Chapter 339: Four Prescriptions

Chapter 339: Chapter 339: Four Prescriptions

After Ji Huan went into the east room, only Guan Shan and Xin Ziqi were left facing each other.

Even though Xin Ziqi had always been indifferent to matters outside of medicine, he couldn’t help but feel a flicker of curiosity as he faced Guan Shan.

He still remembered the dreadful state Guan Shan had been in when he first saw him a few months ago.

It wasn’t just the injuries on his body, but also the aura he gave off—like a pool of stagnant, gloomy water.

Now, aside from the scar on his face, he was like a completely different person.

It was clear that Ji Huan had taken very good care of him.

However, Xin Ziqi never would have imagined that he would become Ji Huan’s husband.

He had only learned the news when Ping’an ran into Widow Xie and the others while they were shopping in town. Otherwise, he suspected Ji Huan might not have even sent him a wedding invitation.

Watching the two of them interact today, he could see a great deal of unspoken understanding in their words and actions. ’That period of recuperation must have played a major role,’ he thought.

"I haven’t had a chance to congratulate you properly, Brother Guan. You have won a fine lady; I hope you will cherish her."

Xin Ziqi had vaguely heard some of the rumors about Song Jing and Ji Huan. He didn’t know if they were true, but since Ji Huan had chosen Guan Shan, there must be something extraordinary about him. ’I just hope he doesn’t let Ji Huan down in the future,’ he thought.

Guan Shan’s gaze shifted from the main room’s doorway to Xin Ziqi’s face.

"She is my wife. I will naturally treasure her."

After a slight pause, he nodded. "Thank you."

Without that second part, it would have sounded like he was telling an outsider to mind his own business.

Xin Ziqi clasped his hands in a salute toward Guan Shan. "In that case, I wish the two of you a harmonious union and a long life together."

Guan Shan returned the salute, accepting his congratulations.

Ji Huan came over with a few sheets of paper and handed them to Xin Ziqi.

"Take a look. Have any other medical halls released these types of medicine before?"

Xin Ziqi took the papers. After a single glance, his eyes widened and froze.

He quickly read through the remaining three sheets, his gaze returning to the first one, unable to look away.

"This is..."

"These are four formulas for prepared medicines. I’ve noticed that most medical halls diagnose a patient, write a prescription, and then have them take the raw herbs home to brew. But we could actually make some of the more universally applicable formulas into prepared medicines. It would save the trouble of gathering and brewing herbs, making it more convenient for the patients."

Xin Ziqi stared at her with his mouth agape, momentarily at a loss for words.

Everyone knew that the same formula could be used for similar symptoms.

But turning them into pills wasn’t so easy.

First, illnesses are ever-changing. Prepared medicines can’t have their dosages adjusted in response to a patient’s condition. The fear was that instead of curing an illness, they could become a death sentence.

Second, any formula made into pills had to be thoroughly tried and tested, with no room for the slightest error in dosage or medicinal properties. How could a physician with a shallow foundation possibly achieve that?

To take the simplest example, what student of medicine didn’t know the effects of ginseng? Yet, only the ginseng nourishing pill released by the Ning Family of the Capital City a few years ago had gained widespread recognition.

It wasn’t that no one had tried to imitate them afterward, but...

Ji Huan understood his concerns. Medicine, especially that taken internally, truly allowed for no carelessness.

"Look closely. These medicines are all primarily tonics. Although there are different kinds of tonics, their margin for error is much greater compared to treatments for other illnesses."

’Besides,’ she thought, ’these are all famous formulas that have been tested over hundreds of years and passed down through generations. As long as the physician’s diagnosis is correct, the medicine will be too.’

Hearing her words, Xin Ziqi picked up the four formulas again and examined them carefully.

The first sheet was titled "Eight Treasures Pill."

Ingredients—Dang Gui, Chuan Xiong, Bai Shao, Shu Di Huang, Ren Shen, Bai Zhu, Fu Ling, Zhi Gan Cao.

Effects—Replenishes both qi and blood, nourishes the five viscera. Suitable for symptoms caused by qi and blood deficiency, such as a sallow complexion, dizziness, lassitude of the limbs, shortness of breath, and disinclination to speak.

Typical Presentation—The "sallow-faced woman"...

Ji Huan added an explanation from the side.

"You men should be familiar with the term ’sallow-faced woman.’ It refers to women whose complexions have become poor, who have developed premature wrinkles, and have aged prematurely due to overwork or childbirth.

These women are generally not robust. Their qi and blood cannot properly nourish the head and face, which is why their complexions appear sallow and aged.

Simply put, this formula is for women. To be more specific, it’s a beauty formula for those ’sallow-faced women.’

Beauty comes from abundant qi and blood. To maintain a youthful appearance and supple skin, one must replenish both.

The Eight Treasures Pill’s ability to ’eliminate sallowness’ is the most prominent among similar medicines precisely because it addresses both qi and blood.

