4:00 Wake up and pack
6:00 Breakfast
7:30 Sadly leave the luxurious Beijing Westin Hotel
Charlie took us to a famous traditional Chinese "Pharmacy".
He explained how the pharmacy has a 3,000 year history and used to be only for the emperor and his family.
Some things we were told:
"Food and herbs are edible and retained by the body while Western medicines are excreted.
There are very few old people in China using wheelchairs and walkers unlike in the West."
Once in the pharmacy we were told that in the West doctors ask us what is wrong and then provide the pills to cure it. In China the doctors check our wrist, look at us and tell us what is wrong.
We were dubious, but decided to try it. This doctor checked our pulse, looked at our tongues and then asked, "Do you have pain in your back? Does your knees hurt? Can you hear well?"
I told her everything was fine and I could hear well. She never caught the fact that I don't have my thyroids, that I have high cholesterol, am pre-diabetic or that my shoulder has been bothering me. She prescribed herbs for my kidney and liver which cost about $130.00 a piece for a 2-3 month supply. She also said I was tired and that my eyes were red. Unh hunh...
As for Art, he just needed to get the kidney herbs to maintain his good health. We didn't tell her about his GERD problem. And we didn't buy the herbs.
I'm sure many of the herbs are very beneficial. We just weren't sold on the diagnosing.
And then we were on our way to the airport to fly to Xian.
6:00 Breakfast
7:30 Sadly leave the luxurious Beijing Westin Hotel
Charlie took us to a famous traditional Chinese "Pharmacy".
He explained how the pharmacy has a 3,000 year history and used to be only for the emperor and his family.
Some things we were told:
"Food and herbs are edible and retained by the body while Western medicines are excreted.
There are very few old people in China using wheelchairs and walkers unlike in the West."
Once in the pharmacy we were told that in the West doctors ask us what is wrong and then provide the pills to cure it. In China the doctors check our wrist, look at us and tell us what is wrong.
We were dubious, but decided to try it. This doctor checked our pulse, looked at our tongues and then asked, "Do you have pain in your back? Does your knees hurt? Can you hear well?"
I told her everything was fine and I could hear well. She never caught the fact that I don't have my thyroids, that I have high cholesterol, am pre-diabetic or that my shoulder has been bothering me. She prescribed herbs for my kidney and liver which cost about $130.00 a piece for a 2-3 month supply. She also said I was tired and that my eyes were red. Unh hunh...
As for Art, he just needed to get the kidney herbs to maintain his good health. We didn't tell her about his GERD problem. And we didn't buy the herbs.
I'm sure many of the herbs are very beneficial. We just weren't sold on the diagnosing.
And then we were on our way to the airport to fly to Xian.
Phew, I thought at first that you bought the meds. She kind of missed by a mile.
ReplyDeleteI am a fan of Western medicine.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I went to the pharmacy in Beijing, I only bought some medicine for a sore shoulder. They didn't try to sell me anything else. I kind of wonder: did any of your fellow travelers buy those herbs? Years ago I went to an acupuncturist and he gave me Chinese herbs that I had to boil and drink. They smelled and tasted awful, so I didn't do that for very long! :-)
ReplyDeleteOh yes, many of our friends did buy them because their pharmacist diagnosed their problem perfectly. They tried the herbs during our trip and ended up with a bad case of diarrhea, but they said that they were told the herbs would cleanse their systems. They just didn't quite expect it to cleanse them that quickly or thoroughly. How long were you in China, DJan?
Deleteinteresting...I was waiting for the miracle cure and diagnosis! lol...
ReplyDeleteSeems the prices are very much geared to capture tourist dollars. I doubt they can sell the herbs at the equivalent dollar/yuan prices to their own countrymen.
ReplyDeleteL...w
I wonder what people here in the US pay for those Chinese herbs.
DeleteWe have wonderful Asian Medicine doctors here in Honolulu who do a nice job. Can't wait to see what came next!
ReplyDeleteDid others in your group buy the medicines?
ReplyDeleteA lot of our friends did because they said their pharmacist hit their ailments right on the money. I guess we were not planning to buy any from the start because Art's friends said they bought the herbs and either it didn't work or they never used it once they were back home.
DeleteThe back, knee, and hearing questions would garner a "yes" from quite a few tourists. Interesting approach on your trip. I'd stick with Eastern medicine practitioners in the U.S. as Cloudia mentions. DrumMajor
ReplyDeleteActually, I think I'll just stick to Kathy. :-)
Delete"Better living through chemistry", as one of my friends keeps saying! Nyuk!
ReplyDeleteThe thing is, I think many of the herbs really do work. I'm just not so sure of this approach.
DeleteOf course in real life it's not a guessing game but a dialogue between patient and provider.
ReplyDeleteI am very happy with Kaiser right now. I looked up my blood work on my account and it's normal. I got an ultrasound on some swelling on my leg, but it appears to be from being on the plane and is going away.
All in all, Kaiser gives the kind of treatment I want and expect for my heart condition. The health personnel are uniformly pleasant, kind and helpful.
I'm a fan of western medicine but think it is important on both sides to communicate well.
This is very interesting. I remember a Chinese friend in California showing me her herbal medicines, and explaining to me what various herbs were used for.
ReplyDeleteI really think there are wonderful herbs that can help. I was just a little leery of our pharmacist's real expertise.
DeleteI wouldn't be sold on the diagnosis either. Sounds like a mechanic who found "problems" with a good vehicle.
ReplyDeleteI'll stick to science.
ReplyDeleteI'll stick to science too. Dianne
ReplyDeleteThis must have been fascinating. I've heard so much about how wonderful the Chinese herbs can be, but, like you, I would not buy any and try them.
ReplyDelete