Chapter 139
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: Yin-Yang Balance for Tics
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“The sniffing to relieve the discomfort caused by cold symptoms progressed into premonitory sensory impulses. There's no actual issue with the body part anymore, but faulty signals are being generated for that particular sensation.”
I began explaining how cold symptoms connect to tics.
“You can hold it back if you try. It's not like involuntary trembling. It's just that to alleviate that vague discomfort, they end up with odd behaviors like sniffing the nose or blinking the eyes... Ah, is this coming across okay? Are you a medical interpreter by any chance?”
I wondered if a term like “premonitory sensory impulse” was too much.
When I quietly asked the interpreter, she shook her head.
“Oh, I'm not a professional interpreter. I'm a nurse in Italy, but Chairman Richi contacted me urgently through an acquaintance when he heard I was coming to the hospital.”
Ah, that explained why her language skills were fluent but the timing felt a bit off.
At least the message was getting through, so I felt relieved.
I waited as the interpreter relayed it in Italian to Chairman Richi, and both he and his son nodded quietly.
“Of course, not every child who catches a cold develops this. The root cause is an abnormality in brain neurotransmitters, and the cold just heightened the senses as a trigger. The mechanism of tic disorders isn't fully understood, but dopamine imbalance is one of the leading theories. Excess secretion and overactivity can lead to tics or schizophrenia, while deficiency can trigger ADHD or depression.”
“……!”
Chairman Richi, listening to the explanation, looked startled.
“What surprised you?”
“It's the schizophrenia mention. He's worried it might mean something serious for his son.”
“Ah.”
I'd thought of it as mild symptoms like nodding and sniffing, but bringing up schizophrenia would naturally make it feel grave.
But tics don't progress to schizophrenia or anything like that.
“It's not just a difference in quantity—it's about which brain areas are overactive. That's why excess in one area can cause deficiency in another, leading to both tics and ADHD together.”
Chairman Richi nodded enthusiastically, clearly understanding the dopamine mechanism.
“‘Oh, the doctors back home didn't explain it this thoroughly! They just said most cases resolve in a couple months, so wait and see!’ ...that's what he said.”
That wasn't wrong advice.
“That's true. Especially at this age, during brain development, temporary imbalances are common. They often resolve on their own over time.”
If using Western meds, you'd target dopamine directly.
Typically, they block dopamine receptors to curb activity, but side effects like depression or lethargy can occur during treatment.
Conversely, ADHD meds sometimes induce tics.
“Are there no side effects with herbal medicine?”
I shook my head.
As Paracelsus said, every medicine is a poison. But not every poison is a medicine.
“No medicine in the world is without side effects. But herbal remedies don't directly mess with hormones or their receptors, so naturally, fewer issues.”
“Anfdlkajfoqi!”
“He says it's amazing.”
“Exactly. So...”
Having covered tics and psychiatric meds in detail, it was time for the Oriental medicine approach.
But Chairman Richi opened his mouth again, saying something else.
Hmm, communicating through one person is inconvenient for sure.
Yu Kyung-hoon and Jeon Min-ji had mentioned dealing with this multiple times, so it made sense they'd consider studying Chinese.
While lost in such thoughts waiting for the interpreter...
“So, does balancing yin-yang and the five elements fix the dopamine imbalance? That's what he's asking.”
“……”
An unexpected question came.
“Yin-yang and five elements?”
“Yin-Yang is 음양, right? And the five elements that go with it are 오행...”
“Ah, the translation's fine. I was just surprised and repeating it.”
Yeah, no wonder he'd just been nodding until now.
With one intermediary, we hadn't fully grasped his needs.
Now it clicked.
I should have noticed when he said he liked Eastern things... He was into stuff like yin-yang and five elements.
I'd assumed a Westerner would prefer hormone-focused explanations.
My prejudice.
‘Come to think of it, Professor said something similar happened in the US.’
One of our university professors, who'd earned a PhD from a top American med school, specialized in Oriental Medicine. American doctors asked a lot, and some were into qi or yin-yang five elements.
They'd rush over excited about insights into the five elements' principles.
Unlike Korea, where even Korean doctors shy away from yin-yang due to unscientific critiques.
“Close enough. Yin-yang and five elements were tools to explain phenomena back then. Liver is Wood, Heart is Fire, Spleen is Earth, Lungs are Metal, Kidneys are Water—assigning the five viscera to the elements to describe body structure and function. For dopamine deficiency, um...”
