A One-Herb Prescription for Glaucoma
The next day, Han Jinkai called to tell Su Ziyang that his wife's fingers had basically returned to normal.
Eye diseases have always been a difficult problem in medicine. Whether it is traditional Chinese medicine or Western medicine, there are no particularly good methods for some special eye diseases.
The famous physician Huang Yuanyu abandoned the imperial examinations and turned to medicine because of an eye disease.
At the time, Huang Yuanyu thirty years old. Due to excessive studying, he suddenly developed an eye disease. His left eye became red and sore, and the white of his eye turned bloodshot. He had no choice but to seek medical treatment.
Some quack doctors at the time misused herbs such as Coptis chinensis and rhubarb to treat cold-induced diarrhea, causing Huang Yuanyu from severe spleen yang deficiency, which ultimately led to Huang Yuanyu's complete blindness in his left eye.
In the imperial examinations at that time, people with facial deformities were not allowed to take the exams.
Therefore, Huang Yuanyu eventually abandoned literature and turned to medicine.
Therefore, eye diseases are difficult to treat, which has been a problem since ancient times.
This patient's visit to Su Ziyang Su Ziyang truly presented him with a difficult problem.
The patient is a 55-year-old male with glaucoma.
Here, we can provide a detailed introduction to the disease glaucoma.
Glaucoma is a group of common eye diseases characterized by abnormal intraocular pressure, leading to optic nerve atrophy and cupping, visual field defects, and decreased vision. It is irreversible.
Most importantly, the vision damage caused by this disease is irreversible, and there is currently no cure; the main treatment is to control intraocular pressure.
This disease typically manifests as eye swelling, eye pain, photophobia, tearing, headache, and a sharp decrease in vision, among other symptoms.
The cause of primary glaucoma is currently unclear, but one theory suggests that it may be related to genetic factors.
Treatment can include medication and surgery to lower intraocular pressure and reduce damage to eye tissues.
This disease is currently classified into three types:
The first is primary glaucoma, which means glaucoma of unknown cause.
The second type is secondary glaucoma. This means glaucoma caused by other reasons, such as the misuse of certain medications, other eye diseases, or even retinal hemorrhage. In short, there is a clear underlying cause, and this is called secondary glaucoma.
The third is congenital glaucoma, which includes primary infantile glaucoma, childhood glaucoma, and glaucoma accompanied by other congenital abnormalities.
The person who came to Su Ziyang for treatment had primary glaucoma.
As for why Su Ziyang knew he had primary glaucoma, it was because he told him himself.
He said that the hospital diagnosed him with primary glaucoma, and now his field of vision is getting smaller and smaller every day, and his eyesight is getting worse every day.
Currently, the only way to control my intraocular pressure at the hospital is by taking medication.
"Doctor, my eyes hurt right now, and I see reddish light in everything. The hospital wants me to have surgery, but I'm wondering if some traditional Chinese medicine can help. I'm worried about the surgery! I'm scared!"
The man spoke sincerely, and his companion beside him said, "Yes, doctor. Please take a look. We are friends of Yu Xiushui, Old Yu. They recommended you, saying your medical skills are excellent!"
"Hold head high..."
After taking the pulse, Su Ziyang found that the person seemed to be in good health, at least his internal organs were fine, which left Su Ziyang somewhat at a loss.
How are your bowel movements and urination usually?
Su Ziyang thought for a moment and then asked a question.
"It's alright, it's normal. Maybe it's because I don't drink much water, so I urinate less. I might urinate once or twice a day, but my bowel movements are normal!"
The man thought for a moment and then said.
Su Ziyang pondered for a moment and then thought of a method, "I have a method, but you have to stay with me and I'll watch you take the medicine. And there's a bit of risk involved. Would you like to try it?"
Su Ziyang's idea was quite risky, and in fact, Su Ziyang himself was very worried, but with the idea of solving the illness in mind, Su Ziyang put his safety aside.
"Okay. So, is it just Chinese medicine?"
The man thought for a moment, then nodded and agreed.
"Yes! Take Chinese medicine!"
Su Ziyang nodded.
Su Ziyang chose a single-herb prescription, which uses only one ingredient—plantain seed.
Plantain seed is recorded in the * Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica * and * Collected Commentaries on the Classic of Materia Medica * as follows:
Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica
It tastes sweet, is cold in nature, and is non-toxic. It is mainly used to treat urinary retention, relieve pain, promote urination, and eliminate dampness and numbness. Long-term use can lighten the body and promote longevity.
Tao Hongjing's "Collected Commentaries on the Classic of Materia Medica"
It tastes sweet and salty, is cold in nature, and is non-toxic. It is used to treat urinary retention, relieve pain, promote urination, and eliminate dampness and numbness. It is also used for men with internal injuries, women with urinary dribbling, loss of appetite, nourishing the lungs, strengthening yin, benefiting essence, promoting fertility, improving eyesight, and treating redness and pain. Long-term use can lighten the body and promote longevity.
In the book "Rhapsody on Medicinal Properties," there is a saying about Plantago asiatica, "Plantago asiatica stops diarrhea, promotes urination, and is especially good for eyesight."
"Okay, I'll prescribe the medicine for you and decoct it for you. You can take it here; we have a lounge upstairs. After taking the medicine, lie down and close your eyes to rest. Because after taking this medicine, you might experience a headache and worsening eye pain. At this time, you'll urinate more frequently and may even have diarrhea. This is normal, so don't worry!"
Su Ziyang described the various symptoms he experienced after taking the medicine to the man. The man listened and nodded, and his companion who came with him also nodded quickly, indicating that he understood.
"I've kept you here to prevent you from developing any uncomfortable symptoms and becoming scared. So stay here at our clinic; I'll be here the whole time, so you don't need to worry!"
Su Ziyang reiterated this point again before opening the computer to prescribe the medicine.
This recipe uses 60g of plantain seeds and 300mL of water, decocted down to 100mL.
After taking 100ml of the medicinal soup in one go, you can lie down and rest with your eyes closed.
After prescribing the medicine, Su Ziyang didn't have the clinic prepare the decoction for him. Instead, he asked the patient's companion to bring up the plantain seeds.
Then the two went to the third floor, to the room where Daoist Jin used for rest.
There was a medicine pot in the room. Su Ziyang poured in water and then stayed there watching over the pot.
Seeing that the broth was almost ready, Su Ziyang poured the medicine into a disposable paper cup, placed it on the table, and indicated to the patient that it could be drunk once it cooled down.
Su Ziyang couldn't stay there forever, so after giving his instructions, he immediately returned to the consultation room. After all, patients would come in, and he couldn't leave for too long.
After treating the two patients, the companion of the glaucoma patient hurriedly ran downstairs.
"Doctor, after taking the medicine, he's complaining of terrible eye and head pain. Please go up and take a look!"
"Okay! I'll go check it out!"
This is where the importance of Su Ziyang keeping the two of them behind becomes apparent, because Su Ziyang knows that even if he tells them all about the uncomfortable symptoms that occur after taking the medicine, the patients will still be worried and fearful.