My 1995 Small Farm.

Chapter 992 The Teacher's Keenness

"Brother, this is good stuff."

Chen Ling placed the bamboo basket in the shade under the eaves: "Leechs can be used in medicine to promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, and treat swelling and pain caused by blood stasis. I'll catch some and study them."

Wang Qingwen frowned and leaned closer to look: "Can this thing really cure diseases? There's a teacher at our school who has joint pain and has taken a lot of medicine but hasn't gotten better."

"Leech therapy is an external treatment, not an internal one."

Chen Ling explained: "By attaching a live leech to the painful area, it sucks blood and releases medicinal components from its saliva, which can reduce swelling and pain and improve local circulation."

Su Ligai and Guo Xinping both frowned as they listened; women are generally afraid of these soft, squishy insects.

The two little kids, Dongdong and his brother, were curious and watched from afar, both scared and wanting to know what was going on.

Chen Ling didn't offer any further explanation.

I carefully transferred the leeches to the earthenware jar I had brought, added some water and a few leaves, and then put on the lid with a hole for air.

The cultivation of sterile maggots has been successfully developed, and they are highly effective in wound cleaning.

If you add medical leeches, his "biological therapy" system will be even more complete.

Maggots are used externally to clean wounds and remove necrotic tissue, while leeches are used internally to promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis.

Moreover, leeches have a wider range of applications.

It can be used as an adjunct treatment for sprains, varicose veins, arthritis, and even cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

More importantly, the nearby forest is rich in leeches of excellent quality.

When we get back, we should also check on the situation in Chenwangzhuang to see if there are any leeches.

The mountains around Chenwangzhuang belong to the Wuyun Mountain Range. The humidity there is not as high as in Fenglei Town, so leeches are relatively rare.

But who knows what will happen after the rain.

"Lingzi, you have to be careful when you handle these things. Leeches can burrow into flesh, they'll go into any hole they see, and they'll suck blood. It's very scary, you hear me?" Wang Qingzhong also warned.

"I know."

Chen Ling nodded and then said, "Big brother, second brother, I'm not leaving today. I want to stay in the village for another day."

Wang Qingwen was taken aback: "You're not leaving? Is everything alright at home?"

"I just made a call, everything is arranged."

Chen Ling said, "The flood control situation is stable. With Professor Zhao and the others there, there won't be any problems. I want to take this opportunity to walk around the village and see if I can find any other medicinal herbs. After the rain, the mountains and forests are where many medicinal herbs grow."

That's true.

While the continuous rain brings the risk of flooding, it also nourishes the mountains and forests, allowing many shade-loving and moisture-loving herbs to flourish during this period.

Wang Qingwen thought for a moment and said, "That works too. It's perfect timing. I'm going to my father-in-law's place today, but there's nowhere for him to stay. He's staying at Qingzhong's old house where he stores grain. Do you want to come along? You can also get familiar with the area. There are many medicinal herbs in the woods there."

“Okay,” Chen Ling readily agreed.

After breakfast, Chen Ling went out with Wang Qingwen.

Wang Qingwen's father-in-law lives in an old house halfway up the mountain, which requires walking along a steep mountain path.

The roads were slippery after the rain, so the two walked carefully, but Chen Ling's steps were steady and unaffected.

On the way, Wang Qingwen told Chen Ling about the situation in the village.

Yaowangzhai has a total of more than 30 households, most of whom are surnamed Wang or Yao, and have made a living by collecting medicinal herbs for generations.

The mountains and forests surrounding the village are rich in medicinal resources, including Gastrodia elata, Panax notoginseng, Paris polyphylla, and Polygonatum sibiricum.

But in recent years, fewer people have been collecting medicinal herbs, and many good medicinal herbs have been left to rot in the mountains.

"Lingzi, you said last time that you wanted to collect the medicinal herbs in the village and sell them outside in a unified manner. Does that still count?" Wang Qingwen asked.

"It counts."

Chen Ling nodded: "Once this busy period is over, I will send someone to the village to take a look and set a standard and price for the purchase."

The villagers can sell the herbs they gather right at their doorsteps, saving them the trouble of traveling to other places and getting ripped off by herb dealers.

Wang Qingwen became happy: "That's great! Several old herb gatherers in the village have been looking forward to it since they heard about it. They're too old to travel far, so the herbs they gather either pile up at home or are bought up cheaply by drug dealers in town, which is a real pity."

The two talked as they arrived at the old house.

Old Su lived in an old house halfway up the mountain. The house had bluestone walls and a black tile roof. The courtyard was small, but it was kept tidy.

Several rows of vegetables were planted in the corner of the yard. They were a little wilted by the continuous rain, but they were still growing tenaciously.

Strings of red peppers and golden corn cobs hang under the eaves, exuding the unique, prosperous atmosphere of a rural home.

