Chapter 211
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 211
Chapter Title: Tai Chi Prescription
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From the moment he first showed up, Kim Jaegyu had been anything but ordinary.
"Can herbal medicine lower my blood pressure?"
He'd come straight in and hit me with that point-blank question.
"High blood pressure isn't the kind of condition I can guarantee to cure. That said, there are prescriptions and acupoints known to have a significant effect on lowering blood pressure, and in your case, treatment is absolutely necessary even if the numbers don't show meaningful change right away."
I'd spent thirty minutes explaining all that, but his response was:
"So, will my blood pressure go down?"
Round and round we went.
I let out a sigh.
"Yes, it can. From my experience, patients whose symptoms spike this dramatically tend to respond at least somewhat."
If he was forcing a yes-or-no answer, then yes it was.
His neck stiffness and sleep issues would improve, at least.
With how sensitive he was, I worried how long it would last, though.
"Your blood pressure right now... Let me see, according to the desk measurement..."
"It was 128/82 earlier."
"And you're on medication?"
"Yes. Without it, it hits 160, or even 200. They said I'd have to take it for life."
In the end, I started treatment without even knowing his exact off-medication numbers.
I explained acupuncture and herbal medicine.
And, as always, lifestyle management.
"I don't drink or smoke that much."
But Kim Jaegyu was incredibly stubborn.
"You absolutely have to manage your stress. Try meditation or find some method that brings you peace."
"Meditation..."
"I'm not telling you to spend money on classes. Just lie down comfortably and focus on your breathing for a bit. I don't even suggest this to other patients."
"I'm too bored by that stuff to keep it up."
He brazenly admitted he'd lived like this his whole life, leaving me with nothing more to say.
A mindset of, You think you're such a hotshot doctor? Fix me if you can.
Ugh, if another clinic head got this inquiry, they'd just say they couldn't guarantee anything and send him packing!
I wasn't immune to the irritation, but he was a patient who'd walked into my clinic hoping for improvement.
Treatment would make him better than he was now, at any rate.
Even just fixing the throbbing headaches that kept him from sleeping properly would stabilize his emotions more than now.
Body and mind are organically linked, so at some point, it becomes impossible to tell which is the real problem.
But improvement in one often leads to improvement in the other.
"Let's do the acupuncture now."
Hegu. Taichong. Neiguan. Zusanli. Baihui.
The acupoints for managing high blood pressure generally aligned with spots that connected the body's inner and outer energies.
His heart was overworking because qi and blood weren't circulating smoothly.
I also stimulated the Pericardium channel and key blood pressure points like Yongquan on the soles of his feet.
"Ugh, urgh!"
He winced in serious pain when I needled Yongquan, but I wasn't stimulating it extra hard on purpose.
To maximize the effect in one go since he might not return, I used lifting and thrusting techniques and channeled energy strongly.
"I feel like all my strength is draining away."
"Just rest like that."
I prescribed Daesiho Decoction combined with Huanglian Jiedu Decoction.
I tried explaining the meds, but he only cared about how long to take them.
"A week's supply is pointless. You need 3 or 4 months."
If he was just going to take it for a week and quit, no point starting.
"I'll come back next week for more."
He was immovable.
"Got it. Make sure to come next Monday without skipping!"
"And yet he came back after a week?"
The chart showed every Monday marked for two and a half months.
I nodded at Sandro's question.
"Yeah. I thought he might ghost, but he kept coming."
"One treatment worked wonders?"
"I can't drop his blood pressure with a single needle. I got lucky with a friend."
Turned out he knew a guy named Shin Yongmin, who was in the pre-hypertension stage.
He was diligently treating and managing in the normal range now—total opposite personality from Kim Jaegyu.
He'd even politely asked if this was his first visit and begged for good care.
"I was shocked he used to be a teacher too. Wouldn't tell me what he did, just said he hangs out at home."
"Ah... He's really picky, huh."
I shook my head.
"Still, he came every week without fail for acupuncture and meds. The amazing part? Every pulse check showed clear improvement."
People aren't like game characters.
HP doesn't just shoot up with treatment, and status effects don't vanish instantly.
Symptoms can worsen after seeming fine, or stay static forever before suddenly improving—daily life.
