The disappearance of internal injury symptoms does not equate to full recovery.
Most internal injuries present certain symptoms, and after treatment, when these symptoms disappear, the average person believes that recovery has occurred. However, this is often not the case, especially for severe internal injuries. The disappearance of symptoms merely indicates that the body is temporarily in a weak state of balance, and even a slight disturbance can trigger new illnesses.
In mid-2018, a 45-year-old male patient sought treatment for severe peeling of his hands. After several treatments, the peeling improved, and he felt he no longer needed to continue. I reminded him that his spleen and stomach were still weak and that the dampness in his body had not been completely eliminated, which could lead to future problems. He mentioned he would seek a follow-up consultation, but he did not. Until May 29 of this year, the patient returned for a follow-up.
The patient reported that since his hand peeling had improved, it had not recurred, but he had been feeling unwell for the past year, experiencing abdominal distension, a lack of hunger, and significant lower back pain, prompting him to seek consultation again. The patient had a good appetite but was afraid to eat too much, as he already felt bloated, and eating more would exacerbate this. He reported having bowel movements 2 to 3 times a day, but usually only two of those resulted in a small amount being expelled, often feeling incomplete, with hard stools followed by loose stools. His urine was yellow and had a strong odor, and he did not experience frequent urination but had severe urgency, often wetting his pants and feeling a urine odor by the afternoon. He could not bend over or work without pain in his lower back. He needed to support himself to stand up after sitting and had to find a suitable position to sit down; otherwise, the pain would worsen. Even at night, the back pain did not alleviate. He could fall asleep relatively easily, but if it weren’t for the back pain, he believed he would sleep better. He experienced one or two instances of nocturia, with little urine but a strong urge. Upon waking, his mouth was dry, but he did not want to drink water. In the morning, he felt lethargic, with a bitter taste in his mouth, generally not wanting to drink water, only taking some warm water to moisten his mouth. His tongue had a thick white greasy coating, a dark tongue body, and prominent veins on the underside. The pulse was thin, rapid, and slippery. I prescribed 7 doses: Chai Hu (Bupleurum), Huang Qin (Scutellaria), Zhi Gan Cao (Honey-fried Licorice), Huang Lian (Coptis), Ban Xia (Pinellia), Ren Shen (Ginseng), Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger), Da Zao (Jujube), Jiao San Xian (Fried Three Immortals), Cang Zhu (Atractylodes), Huang Bai (Phellodendron), Du Zhong (Eucommia), Sang Ji Sheng (Mulberry Mistletoe), Ze Xie (Alisma), and Fu Ling (Poria).
On June 15, 2022, during a follow-up visit, the patient reported that after taking the medicine, his appetite improved, he felt some hunger, and the bloating had decreased, allowing him to eat a bit more. He was having bowel movements about twice a day, and he could expel more than before, with the stools starting to form, and he sometimes felt he was emptying completely. His urination frequency and urgency had significantly improved, with less yellow urine and a lighter odor, and the volume had increased considerably. The lower back pain had noticeably reduced, and he felt much lighter. Now, sitting, standing, and lying down were much more comfortable than before. He could fall asleep easily and generally slept soundly at night, with only occasional nocturia. In the morning, he felt better, with little to no bitter taste in his mouth and only slight dryness. His tongue had a white, slightly thick, and greasy coating, a dark red tongue body, and prominent veins on the underside. The pulse was slightly rapid, thin, and slippery, with the two wrist pulses being weaker. I adjusted the prescription to include Lu Gen (Reed Root), Dong Gua Zi (Winter Melon Seed), Yi Yi Ren (Job’s Tears), Zhi Gan Cao (Honey-fried Licorice), Tao Ren (Peach Kernel), Cang Zhu (Atractylodes), Huang Bai (Phellodendron), Dang Shen (Codonopsis), Huang Lian (Coptis), Ban Xia (Pinellia), Zhi Shi (Bitter Orange), Mai Dong (Ophiopogon), Ze Xie (Alisma), Fu Ling (Poria), Che Qian Zi (Plantago Seed), and Bai Mao Gen (Imperata).
During the third consultation, the patient’s lower back pain had mostly resolved, but it felt slightly stiff. The pulse had also improved. I reminded him not to stop taking the medicine just because he felt better. Therefore, the patient occasionally returns for follow-up consultations. Recently, he came in for a visit, and I felt he was nearly recovered, advising him to finish the medication and observe for one or two months.
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