When Chen Ling followed Wang Qingwen into the courtyard, an old man with gray hair and a hunched back was sitting on a bamboo chair under the eaves, holding a pipe in his hand but not lighting it, just staring blankly at the distant mountains.

Hearing footsteps, the old man slowly turned his head. His face was etched with deep wrinkles, and his eyes were cloudy, revealing a lingering pain.

"Dad, look who's here."

Wang Qingwen quickly stepped forward and squatted down next to the old man. "This is Lingzi, Susu's man. He came from Chenwangzhuang to see us."

Old Man Su's eyes lit up for a moment, and he struggled to stand up. But as soon as he moved his waist, his face turned pale and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

He hissed and gasped, then slumped back into his chair, one hand bracing tightly against his lower back.

"Uncle, don't move."

Chen Ling quickly took a few steps and supported the old man's shoulder: "Just sit and talk, please don't get up."

Old Man Su took a few breaths to catch his breath before managing a forced smile: "It's Lingzi... Good, good, it must have been hard for you to come all this way... This road must have been difficult to travel?"

"Fortunately, the plank road has been repaired and we can walk on it."

Chen Ling squatted down and looked at the old man's hand that was supporting his waist.

The veins on that hand were bulging, and the knuckles were white from the exertion, clearly indicating that the person was enduring great pain.

"Uncle, where exactly does your back hurt? How does it hurt?" Chen Ling asked softly, as if making small talk.

Old Su smiled bitterly: "Right here, from the lumbar spine down to the coccyx. Last autumn, I was gored by a wild boar. At the time, I didn't think it was anything, just a bruise. I applied some medicated wine and it passed."

"Who would have thought that the pain would start after the spring? At first it was just a soreness and swelling, but it got worse and worse. Now... now even the slightest movement feels like being pricked with needles, and it's difficult to even turn over in bed."

Wang Qingwen added from the side: "I went to the town's health center. The doctor said it was a lumbar spine injury that was compressing the nerves. He prescribed painkillers and ointments. The medicine provided temporary relief, but it didn't cure the root cause. The pain returned after I stopped taking it for two days."

"Later, I consulted a traditional Chinese medicine doctor and tried acupuncture and cupping, but the effects were slow and the symptoms would recur as soon as I stopped."

Chen Ling nodded and gently pressed on the old man's lower back: "Uncle, I'll press a few places. Tell me if it hurts, and if it does, what kind of pain?"

His technique was very gentle, starting from the first lumbar vertebra and probing downwards inch by inch.

Old Man Su could endure it at first, but when the pressure reached the area near the fourth lumbar vertebra, his body visibly stiffened, and a suppressed groan escaped his throat. "Here?"

"...Yes, right here, that's where it hurts the most." Old Man Su gritted his teeth.

Chen Ling paused there, carefully feeling the sensation.

The muscles were stiff as rocks, with slight swelling in some areas, and the skin temperature was slightly higher than the surrounding area.

This is a typical sign of blood stasis and blocked meridians.

Over time, poor local blood circulation and recurrent inflammation can lead to persistent pain.

The image of the plump leeches he had just seen in the woods flashed through his mind.

The Shennong Materia Medica states that leeches "primarily expel stagnant blood and blood clots, and break up blood stasis and accumulations."

Li Shizhen recorded it in more detail in the Compendium of Materia Medica, saying that it is "salty and enters the blood, bitter and overcomes the blood", and can "unblock the liver meridian and gather blood".

Modern research has also confirmed that hirudin in leech saliva has strong anticoagulant, vasodilator, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.

If it is a fresh bruise, using oral medication to promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, combined with external application, may be able to relieve it.

However, Old Man Su's injury had been delayed for nearly a year, and the bruising had turned into "old blood," deeply obstructing his meridians, making it difficult for ordinary medicines to reach him.

When live leeches suck blood, their mouthparts can penetrate deep into the tissue and act directly on the lesion, while releasing active ingredients to improve local microcirculation and promote the absorption and dissipation of blood stasis.

This might be a solution.

But Chen Ling didn't say it immediately.

The idea of ​​live leech therapy is terrifying, let alone when it's applied directly to people.

Old Man Su is old and frail; if he were to have any adverse reactions, the consequences would be unimaginable.

He withdrew his hand, a relieved smile on his face: "Uncle, your injury is caused by blood stasis, which can become a bit stubborn if left untreated for too long. But don't worry, it's not a terminal illness, there are ways to treat it."

A glimmer of hope ignited in Old Man Su's eyes: "Is there really a way?"

"Have."

Chen Ling nodded firmly, "But it takes time to recover, so we can't rush it. I'll leave you a bottle of medicinal wine first, it's eight-treasure wine that I brewed myself. Drink a small cup before bed every day, no more, and use it in conjunction with hot compresses to relieve the pain. After a while, I'll prepare some topical ointment for you."