But Kim Jaegyu's kept steadily getting better, right up to recently.
"To improve more and maintain it, he needs lifestyle changes."
That was the frustrating part.
At this point, you'd think he'd say, Fine, Doc, I'll do everything you say! But no.
"You're a PE teacher—don't you exercise?"
Sandro asked.
"Just early morning soccer once a week. Low-intensity reps are better for blood pressure, right? But he says walking's boring."
It wasn't dangerously unmanaged thanks to meds, but a pounding heart wasn't ideal.
"Any fun low-intensity exercises worth recommending? Gymnastics? Aerobics? Hmm."
"Ah!"
I hadn't expected an answer, but Sandro clapped.
"Hey, what about this?"
"Hm?"
Some fun exercise good for blood pressure?
He hijacked my computer, pulled up a paper, and showed me.
"...This is solid. How'd they even run that study?"
A little later.
"Ah, you're here."
Kim Jaegyu showed up at 2 p.m. sharp, as usual.
"Hello, Director."
But his expression was different today. In a good way.
He always scowled with furrowed brows and glaring eyes, but today his smile reached his ears.
"You seem in a great mood today."
"Haha, I met some old students at lunch. That rascal who caused me endless headaches credits me for turning his life around."
He'd never bothered with small talk before—must be riding high today.
"Must feel great as a teacher."
"Whew, worth every illness I caught dragging him straight."
Perfect timing.
I quickly got his okay, pointing to Sandro waiting outside.
"Mind if another director observes today? He's a doctor from overseas."
"Of course, no problem. Haha, I used to take in student teachers all the time."
Approval before I could say it was optional.
Sandro's luck, huh?
Or maybe Kim Jaegyu's, getting observed treatment.
I hid my exercise plot, did the usual exam, and laid groundwork.
"Sleeping well?"
"Yes, soundly now. Compared to waking every two hours at first, life's good."
"...Every two hours?"
His casual bombshell left me stunned.
This after two and a half months? Insane!
He'd said he slept some, woke sometimes, headaches bad—but every two hours?
Even if pain tolerance is high, there's a limit.
"Head and neck acupuncture fixed most of the headaches. Students said my face looks better too—should've come sooner."
Shin Yongmin would've yelled, That's what you get for delaying!
"Glad it's improving now. Talked to your MD about blood pressure meds?"
Minor symptoms and pulse were much better.
He still feared quitting meds, but I felt ready for changes.
He mentioned picking up new meds, so I suggested discussing dosage.
"Oh, right. Went Friday—they said halve it for two weeks. Checked at home all weekend: holding at 110/70!"
"Great news."
As expected.
Not all patients need lifelong meds—lifestyle tweaks can reduce or stop them.
"Makes me think I could quit altogether."
No rushing ahead.
"Take it slow, no rushing. Steady like before, and you can stop."
Kim Jaegyu nodded vigorously.
"Feels so refreshing inside. Huanglian Jiedu and Daesiho, right? Cools the heat—head's not burning up anymore."
He'd ignored meds at first, but now read the guide and looked them up.
"Don't get complacent yet."
No guarantee next week would match.
Opportunities like his compliance weren't frequent.
"While we're at it, how about cutting back on booze and smokes?"
I seized the mood for promises, revisiting habits.
"Too much."
Expected.
No way he'd quit cold turkey.
Like starting with fifty million loan request, then dropping to two—easing burdens.
"Then less salt in meals and some light exercise."
"Hmm."
Not instant buy-in.
He pondered, chin in hand.
"I'll watch the food. I do some exercise..."
"As I said before, low-intensity reps are best for blood pressure."
He didn't hate exercise entirely.
Couldn't be a PE teacher otherwise.
Issue was fast walking being dull.
"Like Chinese martial arts movies?"
Sandro's pick fit perfectly.
"Martial arts? Love action flicks."
Kim Jaegyu nodded, clueless.
Jackpot.
I grinned and pitched Sandro's idea.
"How about Tai Chi?"
These days it's like calisthenics, but at core, it's martial arts.
One of the three internal styles.
Slow, flowing moves circulate qi and blood, plus mental cultivation.
"Tai Chi...?"
His face got weird, but I shoved prepared papers and videos at him.
"It's proven for blood pressure."