Chapter 230
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 230
Chapter Title: Im Ju-eon's Steady Progress
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Im Ju-eon and her mother sat side by side in the consultation room.
I asked Im Ju-eon first how she'd been.
"How have you been holding up? Any changes?"
"Oh, that day I studied with a clear head. And from the next day on, for now... I'm still not sleeping during the day. Everything else is about the same, but things should get better now, right?"
She'd only had one acupuncture session so far, so there wouldn't be dramatic changes, but she scratched her head and said she felt better overall, probably just the placebo effect or something.
The mere expectation of treatment was already a hugely positive sign.
"Did your daughter tell you about the depression diagnosis?"
"Yes. I looked over the diagnostic criteria with her."
"And you agree with it, ma'am?"
Im Ju-eon's mother gave a wry smile and nodded.
"Yes. She needs treatment. I've always believed she could pull through, but I'm sorry it took me this long to realize."
Im Ju-eon had already relayed everything I'd said, so I just gave a brief overview of the treatment plan.
The first step would target the qi stagnation—settling the blocked energy—and calm the spirit.
Once that was addressed, we'd use tonic herbs to build up her vital energy.
"We'll use a formula called Bupleurum Dragon Bone and Oyster Shell Decoction."
It was the same prescription I'd used on Baeksa before, though hers had been much more severe, so I'd doubled the dosage back then.
Insomnia on one hand, hypersomnia on the other.
The sleep patterns were opposites, but the root cause was the same.
We couldn't just focus on the excess sleep and force wakefulness with stimulants.
Ultimately, it was the heart fire resonating with the body, creating mental and physical tension.
In Baeksa's case, the hyperactive sympathetic nervous system itself drove the wakefulness.
For Im Ju-eon, it was excessive energy drain while awake, followed by sleep as a stress-avoidance mechanism.
"What kind of medicine is it?"
Since her mother looked curious, I explained the ingredients one by one.
"The core herb is bupleurum. In traditional terms, it releases stagnant liver qi, but simply put, it calms the inner turmoil from stress. Coptis works alongside it to clear heat from the upper body and reduce inflammation."
"Ahh..."
"Then dragon bone and oyster shell are classic spirit-calming herbs for depressive disorders."
There are various spirit-calming herbs.
If I listed the ones from ancient texts by severity: cinnabar, magnetite, dragon tooth, dragon bone, oyster shell.
Of course, mineral-based herbs pack a punch but come with risks.
When treating Baeksa, I hesitated over cinnabar but couldn't bring myself to use mercury on a modern patient, so I doubled up on dragon bone and oyster shell instead. Later, the Tang family refined cinnabar safely, but anyway.
For Im Ju-eon, the safer dragon bone and oyster shell would suffice.
"She's quite depleted, so we'll add ginseng to boost her vitality. Poria helps with depressive feelings and regulates fluid metabolism. Ginger, jujube, and licorice harmonize everything and make it easier for her body to absorb."
Not just her mother, but Im Ju-eon listened with keen interest too.
"Any other questions?"
"Oh, no."
"I'm f... fine."
Im Ju-eon, who had leaned forward eagerly, ducked her head in embarrassment, and her mother gave an awkward smile.
They both said they were fine, but her mother kept glancing at me. She had something to say.
"You have time today, right? Let's do some acupuncture before you go."
"Yes."
"Once a week would be ideal. Check-ups plus needling make a big difference."
"Yes, Director."
After sending Im Ju-eon to the treatment room, I asked her mother if she had anything else.
"Speak freely."
"Thank you. It's nothing major, but I was worried about whether she needs Western meds too."
It was a valid concern.
Patients who absolutely needed them often refused psychiatry outright.
And there were cases—fewer, but still—of overusing meds that weren't necessary, leading to dependency.
"No need. Herbal medicine works better for depression than you might think. Don't worry."
For severe cases with suicidal ideation or schizophrenia with delusions, I'd recommend combining therapies.
Many couldn't be stopped cold turkey, so I wouldn't push herbs alone if they were already on meds.
But Im Ju-eon's case? I was confident, so I advised starting without.
"Ahh, thank you. I'll trust you, Director!"
Her mother's face lit up.
I nodded reassuringly.
"By the way, is 'trust' just a habit of speech? Do you say that to your daughter too?"
"Pardon? Is it? Maybe so. My husband and I always try to show faith in Ju-eon's potential."
Oh dear.
It wasn't bad at all. In normal circumstances.
"It's good, but when she's struggling like this, it might feel like pressure."
I could handle the trust, but Im Ju-eon needed something else.
"Ah..."
"Even plain words, even if it's embarrassing—just tell her you love her as she is. Grades don't matter."
"Oh! That's truly how I feel. Even if she dropped out today, as long as she's healthy, I'm okay."
"Yes. Make sure she feels that. And don't take it all too seriously yourself—just focus on meals and meds."
"Yes, Director. Thank you for the advice."
After wrapping up with the mother, I went to Im Ju-eon.
