Consulting on menstrual issues?
If he guessed right, this menstrual issue is not the usual kind.
Although Lu Xuan just graduated, he was at least a master's student at Zhijiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. He had grasped some basics of looking, listening, questioning, and feeling the pulse from traditional Chinese medicine, but lacked clinical experience to fully integrate them.
The fine sweat on Cheng Gaowen's forehead and her slightly pale complexion were noticeable even if one didn't have eye problems.
Moreover, judging by her unpleasant expression, she must be enduring significant pain at this moment.
"Menstrual pain?" Lu Xuan asked instinctively.
Cheng Gaowen gave a thumbs-up, "Impressive, no wonder you treated an illness that cost thousands in Western medicine with just a few bucks worth of medicine, you live up to your reputation."
Lu Xuan chuckled bitterly, "Sister Cheng, don't flatter me, anyone who isn't blind could see your condition."
"Just kidding, but I won't believe you have no skills since you used Bone Charcoal Powder and castor oil to heal that child," she said.
Lu Xuan didn't explain, just smiled slightly, then looked seriously at Cheng Gaowen, "Sister Cheng, please tell me about your condition before we start.
But also, don't get your hopes too high! After all, I'm just a newly graduated student. If you put all your hopes on me, the pressure will be too much for me."
Lu Xuan was playing it safe, not making any promises. Newly graduated traditional Chinese medicine doctors usually have the qualifications, but not many will actually practice independently. Most would follow an experienced doctor to gain experience and also receive direct instructions.
It's only when they are truly capable of seeing patients on their own that hospitals will allocate them an independent consultation room, a process that might not take long in Western medicine but typically several years or more in traditional Chinese medicine.
Could a recent graduate really use Bone Charcoal Powder and castor oil to treat a child who swallowed a screw?
To many, Cheng Gaowen included, Lu Xuan's humility seemed unbelievable.
But then again, she knew her own illness. Cheng Gaowen had seen many traditional Chinese doctors over the years without improvement, so hearing Lu Xuan's remarks dashed the tiny glimpse of hope that had just kindled in her heart.
"It's okay, just try. If it doesn't help, it's fine," Cheng Gaowen said nonchalantly, and then began to describe her health condition.
Lu Xuan put aside other thoughts and listened quietly, finally getting some understanding of Cheng Gaowen's condition.
She had her first menstruation at 14, started experiencing menstrual pain after marriage, and it had lasted for seven or eight years, worsening this year. A gynecological examination later revealed three pea-sized nodules on the left side of the posterior vaginal fornix, tender to touch, diagnosed as endometriosis.
For the past two months, she experienced severe abdominal pain, a heavy flow, back soreness and numbness after menstruation, fatigue, drowsiness, poor appetite, and loose stools.
Knowing this, even if he didn't want to ask, Lu Xuan grit his teeth and asked, "Sister Cheng, you haven't… haven't had a child?"
The physical pain, Cheng Gaowen could endure.
But being unable to conceive after many years of marriage was her greatest pain.
"No," she shook her head, her eyes slightly red.
Just as he thought…
Lu Xuan shook his head internally, not expecting that someone as cheerful-looking as Cheng Gaowen couldn't conceive because of endometriosis.
Seeing Lu Xuan silent, a hint of anxiety flashed in Cheng Gaowen's bright eyes, her lips trembled slightly: "Can it be treated?"
Lu Xuan didn't answer but looked at her seriously, "Don't speak yet, stay calm. Let me take a look first."
Cheng Gaowen was stunned but cooperatively let Lu Xuan examine her.
"Your hand."
Cheng Gaowen placed her hand on the pulse pillow.
Lu Xuan placed his hand on it.
Cheng Gaowen's pulse was noticeably different from that of ordinary people. A normal pulse, also known as a common pulse or ordinary pulse, isn't floating or sinking, big or small, is evenly rhythmic, relaxed, and smooth, resilient to touch, and has constant strength.
However, Cheng Gaowen's pulse was very small, soft, and weak, like a thread under the fingers.
Despite its thinness, there was always a tangible, subtle beat, unlike a vague, hard-to-detect faint pulse.
A wiry and thin pulse usually indicates a deficiency in both energy and blood.
But Lu Xuan didn't dare to make this confirmation.
Cheng Gaowen's pulse might not just be wiry and thin; there was another possibility.
A wiry and choppy pulse!
These two pulse types resemble each other, ascertaining which is which is difficult for the inexperienced, leaving Lu Xuan with a dilemma.
The accuracy of pulse diagnosis is crucial and affects the prescription, varying accordingly.
If the pulse diagnosis is wrong, the prescribed medicine won't address the syndrome, only causing more discomfort for the patient.
Ordinary doctors and famous ones often differ by their judgment on subtle details.
Lacking clinical experience in pulse diagnosis, Lu Xuan found it hard to make a call.
"Your tongue."
Lu Xuan decided to look for an alternative approach, possibly obtaining more clarity on the pulse diagnosis from the tongue examination.
Diagnosing pulses and observing the tongue are essential steps in traditional Chinese medicine. Cheng Gaowen knew well and skillfully stuck out her tongue.
"Tongue is pale red, with tooth marks on the edges, thin yellow-greasy coating," Lu Xuan noted internally.
The manifestations on the tongue can be seen by anyone who studied traditional Chinese medicine, but seeing through the manifestation to discern the underlying condition is something few can achieve.
Lu Xuan internally sighed, feeling his six years of studying traditional Chinese medicine seemed wasted.
Yet, he clearly understood this is the profoundness of traditional Chinese medicine—easy to learn, hard to master.
Ordinary people can learn a bit and treat minor ailments around them, but truly mastering it without direct guidance is difficult.
With the pulse checked and the tongue examined, thus having a rough idea of Cheng Gaowen's condition, Lu Xuan was at a loss on medication due to his inability to determine the deficiency or excess precisely.