If you look closely, you’ll see it’s actually a combination of the classic qi-tonifying formula, Si Jun Zi Tang, and the classic blood-tonifying formula, Si Wu Tang. Therefore, it’s especially effective for the sallowness and withering caused by insufficient qi and blood.

The specific preparation method and the dosage for each herb are also written on it."

The Eight Treasures Pill was developed from the ancient decoction "Eight Treasures Soup" and was recorded in the book *Rui Zhu Hall Experience Formulas* by the Yuan Dynasty physician Sa Qian.

At first, Ji Huan had been worried that this formula might already be known to physicians in the Great Zhou, but seeing Xin Ziqi’s reaction, that didn’t seem to be the case.

"No matter the woman, if she is frail and bony with a dull, sallow complexion, her beauty will be completely lost. Therefore, the Eight Treasures Pill is bound to be popular among women.

For initial promotion, we can use the method I mentioned before—handing out flyers—or recommend it to patients at the medical hall. After all, which family doesn’t have female relatives?"

Xin Ziqi agreed with this.

Female patients rarely came to the medical hall in person. In the countryside, it was because they couldn’t afford it; in the city, it was because they were not supposed to show their faces in public.

But many of them did indeed have, to some degree, the symptoms Ji Huan described.

"And as you can see, the entire formula is mild in nature. It’s restorative without being harsh, a foundational conditioning medicine that won’t cause many side effects.

However, when selling the medicine, we must remind patients that whether they take the Eight Treasures Pill or brew the herbs themselves, it’s crucial to base the treatment and replenishment on a proper diagnosis of their condition.

If they can’t determine the cause and symptoms of their illness, it’s best to take it under a doctor’s guidance. If they just medicate themselves randomly... even the safest medicine can be dangerous."

Xin Ziqi nodded, indicating he had taken note.

Ji Huan gestured for him to look at the second formula.

This one was titled "Six Flavors Rehmannia Pill."

Ingredients: Shu Di Huang, Shan Zhu Yu, Mu Dan Pi, Shan Yao, Fu Ling, Ze Xie.

Effects: Nourishes yin and tonifies the kidney. Used for soreness in the lower back and knees, kidney yin deficiency, steaming bone tidal fever, premature ejaculation, and seminal emission.

Typical Presentation—The impotent man...

When Xin Ziqi saw this, he suddenly choked and started coughing.

Ji Huan mentally thickened her skin by several layers.

"This formula is mainly for men. For a man, the most frustrating thing is, well... you know."

Xin Ziqi: "..." ’Should I say I understand or that I don’t?’ he wondered.

Guan Shan frowned, watching the two of them become suddenly uncomfortable. Just then, Ji Huan happened to glance his way.

Their eyes met, and Ji Huan guiltily looked away.

But she quickly looked back.

"Um, why don’t you go rest in the east room for a bit? Doctor Xin and I have something to discuss."

Xin Ziqi also suddenly realized that Ji Huan’s husband was still there. It really wasn’t appropriate to discuss this in front of him.

’Then again, discussing it behind his back doesn’t seem right either...’

Guan Shan’s brow furrowed slightly, but in the end, he said nothing and turned to enter the main room.

Once he was gone, Ji Huan no longer felt any restraint.

After all, talking about... *that stuff*... was just too awkward.

"Once a man experiences premature ejaculation or impotence, he thinks it’s a kidney deficiency and starts looking for ways to tonify the kidney and strengthen his yang.

The Six Flavors Rehmannia Pill is specifically for tonifying the kidney.

Let me put it this way: for a man over forty, as long as he doesn’t have a yang-deficient constitution—the pale, puffy type who gets breathless with the slightest movement—he can take this medicine regularly for general wellness."

The Six Flavors Rehmannia Pill was recorded in the book *Key to Therapeutics of Children’s Diseases* by the Song Dynasty physician Qian Yi.

Later physicians modified and adapted it to varying degrees, and after repeated clinical verification, it became the classic formula in Chinese medicine for tonifying the kidney.

"But there is one point to emphasize—it does not have the effect of strengthening yang.

You see, kidney deficiency is divided into three types: kidney yang deficiency, kidney yin deficiency, and kidney qi deficiency.

The effect of the Six Flavors Rehmannia Pill is to nourish yin and tonify the kidney.

Once this medicine is released, most patients, too embarrassed to see a doctor, might buy it to treat themselves at home. If they take it and not only see no effect but find their condition worsening... I’m sure you understand why.

If a patient’s kidney deficiency symptoms are caused by yang deficiency, then using this to treat it would be counterproductive. That’s why it’s best to use it under a doctor’s guidance."

By now, Xin Ziqi no longer knew where to look.

On one hand, he told himself, ’In the path of medicine, one shouldn’t be so shy and rigid.’

Yet he just couldn’t help it...

In all his years of practicing medicine, he had never been so embarrassed.