04 Case Study: A Soldier’s Journey to Health

Let’s look at a case study.

An elderly man, a retired soldier, was nearly seventy but still exercised regularly, running five kilometers and looking radiant and full of energy. However, he recently became obsessed with watching TV dramas, sitting still all day. He bought a large LCD TV, a rocking chair, and even learned to use a computer to search for various anti-Japanese TV dramas online. He spent his days doing nothing but eating and sleeping.

This behavior was very abnormal. A professional herbal practitioner took his pulse and made a preliminary diagnosis: it might be a precursor to diabetes. The old man didn’t believe it, so the practitioner conducted an experiment. She took a cotton swab soaked in his urine outdoors, and after a while, ants surrounded the swab. The high sugar content in the urine attracted the ants, indicating high sugar levels. Despite this, the old man relied too much on hospital physical examination results and didn’t take it seriously. Half a year later, he called the practitioner, saying he was diagnosed with diabetes, with fasting blood sugar reaching 12, requiring insulin injections.

Early treatment could have controlled the condition and prevented it from worsening.

05 The Power of Early Detection in Herbal Medicine

The greatest strength of herbal medicine is discovering diseases before obvious symptoms appear, often referred to as “treating diseases before they occur.” This means treating diseases that haven’t yet manifested.

The concept of “treating disease before it occurs” first appeared in the classic of Internal Medicine, Huangdi Neijing:

The wise man does not treat an illness that has already occurred, but treats one that has not yet occurred; he does not treat a disorder that has already occurred, but treats one that has not yet become disordered. To treat a disease after it has already occurred, or to treat a disorder after it has already occurred, is like digging a well when you are thirsty, or casting an awl when you are fighting. Isn’t it too late?

This means that we might be sick without showing symptoms, known as a sub-healthy condition. A good doctor can detect these signs early, making treatment easier. Preventing disease involves early-stage treatment, not just simple prevention.

If a person suddenly becomes lazy, it indicates the early stage of disease. Excessive moisture blocks meridians and harms the spleen and stomach, the source of vital yuanqi. Damaged spleen and stomach lead to insufficient vital yuanqi, causing weakness and laziness. Early symptoms can lead to serious diseases, so attention is crucial.

An experienced doctor can determine the course of a disease from early clues. The retired soldier mentioned earlier received revitalization treatment, strengthening his spleen and stomach, and adding moxibustion. In less than eight months, he was almost back to normal. Earlier treatment could have cured him in one or two months.

06 Historical Wisdom: Lessons from Bian Que

A widely circulated story about “preventive treatment” involves the genius doctor Bian Que and Duke Huan of Cai. Bian Que noticed the Duke’s poor complexion and advised early treatment. The Duke, feeling healthy, ignored the advice. Bian Que returned ten days later, warning the disease had spread to the muscles, but the Duke still didn’t believe him. On his fourth visit, Bian Que said nothing and left. When asked why, he explained that the disease had reached the bone marrow, beyond his help. Shortly after, the Duke felt pain all over and died not long after.

This story emphasizes the importance of early treatment and illustrates disease progression. Illnesses often start with minor symptoms, like a cold, and can develop into serious conditions if untreated. Early detection and treatment are crucial, especially after age fifty.

Strengthening the spleen and stomach and vital yuanqi is essential for health. In the next issue, we will discuss the causes of high blood pressure in detail.

07 Summary: The Essence of Preventive Treatment

Herbal medicine teaches us to treat health deviations early, preventing major problems. We should address the root cause, not just superficial symptoms. This approach can save us from major diseases and even save lives.

In order to treat health deviations in their early stages, we learn some herbal medicine concepts and the ability to read signs of deviation when they occur. Armed with the herbal medicine knowledge that we have learned, we will manage to correct the deviations ourselves right away before they become big problems.

In those cases where we cannot make the corrections ourselves, we will have learned enough to seek help from the professional herbal practitioners. We will be able to tell them what are wrong, and help the treatment to go along the correct path. Most importantly, because we seek professional help in the early stages of deviations from health, we can revitalize our health speedily, saving us time, effort, money, pain and suffering.

08 What’s Next? Revitalizing Health Against Chronic Diseases

Now that we understand the importance of early health care, we will explore how to revitalize our health as chronic diseases like high blood pressure emerge. Stay tuned.

If you need help in practising health revitalization using the herbal medicine approach, go to the SUPPORT section.

If you would like to be notified of new posts, please provide your email below.