After Self-Studying Traditional Chinese Medicine, Mom Killed the Whole Family

By the time I reached middle age, my mother had taken up studying traditional Chinese medicine on her own. My younger sister had chilblains, and her skin was covered in sores. Mom said to slather them with chili paste and wrap them in plastic wrap. Dad had bad breath and insomnia, so Mom used moxibustion and cupping on him, leaving blisters all over his back. Then she grabbed an unsterilized needle and said she needed to prick them to clear the blood stasis. My older brother was extremely nearsighted and had tired eyes, but Mom claimed she knew a folk remedy to improve his vision. As a medical student, I stopped her misguided treatments every time to protect my family’s health. Mom grew to resent me for it and kicked me out of the house in the dead of winter, even though I was dressed too lightly for the cold. My sister, father, and brother all turned a blind eye, even saying I was jealous of Mom’s medical talent. With nowhere else to turn, I went to stay with a friend, but slipped and fell to my death along the way. When I opened my eyes again, I decided I would see Mom’s remarkable medical skills for myself!