A Tale of Two Cities Supporting Xinjiang

That evening, Aygul stayed in the office organizing medical records. While rummaging through her drawer looking for a pen, she suddenly touched a stiff, thin piece of paper.

She pulled it out and saw a yellowed and brittle piece of paper covered with densely written words in pen, the ink of which had blurred. It turned out to be the traditional Chinese medicine prescription that her mother had drunk years ago!

The ingredients of the folk remedy were listed in a long list, mostly common herbal names.

I only remember that my mother drank this folk remedy for a few days and then started feeling nauseous and vomiting. She was eventually sent to the hospital and diagnosed with acute poisoning. She passed away a few days later.

Ayigu didn't sleep well all night. The yellowed folk remedy kept replaying in her mind, making her restless.

The next day, as soon as she got to work, she took the piece of paper with her and went to find Zhou Hongmei.

Zhou Hongmei was taking an elderly woman's pulse when she saw Ayiguli come in, panting. She looked up with a smile and said, "Dr. Ayiguli, why are you in such a hurry? Is something wrong?"

Aygul walked up to her, handed her the folk remedy, her voice trembling uncontrollably: "Dr. Zhou, please take a look at this. This is the 'Chinese medicine' my mother drank years ago; she died from poisoning after drinking it."

Zhou Hongmei took the piece of paper and read it word by word. Her originally gentle expression gradually turned serious.

Especially when she saw the word "arsenic" on the prescription, her eyes darkened, and she said with certainty, "Aygul, please don't misunderstand, this is not a traditional Chinese medicine prescription at all, and the arsenic in it is definitely not Chinese medicine!"

"Not traditional Chinese medicine?"

Aygul froze, her eyes widening. "But the person who treated my mother back then said it was a traditional Chinese medicine remedy passed down through his family, and that it was made entirely of natural herbs!"

"There is absolutely no arsenic in pure natural herbs."

Zhou Hongmei shook her head and pointed to the word "arsenic" on the folk remedy, explaining: "Arsenic is a chemical poison, which is the main component of what we commonly call arsenic trioxide, and it is highly toxic!"

In legitimate traditional Chinese medicine, no herb contains arsenic, and it is never listed as a medicinal ingredient in prescriptions.

Aygul was stunned by what she heard, and her mind went blank.

Arsenic? The traditional Chinese medicine that killed my mother was actually laced with arsenic?

"But...but it clearly says it's a traditional Chinese medicine remedy."

She was still somewhat incredulous, her voice tinged with a hint of relief, "Could it be that I remembered wrong? Or perhaps some traditional Chinese medicines produce this substance after processing?"

"Absolutely not."

"I have studied traditional Chinese medicine for so many years and have come into contact with countless Chinese medicinal herbs. From the Compendium of Materia Medica to the modern Chinese Pharmacopoeia, no book has listed arsenic as a medicinal material."

Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes diagnosis and treatment based on syndrome differentiation, as well as the contraindications of different combinations. How could highly toxic chemicals be added?

She sighed and handed the remedy back to Ayiguli: "This is just a trick by quack doctors. They use the guise of traditional Chinese medicine remedies to illegally add toxic chemicals like arsenic and mercury. In the short term, patients may feel relief from their symptoms, which is how they swindle money and gain trust. But if the dosage isn't controlled properly, it can lead to acute poisoning. Your mother was harmed by this fake Chinese medicine."

Aygul stood there dumbfounded, holding the yellowed folk remedy.

For so many years, she has blamed her mother's death on traditional Chinese medicine, believing that it was unreliable and that Chinese medicine was poisonous. As a result, even though she studied traditional Chinese medicine, she deliberately avoided using Chinese medicine at work and even developed a grudge against the industry.

But now Zhou Hongmei is telling her that what her mother drank was not traditional Chinese medicine at all, but a fake folk remedy laced with deadly poison?

"I...I always thought that traditional Chinese medicine had harmed my mother."

Her voice choked with emotion, and tears streamed down her face. "I've hated traditional Chinese medicine for so many years, but it turns out I've been hating the wrong thing all along?"

"It's not your fault. Those quack doctors are despicable; they've ruined the reputation of traditional Chinese medicine."

Zhou Hongmei handed over a tissue, her tone gentle, "Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes preventing disease and treating according to syndrome differentiation. Chinese medicine has also been verified through thousands of years of practice. As long as it is used correctly, it can cure diseases and save lives."

Like Amardan, traditional Chinese medicine was only an adjunct treatment; what truly saved him was Dr. Zhou Yi's surgery. I simply used traditional Chinese medicine to help regulate his body and boost his immunity, building upon his initial treatment.

Aygul wiped away her tears, looking at the folk remedy in her hand, feeling a mix of sadness and bitterness in her heart. "Perhaps, traditional Chinese medicine really can cure diseases and save lives, just as everyone says."

The story of Zhou Hongmei using traditional Chinese medicine to help save Aimerdan became increasingly exaggerated in the Shihezi area.

Some say her traditional Chinese medicine can "bring the dead back to life," others say her acupuncture can "cure all diseases," and some people even travel from counties hundreds of kilometers away just to have Zhou Hongmei take their pulse and prescribe a medicine.

The TCM department in the hospital suddenly became bustling with activity, with long queues forming outside the consultation rooms, and the demand for TCM pharmacies also surged.

However, the pharmacy's predicament was soon exposed: there was a severe shortage of medicinal materials. Many patients had Zhou Hongmei's prescriptions but could not get the complete medicine and could only leave disappointed.

The news quickly reached the ears of Dean Zhang Jianguo.

He had already gained a new respect for traditional Chinese medicine because of Amardan's case, and now seeing so many patients coming to him by reputation, he realized its importance even more. He immediately found Zhou Hongmei and said earnestly, "Dr. Zhou, everyone recognizes traditional Chinese medicine now, but the pharmacies are severely lacking in medicine. How can this be?"

I've decided to purchase a batch of commonly used Chinese medicinal herbs. Since you're a TCM expert, could you help me select some suitable ones that are both practical and appropriate for the constitutions of our patients?

Upon hearing this, Zhou Hongmei was both surprised and delighted: "Thank you, Dean Zhang! Don't worry, I will definitely make a detailed list, which includes commonly used and effective medicinal materials in clinical practice."

She didn't dare to delay and compiled a list that very day, which included a hundred kinds of commonly used Chinese medicines, such as those that invigorate qi, promote blood circulation, clear heat and detoxify, and strengthen the spleen and remove dampness.

After compiling the list, she immediately dialed Zhou Mingyu's number.

"Director Zhou, I have an urgent matter to report to you. There has been a surge in patients with traditional Chinese medicine at Shihezi People's Hospital, but the pharmacy is short of more than 20 kinds of commonly used medicinal herbs. Many patients have prescriptions but can't get the medicine. The hospital director wants to purchase a batch."

However, our supply channels are limited, and we're worried about buying substandard quality herbs. Could you help us contact Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine to see if they can coordinate with reputable TCM companies to help us procure a batch of reliable medicinal materials?

Upon hearing that it concerned healthcare and people's livelihood, Zhou Mingyu immediately became serious: "Hongmei, you've come to the right person! Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine is the university we are paired with for support. I've had several dealings with their school leaders, and we have a good relationship. Send me the list, and I'll call them right now and definitely help you coordinate everything."

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Hongmei quickly sent the list over, feeling both anxious and expectant.