Four Cuttlefish Bones and One Ru Pill

Zhao Qiangjun had been taking Su Ziyang's medication for a week, came for a follow-up visit.

"Doctor Su, hello, hello."

Zhao Qiangjun was accompanied only by his son this time. Zhao Qiangjun seemed to be in a good mood and in good spirits.

"Hello, please have a seat."

Su Ziyang quickly asked Zhao Qiangjun to sit down.

"Doctor Su, my stool isn't black anymore after taking your medicine. Do you think we should adjust the prescription, or what should we do?"

Su Ziyang's prediction came true; Zhao Qiangjun's stool showed a noticeable change, turning from black to a normal color. Moreover, Zhao Qiangjun's appetite also improved, and he ate more.

Therefore, Zhao Qiangjun, who had originally been weary of life and waiting to die, suddenly gained a clear sense of confidence.

Their desire for treatment and their will to live have also increased significantly.

"Let me take your pulse first."

Su Ziyang gestured for him to take the pulse first.

Sure enough, the pulse was much calmer and less rapid than before.

"Here's what I'm thinking: I'll make you a pill so it'll be easier for you to take at home. It might take a while to finish, mainly to break down the lumps in your stomach. So, while you're taking the medicine, let's try to keep a happy mood and avoid getting angry, okay?"

Su Ziyang chuckled and patted Zhao Qiangjun's wrist. Zhao Qiangjun nodded repeatedly and agreed.

Su Ziyang had already thought about this prescription quite thoroughly when he prescribed the medicine last time.

This formula comes from the book "Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon" and has no special name; it is simply called Four Cuttlefish Bones and One Ru Pill.

This prescription comes from the Discourse on the Abdomen.

It discusses two prescriptions, one called Chicken Dung Sweet Wine, and the other is a prescription devised by Su Ziyang.

This prescription is recorded in the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon as a treatment for blood deficiency, because the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon explicitly states that this prescription is for blood deficiency.

The *Neijing Inner Canon Medicine) describes a female ailment called "Blood Depletion," and its symptoms are described as follows. "When the patient experiences fullness and distension in the chest and hypochondrium, it hinders eating. Upon onset, the patient first smells a fishy or foul odor, then vomits clear fluid, spits blood, feels cold in the limbs, experiences dizziness, and bleeds from the front and back frequently."

It means that she felt discomfort in her chest and rib area, which affected her eating. Then she smelled a strange odor, vomited blood, felt weak, dizzy, and had bleeding from both her anus and genitals.

Qi Bo replied that it was a disease of blood deficiency, adding that it was a condition where women's menstruation was infrequent or absent.

Therefore, this formula is more specifically defined as a treatment for gynecological diseases in women.

However, Su Ziyang is now preparing to use unconventional methods.

Only symptoms are considered, regardless of gender.

Since both are diseases originating from the blood, it's worth a try.

The recipe is as follows:

Combine four pieces of black carp bone with one piece of dried meat and two other ingredients, and make pills the size of small beans using sparrow eggs. Take five pills after meals and drink abalone broth. This will benefit the intestines and help with liver damage.

Cuttlebone, also known as sea squid bone, is not controversial in this prescription.

However, the medicine "Ru" was controversial in later generations. People of later generations mostly believed that this drug was madder.

The book "Classified Canon" also mentions. "Wu sui is also known as cuttlefish. Its bones are called hai piao xiao. Its taste is salty and warm and descends, so it is used to treat leukorrhea, amenorrhea, and blood deficiency in women. Its nature is astringent, so it can also help people have children."

(艹 consider) Ru, also known as Ru (艹 consider), that is, madder.

Whether this understanding is correct or not, my seriousness stems from a certain reason.

In the Classic of Poetry, in the section "The Eastern Gate's Ferns" from the "Airs of Zheng," there is a line that reads, "The ferns by the eastern gate, their plums grow on the slope."

The herb mentioned here is madder.

Therefore, the same applies to both ancient and modern times, Su Ziyang believes that there is no problem with madder root.

So naturally, this formula was used.

Is there any merit to using madder root for this illness? There is some merit to it. In the book "Collected Commentaries on the Classic of Materia Medica", the following discussion is made about madder root:

It tastes bitter, is cold in nature, and is non-toxic. It is used to treat cold-dampness and wind-dampness, jaundice, and to replenish the middle jiao (spleen and stomach). It also stops bleeding, treats internal bleeding, hematochezia, bladder deficiency, falls, and parasitic infections.

Cuttlebone, a medicinal herb, is described in the Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica as having a salty taste and slightly warm properties. It is used to treat leukorrhea, red and white menstrual flow, amenorrhea, vaginal erosion, swelling and pain, chills and fever, abdominal masses, and infertility in women.

It is true that it mainly affects women, but it also mainly affects abdominal masses.

This type of cancer is also called "zhengjia" in traditional Chinese medicine.

In addition, cuttlebone has another benefit: it can neutralize stomach acid and relieve pain.

The only ingredient in this prescription that's hard to find is sparrow eggs.

Su Ziyang even searched online for sparrow eggs, but found almost none for sale.

They sell quail eggs, pigeon eggs, or rutin chicken eggs.

So, to make a simple compromise, Su Ziyang thought it would be better to use eggs directly.

Eggs, though seemingly mundane, can help protect the gastric mucosa and stomach yin.

Therefore, the actual situation is more consistent with Zhao Qiangjun's stomach cancer.

Since it's the medicinal ingredient, which is abalone sauce, Su Ziyang decided to skip it.

The pharmacy was reluctant to make this prescription, and Su Ziyang had to give them a long and detailed explanation before they finally agreed.

"Take this medicine on an empty stomach. Take 5 pills each time. Do not take more. Wait half an hour after taking it before eating."

After explaining the method of administration, Su Ziyang told the two that they could pick up the medicine in two days, and Zhao Qiangjun left happily.

With only a small dose, Su Ziyang was looking forward to the effects of his prescription.

Hey bro, got busy?

Before Su Ziyang could catch his breath, Liuzi's older sister called.

"Oh, sister. You said you just finished working."

Liuzi's cooking is so delicious that Su Ziyang is always happy when he receives the call.

"Come and check my mother's pulse. The swelling on her body has gone down, but her feet are still a little swollen. Also, her blood pressure has been a bit high these past couple of days. Could you come and take a look?"

Liuzi's two sentences made Su Ziyang completely happy.

The swelling has gone down, which means the person is saved. That's wonderful!

"Okay, sis. I'll go over after get off work at noon, and then I'll... hehe."

Su Ziyang smiled a little embarrassedly.

"Bring your little girlfriend here! I'll teach her how to cook."

Liuzi laughed heartily on the phone.

"Thank you, sister!"

Su Ziyang told Fairy Li that they were going to Liuzi's house for dinner, Fairy Li was so happy that she kept revving the engine, attracting the attention of the people around them.

"Did you bring a voice recorder, Ms. Fairy Li?"

As soon as Su Ziyang got into the car, he grinned at Fairy Li.

"That's a must-have! I'll record it so you can learn when I get back and cook for me! Let's go! Let's go!"

They arrived at Liuzi's house quickly. As soon as Su Ziyang entered, the old lady was sitting on the sofa watching TV.

The old lady beamed with joy as soon as she saw Su Ziyang arrive.

"Here I am!"

"Oh, ma'am, you're here. Let me take your pulse!"

Su Ziyang observed that the old lady's appearance indicated she was in excellent spirits and seemed much more vibrant than before.

"Big sister, let me help you!"

Fairy Li knew that learning from books was never enough, so as soon as she entered the door, she rolled up her sleeves and went straight to the kitchen.