The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim - Chapter 264

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 264

When I saw Hasha’s wounds and was startled, she reflexively pulled her arms close and hid them.

But Hasha blinked a couple of times and soon extended her hand again.

“Ah… I guess it’s okay for the Clinic Director to see. It’s nothing serious.”

“Where did you get these wounds? Are they scratches?! Who did this to you?”

“Oh, it’s not like that. I scratched them myself.”

She blushed deeply and rolled up her sleeves to her elbows.

There were wounds near her wrists too, but the scratches on the inner side of her elbow crease were much worse.

“You scratched them because they were itchy? How could you not mention this until now?”

It was at least a relief that they weren’t wounds inflicted by someone else.

But this wasn’t something to take lightly.

I examined her arms closely, looking for other lesions, and asked.

“Well, my older brother said I shouldn’t bother the Clinic Director…? And lately it’s been fine, so I forgot about it.”

This isn’t something you just forget about though?

When I narrowed my eyes and stared at her, Hasha continued as if making excuses.

“Originally it only itched a little when it was hot or after bathing, and it was really fine most of the time. But after that day… whenever I think about it, I break out in a little sweat, so even when I’m in a cool place, it gets itchy sometimes. Um, I felt bad asking for treatment now after saying everything was fine when you asked before.”

Hasha answered while fidgeting.

To think there was a patient right under my nose!

Fine, let’s say she forgot at first. But after the incident, I searched so hard for patients.

Since there was no point in scolding her more, I calmed down and asked about her symptoms.

“From what I can see now, there are no lesions other than scratches, redness, and lichenification. It’s not itchy right now, is it? When it gets itchy, do hives flare up suddenly?”

There are many skin conditions that cause itching, but just the fact that no lesions were visible now narrowed it down significantly.

Hasha, who had been hesitating, smiled brightly again and said.

“Yes! When it gets itchy, I can see bumpy things rising up. It gets especially worse after taking a warm shower at night. At first I thought it was from dryness, so I applied lotion diligently.”

So it was hives after all.

“Haven’t you been to a hospital?”

“The allergy tests came back normal. When I went to the hospital, there wasn’t anything visible, so I just got ointment. They said they’d give me pills if it got severe, but it wasn’t this bad then, so I didn’t take them.”

“Do you happen to have any photos of it?”

I was curious about the state when the hives appeared, but unfortunately Hasha shook her head.

She wasn’t even hesitating – it seemed she really hadn’t thought about getting treatment.

I sighed.

Anyway, I had roughly gathered the minimum information needed for diagnosis and prescription.

“Looking at the symptoms, it seems most likely to be cholinergic urticaria. When your body temperature rises, your autonomic nervous system reacts, and hives appear as your sweat glands get stimulated.”

Rising body temperature is the main cause, but stress and alcohol consumption can also act as triggers.

The worsening this time was probably due to both the stress itself and the sweat gland stimulation it caused.

“Ah, I see…”

Western medicine treatment focuses on symptom relief and preventing recurrence.

The ointment Hasha received was probably a steroid cream, and oral medications would be antihistamines and anticholinergics. If these don’t work, they might even use oral steroids that suppress the immune system entirely.

And in traditional medicine treatment, what the allergen is doesn’t really matter much.

The principle is to determine whether the skin condition is damp, dry, hot, or cold, then balance it so the immune system can respond on its own.

Even though it’s a skin condition, it’s not much different from respiratory infectious diseases.

“It’s red and shows some swelling too. I have all the preparations in the makeshift clinic, so I’ll prescribe Shiho-keishi-to and Goreisan for you to take together. Show me if it gets itchy at night. If the preparations don’t help, I’ll make you proper medicine when we return to South Korea.”

It would be nice if I could use a customized prescription, but I’ll have to make do with a combination formula.

Shiho-keishi-to will disperse wind-heat, and Goreisan will promote water metabolism and eliminate dampness – that should put out the immediate fire.

I’d like to add more herbs that help with itching like schizonepeta and angelica, but Shiho-keishi-to alone is very good for patients with itching without discharge or inflammation.

“Wow, is that really okay?”

Unaware of my concerns, Hasha was simply delighted and smiled brightly.

“Take it properly. Don’t just stay itchy like that. You already have some lichenification now, and if it gets worse, your skin will become discolored and thickened like this.”

“Ugh… I’m sorry.”

I scolded Hasha once more, then gently stroked her hand.

Fortunately, since she said it was fine now, we didn’t need to turn the car around immediately.

We saw the night view as originally planned and returned to the palace in the evening.

And just to be sure, I even checked for hives on her arms and legs.

As expected, mild cholinergic urticaria.

“Try not to scratch as much as possible. Once you start scratching, the pain masks the itching while releasing serotonin, a feel-good hormone. So there’s momentary pleasure, but the more you scratch, the itchier it gets, and it repeats.”

I handed her the medicine I had initially thought of while giving some advice about lifestyle management.

“Thank you!”

Hasha held the preparations very preciously in her arms and bowed.

Saying she didn’t know much about it, she looked up at me with such an innocent face and blinked.

Phew, I almost missed the most important patient I met right after arriving.

* * *

After treating Hasha as well, it was now really time to return to South Korea.

Like the first day, the final day’s dinner was with the host who had invited us.

“I invited you here but was negligent with security. I’m truly sorry for startling you, and thank you for helping with the situation.”

“Oh, we went to the hotel on our own.”

“But Clinic Director.”

“Yes?”

“Really… isn’t it you?”

Faisal showed me the Mantianhualuo video with a very serious expression.

“Of course not!”

When did that video even reach Saudi Arabia?

Since I had become quite accustomed to playing dumb by now, I jumped up and down insisting it absolutely wasn’t me.