"After last time's acupuncture, it felt like the foggy haze lifted."
She mimed pushing a hand across her forehead.
"Good sign. Just getting meals and sleep back on track will make a huge difference."
I say it every time, but diet, sleep, and exercise are the pillars of mental health.
"Yes. I'll do my best. Still writing in the diary daily. Might be three-day fever, though."
"If three days fails, try five. It's a marathon—keep at it as long as you can."
After needling her limbs, head, and chest.
"Today, let's do some direct cupping on the chest to draw out blood."
I even did venom-point bloodletting.
Drawing out the congealed pathogenic qi with the blood, her condition visibly improved again today.
I'd told her acupuncture once a week minimum, but Im Ju-eon came to the clinic almost daily.
Each visit left her feeling even a little better.
"Feels like I'm avoiding studying by coming here..."
"Haha, a little avoidance is fine. Welcome. We'll treat you well today too."
Slacking brought crushing guilt, and sleeping like before worsened things.
But at the clinic, the director greeted her with a smile, and afterward, studying felt easier, even briefly.
"What, the clinic again?"
"Yeah."
"What's wrong?"
"Mm... my heart."
"Mine hurts too!"
"Then get treated."
Whether from the meds or a mindset shift.
Her friend's nagging—which she'd once found pathetic—now felt different.
[Studied 5 hours today. Went to the clinic. Felt stuffy during self-study hall, but skipped the nap, walked the track, came back up.]
Short entries, but she kept the diary diligently.
Writing accomplishments beat guilt with achievement.
'Yesterday 4 hours, today 5...'
Of course, she still couldn't hit 14 hours.
Average focus time had improved, but that was it.
Letting go of regret over wasted time meant 4-5 hours felt sustainable, mind at ease.
At least a few misconceptions fixed daily.
Memorized what needed memorizing.
Improving bit by bit brought vitality.
"Ju-eon, wanna learn surfing with Dad this summer?"
"...I'm a senior."
"Mom prefers yachting~."
She'd feared her parents' reaction to the depression talk.
But they just worried purely.
Spoke carefully, dropped all study/college talk.
Surfing, yachting. Kinda exciting.
'They really just want me healthy, college be damned...'
Grateful. Guilty.
'No. Inappropriate guilt. She said not to apologize.'
Im Ju-eon shoved the guilt aside, voiced the rest.
"Thanks for making me take the meds right away. I'm getting better. No need to worry now."
She wasn't that depressed before or now.
"Waaah! Ju-eon!"
Yet her mother burst into tears.
As expected, Im Ju-eon's progress was solid.
Responsive to acupuncture, correcting hypersomnia well.
Appetite budding, even calling cold winter air refreshing—interest in the world returning, lethargy lifting.
"Proud moment~."
The Saudi proposal was advancing too.
Lineup talks, but PK pushed relentlessly. Briefed at HQ, signed the contract.
Developing for domestic clinics and overseas use in formulated doses.
Hire Korean docs gradually.
"■■■■■■. ■■■■■■."
"By the grace of the Divine Physician, his headaches are gone. He looks forward to meeting again."
The prince stopped by once more before heading home.
Thankfully, he honored my plea for quiet—no press.
Couldn't treat with escorts swarming, so holiday slot on the third floor.
For that check? Overtime was nothing.
'He really coming back?'
Unsure of customs, hard to tell if polite formality.
At least headaches gone—good.
Prince gone.
Relaxing not long.
- Director, you've gotten even more famous out of nowhere!
Message from a Korea University junior.
Park Jun? Oh, the guy from my last lecture who raised his hand about joining our clinic.
"Wasn't my intention. You graduated?"
- No! Heading to senior year!
Ah, year left. Not a job rec then.
What's up?
- Saw the Bin Amir prince visit, and the volunteer scam bust with the beanbag fraudsters.
"Prince was noisy, fine. But the hat scam too?"
- Prof. Lee Minseok mentioned it in class.
...How'd that guy know?
Didn't tell Kim Chunsik even.
Article blew up bigger?
Hadn't seen it myself. Told the reporter to send for the clinic wall, no word yet.
- Total white knight on horseback.
What'd they write? Explained the cliff plainly.
Hang up and check, I resolved.
"Anyway, why the call?"
Left contact optional, not for chit-chat surely?
Straight to it, Park Jun got to the point.
- You joined our school's volunteer event—could you come to our club too?
"Ah."
Volunteer club invite from alma mater.
"Where?"
Alumni track jobs/openings.
Requests usually to nearby seniors. First since Busan opening.
Our school went everywhere.
Rural Gyeonggi outskirts, even Ulleungdo by ferry.
Far like that? Tough.
"Yeoju!"
Doable by car.
Subway, terminal nearby. Urban-ish, but fields just out.
Familiar area.
Lived there years with relatives.
'Never been back.'
Not deep nostalgia, but memories.
Good chance to visit?
Not swamped with patients there, from memory.
Half trip, half healing.
"Shall I go?"