Chapter 93
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Clear Treatment Goals
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Myeong Seonju's treatment goals were clear.
From the moment I heard her main symptoms and diagnosed her with vagal syncope, I already had the sovereign herb in mind.
Treating autonomic nervous dysfunction, especially with that sensation of chest and abdominal oppression—it was obvious I needed a Bupleurum formula.
Bupleurum excels at reducing inflammation while also resolving stagnation, easing mental symptoms like depression and anxiety, and normalizing the autonomic nervous system.
Of course, I'd add cinnamon twig and peony to help release physical tension.
Then adjust slightly based on her hot/cold sensations, bowel movements, digestion, sleep, and so on.
"How's your appetite and digestion?"
"I eat really well. Digests just fine."
"No issues with bowel movements?"
An elderly patient might claim they eat three spoonfuls a day without trouble, but she was a tall, well-built athlete, so I continued the questioning without suspicion.
"Not... exactly. I've had a bit more diarrhea lately."
"Lately meaning within the last month?"
"Even longer than that. About a year?"
"Must be more stress since your pro debut."
"Getting picked second overall does put some pressure to prove myself~."
Once Myeong Seonju brought it up, I regretted not sending Kim Ijin out first before starting the interview.
Standing there was someone she couldn't help but feel competitive with or inferior to, yet Myeong Seonju spoke so confidently—her self-esteem must be sky-high.
"Sleep okay?"
"Not bad, but it takes a bit longer to fall asleep now. Nothing severe. Used to be ten minutes; now around thirty?"
"No waking up in the middle?"
"If I need the bathroom or have weird dreams. Maybe once a week."
"Dream a lot?"
"Almost every night. Don't remember them well, though."
"And sometimes she wakes up drenched in sweat. I know 'cause we share a room."
Kim Ijin chimed in at the end.
...So things weren't entirely fine.
"Sensitive to cold or heat?"
"Hot when exercising, freezing under the AC."
Alternating chills and fever? Not quite.
"Sweat a lot?"
"Yeah, but with my training volume~."
"Any pain? Headaches, stomachaches, back pain—anything."
"Muscle soreness is normal for workouts. Mild abdominal pain with diarrhea?"
"Dizziness, motion sickness, nausea, dry mouth—anything else besides what I've asked?"
"Nothing like that."
Not every symptom screamed for treatment.
Just general unease that everyone probably feels to some degree.
"Let me check your pulse."
Finally, for reference, I took her pulse.
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
"...? Why's it so fast?"
"Ah, the ECG showed a slightly high heart rate too. No arrhythmia or anything else off, so they said it was just nerves~."
"Nervous right now?"
"A little? That fast?"
Myeong Seonju tilted her head.
I guided her right fingers to feel the pulse on her left wrist.
"Feel it?"
"Just the pounding..."
"Check Ijin's too."
I let her feel Kim Ijin's pulse.
"And mine."
I offered my wrist as well.
Without specialized pulse study, she wouldn't grasp nuances, but fast versus slow should be obvious.
"It really is fast! What's going on?!"
What else? Her heart was overworking constantly.
"Your heart's always pushing too hard. It races like this normally, speeds up more under pressure like national team trials, and boom—your body flipped the switch to protect you."
"Ah!"
"No need to worry it's serious right now. I'll treat it, and stressing makes it worse. But stay alert that it's not okay."
"Got it."
Myeong Seonju's expression grew serious. She nodded with disciplined resolve.
People with these conditions tend to be... extreme.
Most get anxious easily, depressed, moody, emotionally volatile—but some insist their mental state is fine.
Like Hyun Jumi from last time with her panic attacks.
They need to avoid prolonged bad stress, but they push through, claiming it's fine.
"Abdomen check now. Lie back."
As expected, slight rectus abdominis tension and a cold belly.
Pressing Heavenly Pivot beside the navel revealed pulsation.
