Chapter 6: Ephedra Decoction
“Are we really going to prescribe Ephedra Decoction?” Zhang Jing hesitated, recalling that his university professor once warned that Ephedra Decoction is a potent, warming, and sweat-inducing remedy that must be used with caution.
Li Yu was momentarily taken aback, then retorted, “The diagnosis is clear, and the symptoms match the prescription. What other doubts could there be?”
“Very well, Teacher Li. But what about the dosage? Should we follow the original formula?”
“No need to use the full dose. One-third of the original amount will suffice. You still remember the original quantities, don’t you?”
“Of course, of course.” Zhang Jing quickly responded and began reciting:
“Three taels of Ephedra (without joints), two taels of Cinnamon Twig (without bark), one tael of Honey-fried Licorice, seventy peeled Apricot Kernels.”
“Combine these four ingredients with nine sheng of water. First, boil the Ephedra until the water reduces by two sheng, skim off the foam, then add the other herbs and simmer down to two and a half sheng. Strain and drink warm, eight he (about 240 ml) at a time, covering the patient to induce slight sweating. No need for gruel; afterward, proceed as with the Cinnamon Twig method to recuperate.”
As he muttered the prescription, Zhang Jing carefully wrote it down on the prescription form: 15 grams of raw Ephedra, 10 grams of Cinnamon Twig, 5 grams of Honey-fried Licorice, and 9 grams of Apricot Kernels.
Li Yu took the sheet, nodded approvingly, then added the dosage and decoction instructions before signing his name.
“Here you go. Take this prescription down to the herbal pharmacy and have the medicine prepared. You can have it decocted right here in our clinic. After this one dose, the fever should subside and the patient’s condition will improve significantly.”
“One dose?” The female patient’s mouth dropped open in astonishment, wide enough to fit a large egg.
Zhang Jing’s eyes also widened in disbelief. A nearly 40-degree fever, resistant to Western and patent Chinese medicines for days, could be resolved with a single prescription?
This was not confidence—it was sheer audacity.
Yet Li Yu remained calm and unhurried, saying, “Yes, the entire decoction should be taken warm at once. The decoction room may be a bit tricky to find; I’ll have Dr. Zhang accompany you.”
Zhang Jing knew the excuse about the decoction room being hard to find was just that—an excuse.
In truth, Li Yu saw through his thoughts, sensing Zhang Jing’s eagerness to witness the effects of the Ephedra Decoction firsthand.
Moreover, having a doctor accompany the patient would naturally ease any anxieties.
It had to be said, Li Yu was remarkably considerate.
But would things truly unfold as he hoped?
...
Zhang Jing promptly rose and led the female patient briskly down to the first-floor lobby.
They first went to the herbal pharmacy to verify and input the prescription, then paid at the cashier window.
Returning to the herbal pharmacy, they handed over the payment slip and waited for the medicine.
Since there were only four herbs and just one dose, it wasn’t long before a small herbal package was ready.
Though arrows on the floor indicated directions, the dispenser kindly pointed out the location of the decoction room.
So Zhang Jing led the patient there.
Before reaching the door, the pungent aroma of Chinese herbs already greeted their nostrils.
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“Are you here to have herbs decocted?” A head popped out from the registration window—a young woman of about twenty.
“Yes, yes.” Zhang Jing replied promptly and handed over the prescription.
The young woman examined it carefully and said, “All set. Come back to collect the medicine in half an hour.”
Half an hour?
Zhang Jing was stunned. That seemed impossibly fast.
The Mingde Hall Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic had decocting machines and had assisted in brewing herbs several times, so he knew well.
Even factoring in soaking and packaging, each decoction usually took at least an hour and a half.
He asked, “May we take a look inside the decoction room?”
The young woman glanced at the patient and then at Zhang Jing, shaking her head. “Sorry, the decoction room is restricted—no unauthorized personnel allowed.”
Zhang Jing knew such regulations were standard in respectable institutions.
Still, his curiosity burned; he yearned to see the process with his own eyes.
“I’m an intern here under Teacher Li Yu. Can’t I just have a quick look and then leave?”
The young woman scrutinized Zhang Jing again. He looked quite gentle, nothing suspicious.
Reluctantly, she said, “Alright, I can let you in, but if the senior pharmacist objects, you must leave immediately.”
“Absolutely!” Zhang Jing replied eagerly, casting her a grateful look.
She misread his glance as flirtation and blushed, stammering, “Y-you can enter now. The patient’s waiting room is diagonally opposite the door.”
Zhang Jing didn’t enter immediately but first led the female patient to the waiting room.
“You rest here for a while. I’ll oversee the decoction and bring the medicine over as soon as it’s ready.”
“Thank you, thank you, Dr. Zhang!” The patient nodded repeatedly in gratitude.
After settling the patient, Zhang Jing approached the decoction room.
The moment he pushed open the door, he was utterly stunned.
At first, he assumed such a large TCM clinic would have a busy decoction operation.
He expected a spacious room filled with many decocting machines.
But inside, the decoction room was modest in size, with not a single decocting machine in sight.
Along the left and right walls stood seven or eight small, single-burner gas stoves neatly arranged.
Each stove had a small clock beside it, presumably for timing.
Directly ahead was a row of various-sized herb jars, also arranged neatly.
In the corner was a small sink…
“Hey, what are you doing here?”
A sudden shout snapped Zhang Jing back to reality.
“I… I want to learn a bit,” he admitted sheepishly.
“Do you work here? You look unfamiliar,” the senior pharmacist asked, eyeing him suspiciously.
“Uh, I’m an intern shadowing Teacher Li Yu. I just arrived today; he sent me here,” Zhang Jing quickly explained.
“Huh?” The senior pharmacist shook his head with a wry smile. “That Li Yu doesn’t trust me, so he sends you to supervise me?”
Zhang Jing realized he had been misunderstood and hastened to clarify, “Teacher Li definitely didn’t mean that. The patient has a high fever, so he wanted me to get the medicine sooner. Also, I hoped to learn some decoction techniques from you.”
Seeing Zhang Jing’s earnest expression, the senior pharmacist nodded slightly. “Young man, you’ve got good taste in teachers. Don’t be fooled by Li Yu’s youth; among our middle-aged and young experts at the National Medical Hall, he’s certainly one of the best.”
As he spoke, he gave a thumbs-up.
Zhang Jing smiled faintly—he had already noticed that.
“By the way, may I ask your name?” Zhang Jing asked respectfully.
“Oh, my surname is Huang. You can call me Pharmacist Huang, or just Old Pharmacist like the others.”
Pharmacist Huang?
Zhang Jing couldn’t help but smile again. “Pharmacist Huang, that sounds impressive!”
“I don’t have the magical powers of the Old Evil Huang. This lifetime, I can only be a genuine pharmacist,” Huang said, his eyes tinged with a hint of melancholy.
“A true herbalist is remarkable in their own right,” Zhang Jing sincerely praised.
Then he continued, “Pharmacist Huang, may I ask why our clinic, with such a large patient volume, hasn’t invested in decocting machines? Wouldn’t fully automated decoction save time and effort?”
“Young man, decocting Chinese herbs has never been about speed. After bringing the fire to a boil, the medicine must simmer gently over low heat to allow the active ingredients to fully infuse. Of course, exceptions exist for special preparations requiring later addition or rinsing.”
“Beep beep beep… beep beep beep…”
At that moment, an alarm suddenly sounded.
“That’s your patient’s medicine, just finished,” Pharmacist Huang said as he walked over.
“So fast? Isn’t it supposed to soak for twenty minutes, then boil on high heat before simmering on low for half an hour?” Zhang Jing followed closely, puzzled.