630 Craving for Pain (1/2)
”Let me take a look at him first. Where is he?” Wang Yao asked.
”He's just outside. I'll bring him in,” the woman said.
She went out to bring her husband into the clinic with her son's help.
”Mom, this is the doctor you mentioned?” her son asked with surprise.
”Yeah, keep your voice down. You are too loud,” the woman said.
The facial expression on her son's face told Wang Yao that he didn't think Wang Yao was a reliable doctor given his age.
”Is this the first time he had a stroke?” Wang Yao asked.
The patient displayed impaired gait and hemiplegia, as well as facial paralysis. He was still drooling.
”No, the second time. The first stroke was two years ago,” the woman said.
”Yes,” the patient said.
”Help him sit down,” Wang Yao said.
The problems associated with a stroke were in the brain. A thrombosis developed in the brain and stopped normal blood circulation. In traditional Chinese medicine, it was considered a condition caused by stagnancy of Qi and blood.
”This is not his first stroke?” Wang Yao asked again.
”No, his second one. The first stroke was over a year ago,” the woman said.
Wang Yao took a good look at the patient, especially his head. ”You want him to get treatment here?”
”Yes,” the woman said.
Her son pouted to express disagreement. He thought, Of course we are here to seek treatment. You think we are here to buy pancakes?
His mother gave him a hard look as he was about to say something.
”OK, sit still,” Wang Yao said. He took out his acupuncture needles. ”Please do not move.”
He inserted the needles into the patient's head. The patient's condition was different from the last stroke patient he had treated. To be precise, this patient's condition was worse. Therefore, Wang Yao stimulated his head, where he had problems of Qi and blood circulation.
”Is this gonna work? Sticking needles in his head?” The patient's son was concerned about his father. He started at Wang Yao's hand.
His mother was also concerned. She was clutching her clothes and sweating. ”How do you feel? Let us know if you don't feel comfortable.”
”OK,” the patient said.
Wang Yao just smiled. After the acupuncture session, he gave the patient a massage. He started with the patient's face. He was gentle at first and slowly increased strength. He pressed the acupoints first and followed the meridians with his hands.
The purpose of massage was to clear the thrombosis. Wang Yao used external force to remove obstructions from the blocked blood vessels. Qi and blood were like running rivers of water. If the flowed normally, they would nurture the plants on both sides of the river. If they didn't flow smoothly, they would cause a flood.
”How do you feel?” the woman asked.
”I feel very comfortable,” the patient said.
Wang Yao's massage warmed up his whole head. The numbness and swelling had also disappeared. He felt much more comfortable.
”Can you lift your arm?” Wang Yao asked. ”Just copy my movement.”
Wang Yao stopped the massage. ”Can you squeeze my hand as hard as you can?”
The strength and range of movement of the patient's arm were better than the last stroke patient, but the condition of his leg was worse.
After the patient had finished warming up, Wang Yao continued with treatment.
”Looks professional,” the patient's son said. ”Dad, how do you feel?”
”I feel alright,” the patient said.
”I think your speech is less slurred,” the woman excitedly said. ”Can you say something?”
”What do you want me to say?” the patient asked.
”His speech is better, don't you think? Son?” the wife asked.
”Yes, I think so.” Although the son doubted Wang Yao's ability at first, he now had to admit that he was a good doctor. His father's speech had improved in a short period of time. And, his father's face looked more normal. ”You are good.” His point view toward Wang Yao had started to change.
”Well, let's call it a day. I also have some herbal pills here.” Wang Yao took out the pills he had made a few days ago. ”As for the fees, one session of acupuncture and massage therapy is $200. The pill is also $200.”
”What? That's so expensive,” the son said in shock. All his favorable impressions about Wang Yao were gone.
”I don't think so,” Wang Yao calmly said.
All the herbs the pills contained were wild. Most of them were from his herbal field, which was nurtured by the Spirit Gathering Battle Array. The herbs had absorbed all the aura around them, so they were even better than the ones that grew in the mountains. In addition, the pills contained Ziyu soup. Ziyu was a licorice root, which couldn't be purchased with money.