There was a merchant named Mr. Cao (exact name forgotten) who had legendary drinking capacity and ate enough for three people. One summer, after working in the heat, he gulped down large amounts of icy cold foods and drinks to quench his thirst. This caused severe digestive blockage, leading to headaches, fever, abdominal bloating, and mental fog. Previous doctors diagnosed it as common cold and prescribed sweat-inducing herbal remedies, which failed completely. He then consulted me.
Through traditional pulse diagnosis:
His right wrist’s “Guan” position (stomach/spleen area) showed hard, forceful pulses
The “Chi” position (lower body region) had taut, slow pulses
No superficial “floating pulse” typical of colds/flus
I explained: “This is acute food stagnation damaging your stomach. You must feel nauseous seeing food now. The taut pulse indicates undigested sludge in your system that needs purging. This belongs to ‘internal dietary stagnation’ in Chinese medicine – completely different from external cold attacks. Previous (used in traditional contexts) missed the root cause.”
I prescribed an enhanced version of “Dui Jin Yin Zi” digestive formula (containing Chenpi [aged tangerine peel], Houpo [magnolia bark], Cangzhu [atractylodes], ginger, licorice, dates) combined with potent purgatives: Da Huang (rhubarb root) and Bing Lang (areca nut). After two doses:
Abdominal swelling reduced
Fever subsided
Five days later during his thank-you visit, Mr. Cao revealed: “Even before this illness, I’ve had chronic nausea and hand tremors. Any idea why?” I diagnosed: “This is alcohol toxicity from years of heavy drinking. Try Gehua Jiecheng Wan – the classic hangover remedy.” He followed through, and after consuming about 300 grams (half a “Jin” in traditional Chinese measurement, equivalent to 8 liang ≈ 240-300g), all his chronic symptoms disappeared completely.
Notes:
In pulse diagnosis: Right Guan position reflects digestive health; Chi position indicates intestinal/lower body conditions.
Gehua Jiecheng Wan (Kudzu Flower Alcohol-Relief Pills) is a historic formula for alcohol-related disorders. Modern studies confirm its liver-protective and stomach-soothing properties, but professional consultation is advised before use.
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