Lu Jiu's words may somewhat have a hint of motivational talk, which might not work much for adults, but for a fifteen-year-old boy, it's just right!
After listening, Gong Huo clearly showed signs of inner struggle in his eyes.
He wasn't entirely giving up; it was just that both his body and mind were led astray after being captivated by a pop-up on a webpage. Under the pressure from school and family, no matter how he struggled, he couldn't change the trend of declining grades, which led to his current state.
"Can I do it?" Gong Huo was asking both Lu Jiu and himself.
"Of course," Lu Jiu replied.
"Alright, I'll listen to you!" Gong Huo said through gritted teeth.
"Don't agree so quickly. I'll give you a week. During this week, unless absolutely necessary, don't touch your phone. Also, no more of that kind of thing. Additionally, after self-study every night, you must go to bed before eleven o'clock, even if you haven't finished your homework. You can copy it the next morning, but you must ensure your sleep," Lu Jiu added, giving a threatening glance to Gong Huo, "Don't think you can deceive me. I'll know if you did as I said just by checking your pulse."
Gong Huo pursed his lips. Having experienced Lu Jiu's skills, he dared not go against him.
"During this week, I'll help regulate your body so you can return to your best state quickly. By then, your memory and concentration will improve. Meanwhile, bring all your subject papers to me. I'll see where your weaknesses and strengths lie. Then I'll make a study plan for you. That's all I can do; the rest depends on your own effort!" Lu Jiu said.
Gong Huo nodded, looking at Lu Jiu with utmost sincerity, "Thank you, Dr. Lu."
He didn't expect a doctor not only to treat his illness but also to help him with his studies.
Lu Jiu patted Gong Huo on the shoulder, "Alright, call your dad in."
"Okay," said Gong Huo.
In a short while, Gong Ming walked into the clinic.
"Dr. Lu, how should my son's problem be treated?"
While writing down a prescription and a diet plan, Lu Jiu said, "Gong Huo's current issue is partly mental and partly due to pressure. I've already talked to him about his problem. I'll prescribe something to adjust his physical health, but you, as parents, need to cooperate."
"He still has more than half a year before the high school entrance exam. During this period, don't focus on urging him to study, or scare him about not getting into a good high school. That doesn't help much. Just provide him with a reasonable diet to nourish his body."
"I'll tell you how to eat to reasonably nourish the heart and kidneys. Here is the prescription I've written for him; it can improve his symptoms. After taking it today, he shouldn't feel heart pain while sleeping at night. After a week of adjustment, use dietary supplements."
After handing the prescription and diet plan to Gong Ming, Lu Jiu walked to the medicine cabinet to fetch the herbs.
Gong Huo is suffering from both kidney yin and yang deficiency, which is common for many who are over-indulgent.
In this behavior, it consumes kidney yang, while the essence expelled is kidney yin.
Yang is dynamic energy, and yin is material, inherently interconnected.
It's like writing on paper: the act of writing is dynamic, the pen oil forming words is material. Without the action of writing, the pen oil can't become words; without pen oil, the action alone can't produce words.
So, solitary yin doesn't grow, and solitary yang doesn't generate!
Lu Jiu prescribed the Cinnamon and Aconite Warming Pill, also known as the Eight-Flavor Kidney Qi Pill, composed of Dried Rehmannia Root, Chinese yam, Cornelian Cherry, Alisma, Peony Bark, Poria, cinnamon bark, and Aconite.
This prescription originates from the Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet, in the chapter on Blood Impediment and Deficiency Consumption Syndromes.
[For deficiency-consumption back pain, tight lower abdomen, and difficulty urinating, Eight-Flavor Kidney Qi Pill is the main treatment.]
Previously, in hospital consultations, Lu Jiu encountered patients overly indulging, some with over a decade-long history, exhibiting symptoms like weakness, back pain, occasional scrotal cramping, frequent urination, or difficulty urinating, even leading to premature ejaculation or erectile dysfunction.
Gong Huo's symptoms are less severe, just some deficiency-consumption and urinary issues, and occasional lower abdominal spasms during serious episodes.
Yet, in traditional Chinese medicine, not all symptoms must match perfectly for a prescription; one or two matching symptoms can warrant its use.
Of course, a prerequisite is accurate diagnosis, avoiding misleading symptoms.
"Take this; it's a one-dose quantity. After taking it today, come back tomorrow for a follow-up. I'll adjust the prescription based on your symptoms," Lu Jiu handed the prepared herbs to Gong Ming.
The reason Lu Jiu prescribed just one dose and plans to adjust the prescription later is that Gong Huo is still young, and his kidney qi is growing daily.
According to the Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor, kidney qi deteriorates at forty. Before then, excessive supplementation can backfire.
Herbs like epimedium or morinda root weren't used unless for a forty to fifty-year-old with kidney deficiency because young individuals, unless severely indulged, generally don't need significant tonics.
Thus, even with similar deficiencies, each case varies, requiring cautious medication.
Gong Ming took the bag of herbs, placing the prescription and diet plan inside, "Thank you, Dr. Lu. How much is this?"
Lu Jiu smiled, "The consultation fee is fifty yuan, the prescription is nine yuan two, and the diet plan is twenty yuan, totaling seventy-nine yuan two. Please scan here."
Gong Ming nodded, taking out his phone to make the payment.
When Lu Mountain consulted, it was similar; the main cost was the consultation, with affordable prescriptions.
Lu Jiu evidently inherited this approach, and although he hadn't seen results yet, this alone gained Gong Ming's trust by half.
After paying, Gong Ming expressed more thanks and left the clinic with Gong Huo.
Walking on the street, the father and son didn't speak much. After a while, Gong Ming suddenly transferred two hundred yuan to Gong Huo via phone.
Hearing the notification, Gong Huo opened it to find it was a red envelope from his dad, confused, "Dad, why?"
Gong Ming laughed, "Invite that girl out for a walk or meal if you have time. Isn't it just early dating? I experienced that in the past too. Back then, I naively thought liking someone meant being together, which didn't work out. When I worked hard to earn money and had a material foundation, it was too late."
"If you can continue with the person you liked from the start, I fully support it, but just liking isn't enough. I can provide material support, but you must offer the girl a future, and yourself a future as well."
"Your mom and I don't want to pressure you too much, but since you chose us as parents, in our family, going out through education offers you more opportunities."