In Oriental terms, stress is Liver Qi Stagnation, mental realm is Heart governing the spirit—all tied to Heart.
“When qi doesn't flow well and stagnates, the twitching is like trying to release it. Especially, break through the blocked Wood energy and replenish the deficient Fire energy.”
“Oh, kiiiiiiii!”
The interpreter glanced at me.
Okay, no translation needed—I got that.
“He also says your son lacks that burning passion.”
“That's... not it. Anyway, yes—we use herbs to replenish deficient qi and unblock stagnant paths. Hundreds of Oriental herbs each target specific meridians and have unique properties. Heart qi... just say herbs to boost the fire energy.”
Wow! Bravo! Exclamations poured out.
Chairman Richi was thrilled.
“Paolo's excited too.”
I hadn't expected the son to sparkle like that.
Like father, like son?
“Liver Qi Stagnation is basically synonymous with stress. And when Heart and Gallbladder are deficient, one becomes sensitive, easily startled or timid—exercise is as crucial as meds here.”
“It connects like that?”
Even the interpreter's eyes sparkled as she relayed to the chairman.
“While on the herbs, manage lifestyle as you heard in Italy. Based on experience, with this level, recovery in under three months.”
I'd treated plenty of tics.
Many highborn kids that age under family pressure.
Families without that status wouldn't seek clinic for minor symptoms.
Treating discreetly referred kids, many blinked, sniffed, nodded.
Motor tics limited to head and face had the best prognosis.
Limb flailing or vocal tics with swearing took longer.
Worse if chronic or severe—Paolo was in great shape.
“Exercise is crucial too. It regulates dopamine both ways—deficient or excess.”
Emphasizing exercise again.
A martial heir's wall-climbing pressure rivals exam-season scholars, yet few tic cases from murim families.
“Dkjfnokjwe!”
Chairman Richi jumped up.
Shouting incomprehensibly again.
“Uh, he says he'll enroll in taekwondo. Taiji balances yin-yang, and...”
I just smiled gently.
No need to explain taekwondo vs. taijiquan.
After he finished, I sat him back down.
“Finally, pulse diagnosis and a few more questions. Heart-Gallbladder deficiency and Liver Qi Stagnation set the direction, but we adjust other imbalances too—like poor digestion means Earth deficiency, frequent urine means Water deficiency.”
Wondered if this was okay, but he topped it.
“He knows—water beats fire, wood beats earth.”
“You even know mutual generation and restraint. Quite knowledgeable.”
Water overcomes fire, wood overcomes earth.
What an interesting guy.
Thankfully, inquiry and pulse showed no major issues.
Just catches colds a bit often.
Some fuss during pulse, but settled quickly. We moved to treatment room to balance Paolo's qi.
Chairman Richi got acupuncture first.
Insisted on experiencing it.
Asked about pain—headaches from overthinking.
“Chairman must have a lot of stress too. I'll release Liver qi and add needles where pulse indicates.”
With Nam Hyun-jung precedent, skipped insurance/fee talk.
“He feels his qi moving—likes it.”
……Unless sensitive as Kim Ijin, probably not. But if he says so.
“See? Dad's doing fine.”
I met Paolo's eyes.
Chairman excited multiple times, less kid talk.
Such kids usually sensitive to needles, but dad's enjoyment sparked curiosity over fear.
“Won't hurt much. Relax, one~ two~.”
Inserted for both.
Pierced skin in a flash—Paolo blinked, already done?
“Yes. Not painful at all, right?”
Placed about 20 needles.
Herbs for deficiencies, but maximize acupuncture today.
No chance to meet again unless I go to Italy.
“Now, lie still a bit. Breathe comfortably.”
“Grazie. Thank you.”
Polite kid.
Unlike dad's rapid-fire Italian, he calmly thanked.
“Director, good consultation?”
After needles, Seo In-ae, on third floor today, asked.
“Aigoo, triples the energy drain.”
Through interpreter or chairman's quirks—exhausting.
“Water? Four waiting.”
“Fine. Next.”
“Um... Ah.”
Interpreter in hall hesitated to grab me.
“Did Chairman or Paolo say something?”
“No. They're fine.”
Hm, seems she has something to say.
“No other business, wait in lounge. Or do you need treatment?”
Just in case—surprisingly, yes.
“A bit, but how long for chairman?”
She held her stomach.
“No physio, just needles—20 minutes.”
“Ah... Tomorrow then. Want consultation too.”