Chapter 514 377: Ancient Aconite Cinnamon Twig Decoction

Upon hearing his words, a trace of helplessness flickered in Qin Feng's eyes.

Han Xianchen was right. The old traditional Chinese medicine practitioners often ventured into the mountains for years, sometimes traveling hundreds or even thousands of miles to gather herbs and purchase raw materials. It was common for them to spend half a year, two years, or even three years away.

To find good medicine, one must delve deep into uninhabited mountain areas. These places have remained untouched for several years, or even decades and centuries.

But it is also filled with dangers. Venomous snakes, insects, mice, and ants are common, and encountering fierce beasts could lead to death.

Leaving behind some ailments is considered fortunate!

"Your heart and lungs aren't in great condition, so you must take care of yourself and avoid going into the mountains again."

After examining him thoroughly, Qin Feng spoke to Han Xianchen.

"Hehehe, I understand my body. In the past two years, I've rarely gone into the mountains, just wandered the hill trails nearby. I don't dare venture further, fearing I might not return."

Han Xianchen chuckled, waved his hand, dressed, and exited the clinic, with the girl hurriedly stepping forward to support him.

"Uncle Doctor, how is Grandpa?"

"Don't worry, little girl, Grandpa doesn't have any major ailments," Qin Feng nodded to reassure her.

"But Grandpa's back and legs aren't good. When tired, they pain him, and on rainy days, he can't walk. Uncle Doctor, please help Grandpa,"

The little girl seemed dissatisfied with his words and spoke anxiously.

Qin Feng sighed inwardly, as severe rheumatoid arthritis is a worldwide incurable issue, especially for Han Xianchen, whose joints are severely deformed, essentially in the late stage.

Maybe if the Daluo Golden Immortal came, they could reverse it~~~

"Alright, Xiaoya, don't make it hard for the doctor. Grandpa's health is deteriorating because of age, hehe," Han Xianchen comforted, patting the girl's hair, "Dr. Qin, thank you for your hard work. We'll be leaving now."

He finished speaking, intending to leave with the little girl.

"Wait, Senior Han," Qin Feng pondered for a moment and called out to them, "Have you ever tried a formula?"

"What formula?"

"Aconite and Cinnamon Twig Decoction."

Upon hearing his words, Han Xianchen stopped in his tracks.

Aconite and Cinnamon Twig Decoction, it's a commonly used warming formula, mainly for treating abdominal cold pain, reversal cold, numbness in limbs, and body pain that other medications can't alleviate.

"I'm aware," Han Xianchen nodded, then said, "This formula treats cold-damp obstruction, effective for wind cold invading the bones, but mainly for wind cold invading the abdomen."

"Senior Han is right," Qin Feng slightly nodded.

While Aconite and Cinnamon Twig Decoction help treat limb rheumatism, its effectiveness is limited, not yielding substantial results.

Moreover, this formula targets abdominal coldness; it can work wonders for that, but has little impact on chronic rheumatism.

"Aconite and Cinnamon Twig Decoction primarily uses aconite and cinnamon twig as the main herbs. Aconite disperses wind and relieves spasms, while cinnamon twig warms yang, moves qi, activates blood circulation, and alleviates rheumatism, yet insufficient to cure it."

Qin Feng helped Han Xianchen back into his seat and smiled,

"But this formula's herbs can be adjusted for better effects on joint rheumatism."

"Really, Doctor? Can my Grandpa be cured?" The little girl's eyes lit up, her face showing joyful radiance.

"I'm not sure," Qin Feng shook his head, "Senior Han's wind cold has penetrated the bones for too long; the deformed joints can't be restored. We can only aim to remove the rheumatism and alleviate the pain."

Han Xianchen's ailment indeed can't be cured, but the progression can be mitigated as much as possible.

However, the herbs for this modified formula are difficult to find, leaving only a glimmer of hope.

"Doctor, please save my Grandpa," the little girl showed a sorrowful look, kneeling down directly.

"Quickly, stand up, stand up." Witnessing this scene, Qin Feng hurriedly helped the little girl up, "Rest assured, I'll definitely try my best."

"Dr. Qin, the child is naive, please don't feel pressured," Han Xianchen sighed helplessly, "But you mentioned the Aconite and Cinnamon Twig Decoction, which I tried when younger, its effects weren't great. Wondering about this improved formula..."

He paused there.

"Senior Han, although aconite and cinnamon twig are the main herbs, there is one supplementary herb in it that greatly enhances the treatment's effectiveness for rheumatoid arthritis."

Qin Feng sat down and began explaining, "Do you remember the ancient version of this formula?"

"Ancient version." Upon hearing this, Han Xianchen frowned slightly.

Currently, Aconite and Cinnamon Twig Decoction consists of about five or six herbs: aconite, cinnamon twig, peony, licorice, and ginger, all with effects of dispelling wind and warming meridians, distinct from the ancient version, where even the boiling method differed.

"I recall the ancient version of Aconite and Cinnamon Twig Decoction being different, containing around a dozen herbs, prepared after stewing aconite with honey, enhancing its effects multiple times over," Han Xianchen pondered, recalling scattered details of the formula from memory.

Qin Feng nodded in agreement with the elder.

Aconite is revered as a potent cold-displacing herb in Chinese medicine, but due to its high toxicity, must be processed before use; it has top-notch cold expelling capabilities.

Hence, the simplified contemporary Aconite and Cinnamon Twig Decoction retains some functions, yet lacks a crucial component. While aconite's role is cold dispelling, crucially, Chinese medicine emphasizes symptom-specific formulas.

"Senior Han, you've practiced medicine for decades, presumably well-versed in symptom-specific prescriptions. Every formula aims to achieve optimal efficacy by tailoring it to individual cases," Qin Feng began to explain, "In the Aconite and Cinnamon Twig Decoction, while aconite disperses cold, something is missing—herbal pathway!"

"Dr. Qin, seems I overlooked something~" Upon hearing this, Han Xianchen displayed a surprising expression, then his gaze grew solemn, he sighed, "Didn't expect you knew about herbal pathways, implying a deep understanding of Chinese medicine. Do you have a mentor?"

Herbal pathway is the core concept in Chinese medicine, akin to direct targeting in Western medicine.

To deliver medicinal effects directly to the afflicted area, it requires a corresponding herbal pathway for the medication's power to traverse.

It can be said that the importance of herbal pathways transcends the effect itself!

"Senior Han, you're too kind. I, Qin Feng, indeed have inheritance." Qin Feng openly admitted without reservation.

He carries extensive inheritance, even possessing the long-lost works of Hua Tuo like "Qing Nang Shu" and "Huang Di Wai Jing". Speaking of inheritance, Qin Feng might be the sole individual today embodying a medical library encompassing thousand-year wisdom.

Regarding Chen Clan's bone setting tradition, today's masters of national medicine merely rank second or third tier.

"No wonder, hehehe~" Upon hearing his response, Han Xianchen showed an enlightened expression, developing more respect, "I'll gladly listen."

With this, he straightened himself.

Inheritance is a golden hallmark in the lineage of Chinese medicine, surpassing barefoot doctors like him by far.

"No need to be formal, Senior. Then I'll explain," Qin Feng shook his head and smiled, "In the ancient Aconite and Cinnamon Twig Decoction, aside from aconite, several cold-dispersing herbs like broad earthworm and rugged thorn were included. Among them lies the essence of this formula, the herbal pathway, named Nan She Teng."