A Case of Relieving Pain in Late-Stage Cancer

Having studied the Way for less than a year, I visited a friend in the hospital. I met a family member—an elderly woman over seventy with late-stage cancer, suffering unbearable pain all over her body, long confined to the ward. I heard that at first medication still helped somewhat, but later drugs could no longer stop the pain; whenever the pain struck she longed to die, only her family held her back. Seeing her great age, I thought it hard to resolve; yet though my own power was thin, I could not bear to watch her suffer, so I asked whether I might try. Fortunately she agreed. I then applied a single talisman to treat her. Though the result was not excellent, she said the pain in her body had greatly diminished. Half a year later she passed away. At the time, the talisman used was only a protective anti-illness charm combined with a Hundred-Dissolutions formula. Its efficacy was not such as to cure, yet it could ease pain. Whenever I reach this point, this humble priest regrets not having studied medicine in those early years. If one truly studies medical art, and can combine it with Daoist methods—not that late-stage cancer can necessarily be cured—if it were early or middle stage, there should be the power to treat it for certain. Ancient practitioners of the Way also often studied medicine, so they would not grieve merely by watching people’s suffering; hence they “hung their gourds” to aid the world. Looking at today’s young people who study traditional Chinese medicine, many are eager to learn and capable; one can foresee future flourishing. This humble priest looks forward to it.