1. One day Hua Tuo was passing through the village of Paichia Chuang when suddenly it began to rain heavily. He could go no further and had no choice but to put up at an inn for the night.
2. That night, Hua Tuo was awoken by the sound of a child crying.
3. The child was coughing violently.
4. Hua Tuo hurriedly got out of bed and called the innkeeper.
5. I heard a child crying. Whose child is it?
6. The family which lives behind the inn.
7. That child sounds seriously ill. I'm not sure if it will live till midday tomorrow.
8. How can you say such an unlucky thing?
9. I'm a doctor, I can tell by listening to the cough.
10. Save him! That poor child has been ill for many days.
11. The innkeeper hurriedly led Hua Tuo to the family's house.
12. Open the door! A doctor is here to treat your child.
13. If we are to save this child's life, we must prepare a certain herbal medicine for him to drink. The quicker we can get some the better.
14. Tell me where to find it.
15. Bring a lantern, I will go and look for some.
16. Doctor, you mean to go yourself?! But it's raining hard outside!
17. There's no time for that kind of talk now. Come on!
18. Hua Tuo searched everywhere.
19. Finally, by the stream in front of the inn, he found some of the life-saving plant.
20. Hua Tuo cut off the root, cleaned it and boiled it up for the child to drink.
21. When it gets light, take these leaves and find the same plant by looking at its shape. Boil up the roots for your child to drink, and I'm sure he will get better soon. This is a very good medicine which clears phlegm and relieves coughs.
22. Thank you, Doctor! We're sorry to have troubled you in the middle of the night. Surely you must be tired? Please rest here for a while.
23. The next morning, the sick child's father brought a gift to the inn, but Hua Tuo had already left before dawn.
24. Do you know what? That doctor was none other than Hua Tuo, the famous physician.
25. Well, well! No wonder he was so skillful, and so kind too. He really is a living saint!
26. Soon afterwards, the child's illness was completely cured.
27. Later, everyone in Paichia Chuang knew that this plant was a powerful remedy for coughs.
28. The villagers named the plant baichien ("in front of White"). For the plant was gathered in front of the inn run by a man named Pai ("White"), so they gave it this name to commemorate the incident.
Paichien
(Cynanchum glaucescens) Description: Leaves resembling willow,long root, white color, erect, easy to break.
Properties: Sweet taste, slightly warm nature, non-toxic.
Effects: Drives down chi and clears phlegm; mainly used to treat coughs, and bronchial asthma in lung disease.
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