He then turned to Wang Qingwen and said, “Brother, this wine is strong. You can only have one cup a day at most, and warm it up with warm water before drinking.”

Wang Qingwen accepted it and carefully put it away.

After sitting in the old house for a while, Chen Ling helped check the leaks and repaired a few loose tiles before taking his leave.

Old Man Su wanted them to stay for dinner, but Wang Qingwen politely declined.

There are two school-aged children at home, and I need to go back to take care of them.

On the way down the mountain, the two walked one after the other.

The mountain path was slippery, but Chen Ling walked steadily, occasionally turning back to help Wang Qingwen.

Reaching a gentle bend, Wang Qingwen stopped to rest, wiped the sweat from his brow, and suddenly asked, "Lingzi, just now...did you leave something unsaid?"

Chen Ling was taken aback.

Wang Qingwen looked at him with a keen eye characteristic of a teacher:

“When you pressed on my father-in-law’s waist, your expression changed, although you quickly covered it up, but I saw it. Did you think of other treatments, but felt they were inappropriate, so you didn’t say anything?”

Chen Ling paused for a moment, then admitted, "Yes, I did come up with a method, but... it's not very conventional, and I'm afraid you won't be able to accept it if I tell you."

"What method?" Wang Qingwen pressed.

"Live leech therapy"

"Use live leeches to suck blood from the injured area of ​​the waist, while releasing the medicinal components in their saliva to break up blood stasis, clear the meridians, reduce swelling and relieve pain."

Wang Qingwen gasped, his face changing color: "Leech? Those...aren't those things harmful? They suck blood and burrow into flesh..."

"Those are leeches in their natural state in the wild."

Chen Ling explained patiently.

"If it undergoes rigorous screening and clean cultivation, and the usage time and quantity are properly controlled, it can become a 'living medicine'."

"There are records in ancient Chinese medicine books. The Tang Dynasty book 'Qianjin Fang' contains a medical case of using live leeches to suck out the pus and blood from carbuncles. In modern times, there are also medical-grade leeches abroad used to treat venous congestion and postoperative congestion."

“Brother, I know this sounds scary. But think about it, I used maggots to treat Li Lianjie’s leg injury a while ago.”

“That thing sounds even more disgusting, but it can clean wounds and eats necrotic tissue without harming healthy flesh. Li Lianjie had such a serious wound, but with the maggot therapy combined with my medicine, he was able to walk again in just a few days without any lasting effects.”

Wang Qingwen got goosebumps all over his body as he listened.

He had heard Chen Ling mention that Li Lianjie had come to Chenwangzhuang for treatment, but he didn't know the specific details.

Hearing Chen Ling mention "maggot therapy" in person, even though he was mentally prepared, he still felt his scalp tingle.

But then I thought, if it really didn't work, how could a big star like Jet Li accept it?

And those bosses and experts on Hong Kong Island, they all speak highly of Chen Ling, are they all fools?
Wang Qingwen fell silent for a long while before saying, "Lingzi, it's not that I don't trust you. It's just... that's my father-in-law after all. He's getting old, and his health can't withstand any more strain. What if something happens to him..."

“I understand, which is why I didn’t say it on the spot. This method definitely has risks, and we need to test it first to ensure its safety and effectiveness before we can use it on people.”

"Experiment?" Wang Qingwen looked up.

"Yes, find similar cases of bruising and injury, and test it on animals first."

"For example, if livestock such as mules, horses, cattle, and donkeys are injured while working, resulting in local bruising and swelling, you can try using leeches to see if they are effective. Observe the reaction, record the changes, and summarize the safe usage methods and dosages."

“Brother, I’m not just doing this out of kindness. If leech therapy really works, it can be used to treat not only back injuries, but also many other problems caused by blood stasis… sprains, arthritis, varicose veins, and even post-stroke sequelae. This is a promising approach, and it’s worth exploring.”

Looking at his brother-in-law, who was more than ten years younger than him, Wang Qingwen suddenly felt a little unfamiliar with him.

It's not estrangement, but rather a...visible gap.

His brother-in-law's courage was something he himself couldn't match.

Moreover, he is quick-witted, has a broad knowledge base, and knows many things that ordinary people don't.

It left him speechless.

"What do you need?" Wang Qingwen asked, his tone softening.

"First, we need leeches. The leeches in this forest in Yaowangzhai are of good quality, and I already collected some this morning. But to do the experiment, we need more, and we need to sort them by size and in batches."

"In addition, we need to find a suitable test subject, preferably our own livestock, which we know well and can easily observe."

Wang Qingwen thought for a moment: "There are a few households in the village that raise donkeys. A while ago, the roads were slippery after the rain, and one of the donkeys fell and its hind leg swelled up. It's been limping for the past few days. The owner is worried about it, saying it can't work properly. How about... we go and take a look?"

“Okay!” Chen Ling’s eyes lit up. “Let’s go now.”