"I'll prescribe Bupleurum, Cinnamon Twig, and Dried Ginger Decoction."
I finalized the formula.
The director explained the herbal formula in detail, but Myeong Seonju forgot it all once she left the clinic.
She did remember the fast pulse and where to check, so she monitored it constantly.
"Still fast."
Comparing daily with Kim Ijin, no change after two weeks.
But other improvements were clear.
First, better sleep.
Reviewing practice games delayed falling asleep before, but now it came easily. Even dreamless nights, waking refreshed.
"That improve so quick? It's been racing a year."
"True."
Second, no diarrhea—though it was intermittent, so maybe not the herbs.
Third, less post-workout soreness everywhere.
Felt like skimping on training, but compared to Ijin and teammates, it was normal now.
Fourth was odd.
"Seonju, in!"
"Got it!"
Games used to bring a rush of head-heat and euphoria.
Heart pounding at the thrill—which she'd loved. Now without the hammering, it felt empty.
Compared with Ijin:
"No pounding before games?"
"Not really. Games are just games."
"Ugh, annoying!"
"But last tournament against you? Pretty exciting."
"..."
She knew her body was healing.
"You've been hogging this goodness?"
"Just acupuncture. I kept inviting you."
"Where?"
"Ankles and knees. Always overdoing it."
"Take me next time~."
Myeong Seonju headed to the clinic with lighter steps than before.
Two weeks later, Myeong Seonju returned before finishing the herbs—for progress check.
This time, I didn't forget to send Kim Ijin to the treatment room.
"How's it going? No fainting?"
"Nope~! No wobbling, sleep's way better! I can feel myself improving bit by bit."
"Good to hear."
I listened and checked her pulse.
Digestion and sleep stabilizing was huge—boosting energy intake and self-recovery.
"But pulse still seems similar."
As she said, tachycardia persisted.
Heart pulse surging unchanged.
"Yes, still unstable. Ongoing tension's inevitable."
"Weird. Feels so much better!"
Observation, listening, questioning, pulse—the four diagnostics vary in priority by doctor.
I prioritize questioning, but for athletes like her, pulse first.
Condition's autonomic, pulse key—and subjective reports from stress-accustomed patients aren't fully reliable.
"Keep at it, pulse will improve. Acupuncture today too."
Long-term treatment works.
Solid prescription, and athletes need to adapt to game pressure.
But another syncope mid-treatment?
Possible, but I'd rather resolve it before career damage.
'Daily acupuncture would be ideal.'
With regular sessions, I'd circulate qi directly—like Ijin's knee or daily for Seol Yuhee.
Resolving stagnation hands-on speeds recovery.
'But sick leave might hurt her career more...'
She wanted the trial incident hushed as a fluke, no team notice—so daily impossible.
Alternative?
"Get along with family?"
One-on-one, I checked relationships too.
"Of course!"
Harmonious home, good with teammates beyond Ijin. Respected captain in high school.
Coming with Ijin showed closeness.
Only external factor: athlete life.
'No choice then.'
Perfectly synergistic with the herbs.
A way to circulate qi without my direct contact.
...Yuhee picked it up fast; should work for her.
"Do meditation alongside the herbs. Not 'energy cultivation'—meditation."
"Meditation?"
"Yes, not just pulse—breathing's rapid too. Even talking now, you're short-breathing. Habit from training."
"Really?"
Not thrilled.
Felt good on herbs alone, plus hassle.
"Train breathing, symptoms improve faster—better oxygen during exercise too."
I dangled an athlete hook.
Daily commitment needs strong will.
"For real?"
...No exaggeration.
Qigong skyrockets athletic performance.
Beyond any doping.
"Absolutely. Don't overthink during workouts; just thirty minutes before bed. You'll notice a huge shift."
"Okay. YouTube guided meditation for calm?"
I shook my head.
"I'll send diagrams and an audio file later. Follow that."
Embarrassing, but... custom manual it is.