Li Xu squatted down and rolled up the old man's pant leg.
The old man's calf was swollen and shiny, the skin stretched taut. His knee was an unnatural purplish-red and hot to the touch.
The joint was clearly deformed, as if it had been twisted out of shape by some invisible force.
They were classic symptoms, exactly as described in the books.
"Rheumatic obstruction, with cold penetrating the bones," Li Xu said, frowning. "How long has your leg been hurting like this?"
The old man thought for a moment. "About ten years or so. It's an old injury from working in the rain when I was young. I could bear it in the early years, but it's gotten awful these last two. When it's overcast or raining, it feels like needles are stabbing me."
"What a coincidence."
Li Xu had just gathered some Gastrodia today.
Gastrodia can treat joint pain and numbness, but it needs to be combined with other herbs that dispel wind and dampness, like Qianghuo and Qin Jiao.
He didn't have any on hand.
