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 596: Chapter 596: Dried Tangerine Peel

Li Xu took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts.

As if seeing through Li Xu’s hesitation, Qin Ming didn’t press him, but continued to speak.

"Dean Li, in truth, I’ve been researching acupuncture anesthesia for several decades now."

"Sigh... I can’t compare to your innate talent, Dean Li. At such a young age, you’ve already reached the grandmaster level described in the ancient texts—the state where the effect is as immediate as the arrival of qi."

"Frankly, the way you alter needling intensity and acupoint combinations, flexibly applying the TCM theories of obtaining, guiding, and preserving qi to control the anesthetic effect with the precision of your own limbs... I was truly astounded. It felt like I was witnessing the mastery of my teacher’s generation from decades ago, perhaps even surpassing it."

"These were the theories my teacher constantly spoke to me about when he was still alive. Unfortunately, my own understanding was lacking, and I was never able to fully comprehend them."

Qin Ming sighed, a nostalgic glimmer in his eyes.

"I studied Western anesthesiology for a time when I was younger, and I also systematically learned acupuncture during my school years. I’ve always wanted to combine the two."

"Over the years, even though everyone says acupuncture anesthesia has fallen out of favor, I haven’t been idle."

"The advancement of modern science, particularly the in-depth research into pain-conduction mechanisms, has been both a help to us and a bottleneck that limits our imagination."

"However, Dean Li, my team hasn’t been wasting its time either."

Qin Ming’s tone suddenly shifted.

"For the past few years, we’ve been experimenting with an approach: ’acupuncture anesthesia combined with pharmacological anesthesia.’ In other words, ’acupuncture-drug compound anesthesia.’"

"We’ve found that if we first perform acupuncture induction during surgery and then supplement it with a small amount of anesthetic medication, we can not only drastically reduce the required drug dosage but also significantly improve the anesthetic effect, lessen post-operative side effects like nausea and vomiting, and accelerate the patient’s recovery from the anesthesia."

"This might be a more pragmatic and viable path forward."

"I believe our collaboration would be very fruitful. You have top-tier acupuncture techniques, and I have a wealth of clinical data and experience in pharmacological research."

Li Xu’s eyes widened as he finished listening to Qin Ming.

A feeling of sudden enlightenment washed over him, as if the clouds had parted to reveal the sun.

’That’s it!’

’I’ve fallen into a black-and-white thinking trap.’

’It’s either all acupuncture or all Western medicine.’

’Why have I been so fixated on *pure* acupuncture anesthesia?’

’Whether it’s acupuncture anesthesia or pharmacological anesthesia, isn’t the ultimate goal to ensure the patient has a smooth surgery and to reduce their suffering?’

’As long as the surgical objectives are met and the patient benefits, does it really matter if the method is purely traditional or a combination of Eastern and Western medicine?’

’It doesn’t matter if a cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice.’

Qin Ming’s words were a wake-up call for Li Xu.

Acupuncture has its clear limitations, such as incomplete analgesia and insufficient muscle relaxation.

Likewise, anesthetic drugs have their own unavoidable limitations, like major side effects, potential organ damage, and slow recovery times.

’But what if you combine the two?’

’They could compensate for each other’s weaknesses—a union of two powerhouses.’

’Use acupuncture to reduce the drug dosage and protect the organs.’

’Use medication to compensate for acupuncture’s inadequate analgesia and muscle relaxation.’

’This wasn’t just a possibility; it was a perfect symbiotic relationship.’

Li Xu’s mind raced, rapidly running through various scenarios: different acupoint combinations, their selections, and the interactive effects with drug metabolism.

Suddenly!

Li Xu’s eyes lit up as he looked at Qin Ming. "Professor Qin, it’s viable. It’s more than viable."

"Acupuncture-drug combined anesthesia—that’s the real solution! It could create a synergistic effect where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, giving us results we never expected."

Hearing this, Qin Ming let out a hearty laugh and extended his hand. "Then it’s settled. Let’s do this together."

Striking while the iron was hot, Dean Song, on behalf of the Feng City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, formally extended an invitation to Qin Ming, appointing him as the hospital’s "Special Invited Expert" and "Chief Consultant of the Oncology Center."

Qin Ming readily accepted.

After all, to conduct in-depth research on acupuncture-drug combined anesthesia, they would need extensive clinical practice and data support. This meant he would have to visit often to work alongside Li Xu.

Of course, his official position and primary focus would remain at the Peking Union Medical College Hospital in the Capital City.

However, he promised to visit at least once a week.

He would spend half a day in the clinic, teaching the younger doctors, and the other half in the operating room and lab, hammering away at the tough research on acupuncture anesthesia with Li Xu.

Li Xu was so happy with this outcome that he was grinning from ear to ear.

With a nationally renowned dual expert in oncology and anesthesia like Qin Ming on board, the oncology department at the Feng City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine finally had its own pillar of strength.

Not only did their technical capabilities instantly leap several tiers, but their reputation was also rising with the tide.

Now they would have much more confidence when faced with difficult cases or the need for such complex surgeries in the future.

...

「Feng City, Garden District」

Aunt Li had just gotten home from work. She took off her orange sanitation worker’s uniform, washed her face, and collapsed wearily onto the sofa.

She habitually pulled out her phone and opened a livestreaming app to unwind.

"Alright, folks, gather ’round! Have I got something good for you today."

In the livestream, a beaming host held up a piece of dark brown, dried peel for the camera to see.

"Look at this color, dark and glossy! And the fragrance... that’s the mellow scent of a well-aged peel. This is absolutely authentic, aged Xinhui Dried Tangerine Peel, over ten years old."

The host’s voice dripped with temptation. "Everyone knows the saying, ’An ounce of peel is worth an ounce of gold, and a century-old peel is better than gold.’ How much does this stuff normally sell for in pharmacies? Hundreds, even thousands! But today, to give back to all of you, my family, we’re slashing the price! Just 198 yuan per pound, with free shipping right to your door!"

Watching the screen, Aunt Li was tempted.

She spent her days sweeping the streets, and even though she wore a mask, she inevitably breathed in a lot of dust.

Lately, her throat had been feeling dry and itchy, and she sometimes had phlegm she couldn’t seem to cough up.

She had originally planned to go see Li Xu about it.

After all, she knew him, and his medical skills were excellent.

But Li Xu had been too busy lately, either away on business trips or at the Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. His own clinic was often closed, or only Song Sisi was there.

Aunt Li figured it was just a minor issue, nothing serious. Going to the hospital, waiting in line, and registering was too much of a hassle, and it would cost a fair bit of money too.

"Water infused with Dried Tangerine Peel is good for the throat. It can relieve phlegm, stop coughs, and it’s good for digestion," Aunt Li muttered to herself. "And 198 isn’t that expensive. I’ll buy some and give it a try."

With that thought, she hesitated no longer, tapping the small shopping cart icon in the bottom-right corner and placing an order for two pounds.

A few days later, the package arrived.

Aunt Li eagerly tore open the package.

The Dried Tangerine Peel inside looked just as dark as it had on the livestream.

She grabbed a handful, put it in a cup, and poured boiling water over it.

The water slowly turned an amber color.

Aunt Li picked up the cup, blew on the steam, and took a sip.

"Hm?"

She frowned.

’This flavor... it’s a bit strange, isn’t it?’

It had none of the fresh fragrance or sweet aftertaste the host had described. Instead, there was an indescribable bitterness, even a faint, sour tang of rot, like the smell of moldy orange peels that had been left out to dry.

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