Sdech Thnam Orsot Boran 2005 – The Herbalist’s Manual [EP.25End]

Medical family. Abandoning Confucianism to become a doctor
Li Shizhen (played by Lin Wenlong) has been practicing medicine for three generations. He has been exposed to medicine since he was young and is fascinated by the study of herbal medicine. However, in order to obey his father’s order, he took the imperial examination, but failed three times. He decided to give up being a scholar and practice medicine. Shizhen focused on serving the people, providing free medical treatment and medicine to the poor, which won him great popularity. He worships the miraculous doctor Xiao Dizang (played by Liao Qizhi) as his teacher, and invents “steam disinfection”, “cold compress method”, “rabies treatment” and so on, making a name for himself and laying the foundation for his future becoming the king of medicine. During the plague, there were many cases of official pharmacies dispensing the wrong medicines and unscrupulous merchants selling fake medicines. Shizhen then determined to revise the Materia Medica of all dynasties so that people could distinguish the true from the false.

Suppression by the powerful. Escape
Shizhen, who became famous as a doctor, entered the Imperial Medical Service. During this period, he was able to read a wide range of books, which enriched his materials for revising the Materia Medica. He also came into contact with the bronze acupuncture man, which enabled him to conduct in-depth research on the eight extraordinary meridians and publish the theory that “the brain is the home of the soul.” Shizhen wanted to propose to the emperor that he should revise the Materia Medica and put medicine on the right track. However, because he strongly advised against the harm of erysipelas, he was suppressed by the powerful official Yan Song (played by Luo Lelin). Yan Song did not hesitate to fabricate charges and try to destroy Shizhen’s manuscripts. So, Shizhen escaped from the Imperial Medical Bureau and began his life on the run.

Practicing medicine in seclusion. Writing a magnum opus
While being wanted, he still risked his life to practice medicine and save lives. In order to treat his wife Wu Murong (played by Li Shiyun), he successfully developed a general anesthetic using Datura flowers. Unfortunately, Shizhen was finally arrested; but on the day of execution, the emperor finally found out the truth, and Shizhen escaped. From then on, he lived in seclusion to practice medicine, and worked with his apprentice to write “Compendium of Materia Medica”.

Confidante. Mismatched Mandarin Ducks
There are two important women in Shizhen’s life, one is his wife Wu Murong, and the other is his confidante Dong Qing (played by Ye Xuan). Dongqing understands medicine, and she and Shizhen develop feelings for each other as they appreciate each other’s experiences in saving lives through medical treatment. Unexpectedly, his brother Guozhen (Ai Wei) also likes Dongqing. Shizhen has a deep brotherly love, so he gives in to her and marries Mu Rong as his wife according to the marriage contract. After Shizhen got married, he found out that Dongqing loved him, but he was too late to change his mind. One is his wife, the other is his confidante. Shizhen is caught in a dilemma between love and friendship. How should he deal with it?