“I was even thinking of pushing for a medal… but if you say it so firmly…”

What medal!

He surely wouldn’t mention a medal just for helping a little with the cleanup, so he must be suspecting the truth.

“Please at least accept a gift.”

But we already picked out gifts on the first day of sightseeing, didn’t we?

I was about to refuse, saying I didn’t need anything more, but Faisal held out his signature ‘luxury wallet.’

I politely declined.

Faisal declined my decline.

I declined to decline his decline of my decline again…

“But if you don’t accept at least this, I won’t be able to save face!”

Faisal was at a loss, saying he wanted to give me something else if not cash.

“Haha. Isn’t there something else? Like an investment.”

Park Seon-yun offered a truly business-like opinion, but I had no other business ventures in progress besides what I was currently doing with him.

It would be enough if the Korean medicine department at the Royal Hospital could establish itself well as it has been doing.

“Clinic Director.”

While I was firmly refusing like that, Seo Inae poked me.

“Yes?”

“Instead of receiving investment, don’t you have any thoughts about doing something else?”

“Me? Where?”

I tilted my head.

Is there somewhere in Saudi Arabia’s businesses that I could invest in?

They’re probably doing a tremendous amount with oil money, but what could an individual get a spoon into?

“Wouldn’t it require trillions…?”

“No, not that kind of business. I mean making real estate investments in Riyadh.”

“…”

I grabbed the back of my neck.

This friend… really… was so consistent.

She studied real estate so much saying she was going to get her own home, and she was looking at such things even while traveling?

“But Clinic Director, Riyadh is a city where development is proceeding tremendously actively. Whether residential or commercial, demand is continuously increasing, and opportunities to leap forward as a global economic center are everywhere. More than any city in South Korea where industrialization has already ended…”

It was really dizzying.

“Ah, that’s a good idea, isn’t it?”

“Ooh, so going around alone was to look at real estate?”

It was even more absurd that it sounded plausible to Park Seon-yun and Kim Chunsik’s ears too.

I thought she was trying to film vlogs and gave her consideration to be alone, but she was studying Riyadh real estate!

“What are you talking about?”

The Prince heard our conversation through the interpreter.

And he clapped his hands, very pleased.

“That’s a very good idea! Take this opportunity to get a villa in a good location.”

Moreover, it became not just land but a villa.

Originally it would be difficult for foreigners to purchase for purposes other than residence, but he beat his chest saying to leave government approval and such to him.

He also said that I could come and stay anytime, and if I looked decades later, the land value would have risen tremendously.

“Sigh… I don’t know anymore either.”

“I’ll have my secretary immediately list up suitable properties. Please choose!”

…And so I ended up with a second home, unintentionally.

* * *

The next day.

“Take care, Hasha. It was fun traveling together. I’ll miss you.”

I exchanged farewell greetings with Hasha, who had been sightseeing with us.

She was very happy, saying that even though she had only taken medicine for one day, the itchiness had decreased quite a lot.

“Can I visit South Korea later?”

“Of course!”

Since she had delayed her schedule by several days to meet me, Hasha was also planning to return to the United States soon.

After sharing a final hug with her, we moved to go through departure procedures.

Beep beep beep beep beep!

“Huh?”

“Oh, they’re saying there’s something in your sleeve, Clinic Director?”

There was a minor issue with the kubotan getting caught in the security check.

Soon, I safely boarded the private jet.

“Phew, we’re finally returning to Korea.”

As the plane took off, Riyadh came into view at a glance.

When I first looked at the sandy desert, my heart had raced wondering what adventures awaited me.

I really hadn’t wanted any real adventure-like adventures… I had no idea why incidents occurred every time I went abroad.

“That area over there must be the clinic director’s villa?”

“That’s right.”

From now on, I really need to hole up in the oriental medicine clinic and just see patients peacefully!

I resolved this several times over.

* * *

Returning to Korea, I was more tired than expected.

Though it had been enjoyable in its own way, I must have been tense in the unfamiliar environment after all.

I gave Seo Inae a vacation, telling her to rest well and come to work in two days.

“Was there anything unusual at the clinic while we were away?”

Of course, I went to work right after finishing my dawn breathing exercises.

The longer my return was delayed, the harder it would be for Hwang Sanghun and Lee Ahreum.

“Yes. We kept everything in order! Did you have a good trip, Director?”

“I had quite an adventure.”

“I thought so. There were several reporters and NewTubers who came asking when our director would return. What on earth did you do?!”

Around the time news about the terrorist incident was being reported, I had separately explained the whole story to our clinic family through messenger.

How shocked would they be if they heard the news through articles?

“I was so worried, but I’m really relieved you returned safely.”

Even though I had said I was fine, Hwang Sanghun patted his chest saying he felt relieved seeing my face.

“Were there any unusual patients?”

Hwang Sanghun nodded.

Well, he’s a veteran now. He wouldn’t be fazed by just any strange patient.

Swoosh!

But Lee Ahreum raised her right hand high.

“There was one?”

“Yes. There was a patient who wanted to see Doctor Han. I told them you weren’t here and did the initial examination myself, but I’m at a loss about how to treat them. I think we should change the attending physician to you, Director.”

“Oh, really? Which patient is it?”

It was common for patients who came through referrals to request specific doctors and change attending physicians.

Since the topic came up, I asked for the patient’s name to confirm who it was.

“A patient named Jo Hwasun came for head shaking symptoms. She came on a referral from patient Heo Sunnam and had high expectations… but there’s been no improvement yet due to my lack of skill.”

Lee Ahreum hung her head dejectedly.

But wait, I’ve only been away for ten days now.

Even if treatment started from the first day, it’s not yet time for improvement to show, right?

“Wind head spinning? It’s been a while since I’ve seen that.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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