In traditional Chinese medicine, the five viscera are a whole. When the lung metal observes the liver wood attacking the spleen and stomach, it will intervene to help. However, if the spleen and stomach are weak and cannot provide support, the lung metal alone is insufficient to suppress the fire of the liver wood and will be forced back by it.
As the lung metal fears the upward surge of the liver wood fire, it will inevitably retract to defend itself. Once its strength is depleted, the pediatric patient loses the ability to speak."
Explaining this with traditional Chinese medicine theory, though straightforward, still incorporated some of its specific concepts. Dr. He and other Western medicine doctors found this explanation difficult to accept, so Du Heng elaborated, "Or, to put it another way, excessively cold things stimulate the gastrointestinal tract, causing poor blood flow. Your medication then increases the liver's burden, requiring more blood to maintain its function.
