In 1992, the film “Lorenzo’s Oil” introduced the world to the story of a young American boy, Lorenzo, who was diagnosed with the rare disease adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD). When conventional medicine offered no answers; his parents embarked on a relentless search for a cure, eventually developing a treatment—a blend of trioleate and trierucate oils in a 4:1 ratio—now known as Lorenzo’s Oil.
Today, a similar story of hope is unfolding in Taiwan, where integrated Chinese and Western medicine is offering new possibilities for ALD patients.
A Family’s Ordeal and a New Beginning
Mr. Tu, a young man from Taichung, was once healthy and energetic. In 2021, he suddenly collapsed and soon began experiencing fatigue, incontinence, and eventually lost the ability to stand. He was diagnosed with ALD. Despite aggressive treatment, his condition deteriorated rapidly, and within a year, he was paralyzed from the waist down. Even after a stem cell transplant in 2023, there was no improvement.
In March 2024, with hope running thin, Mr. Tu and his family turned to Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital. There, a team of doctors combined precise Western and Chinese medicine approaches. Gradually, Mr. Tu began to regain sensation and movement in his lower body.
LEFT: Dr. Yen-Lun Kung (龔彥綸) from the Chinese Medicine Department performs acupuncture for Mr. Tu. | Photo: Ming-Sui Liu (劉明繐) RIGHT: Nurses are essential members of the medical team and Mr. Tu’s primary caregivers. | Photo: Ming-Sui Liu
From Despair to Hope
On May 21, 2025, Mr. Tu visited the Jing Si Abode in a wheelchair, accompanied by his parents and medical staff, to express gratitude to Dharma Master Cheng Yen.
“At the beginning of last year, my mother and I discussed giving up. We had spent so much time, but nothing worked. After a year at Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, I see hope for recovery. Every day, I look forward to returning to normal life. I now have control over my lower body. I am grateful to the integrated medical team and will keep working hard!” — Mr. Tu
Dr. Chih-Ying Chi (杞至穎), Director of the Cardiovascular and Mitochondrial Research Center at Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital explained, “Drinking Lorenzo’s Oil can effectively reduce the incidence of the disease, but once symptoms begin, its efficacy drops sharply.”
Personalized Medicine and a New Outlook
Through genetic sequencing, the hospital identified targeted Chinese herbal remedies for Mr. Tu. Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital Vice Superintendent Tsung-Jung Ho (何宗融), a TCM specialist noted, “Adding twice the amount of dried tangerine peel to the herbal formula works well. Our brains and nerves accumulate phlegm-dampness, and tangerine peel helps resolve it.”
Mr. Tu, now able to draw again, presented one of his artworks to Master Cheng Yen. The drawing depicted a black-and-white tree stump—symbolizing his life a year ago—sprouting a vibrant green sapling, representing his renewed hope. “I am like this little tree, shining with new life,” he said.
Master Cheng Yen presented Mr. Tu and his family with a red envelope of blessings and wisdom, wishing them continued strength and recovery.
A Message of Hope
This journey from despair to renewal is a testament to the power of perseverance and the promise of medical innovation. As Superintendent Shinn-Zong Lin (林欣榮) of Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital said, “Where there is illness, there is medicine.” May all those who suffer find relief and happiness.
Written by Feng-O Wang (王鳳娥)
Source: 【精舍隨師筆記】羅倫佐的油
