Life is a Journey: From Beijing to Suzhou

November 16, 2009

As mentioned before Brian shared a lot of information in a candid way and it was interesting to hear him talk about his family. He explained that during the 1980’s reformation began in China with a more open door policy and that’s when the Sleeping Dragon really began to come alive.

One of the last stops in Beijing was to a Chinese herbal medicine shop that has been practicing there for over 340 years. At the shop they explained that Traditional Chinese Medicine has been practiced for 4,000 years and the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) doctors are revered in their study of herbal methods. I guess that if you study something for 4,000 years there should be records of a lot of cause and effect in terms of herbal medications and what works and doesn’t work.

At the Pharmacy or Herbal Shop we had a lecture on TCM and then a physical examination by a genuine TCM doctor. The exam consisted of the doctor holding three fingers on each wrist and then making a diagnosis. The diagnosis was based on strength of heart beat, temperature, etc. from the wrist contact. The doctor did not speak English but had an assistant who was fluent and translated. Well – my diagnosis was probably somewhat predictable after collecting information that included my age, etc. It was some degree of cholesterol, high blood pressure, and some degree of urination problems due to prostate enlargement. This probably fits 90% of men in my age group. I am on cholesterol and BP medication at home. Joan had the same examination and he hit her problems pretty close also. So the question is – did he hit close to the right diagnosis through the use of his knowledge of TCM or because of age group classification. Believing that during 4,000 years of studies they have learned something about causes and effects Joan and I both left with some prescribed herbal medications.

Below is the map of points and meridians use by the TCM doctor. I'm kind of glad he only used the wrists on me.

Interestingly, the Herbal Shop that we visited also has a shop in San Francisco China Town. However, the Drug Administration rules that apply there make it “more difficult than climbing a stairway to Heaven” to practice and prescribe. Must be really difficult!

At any rate they now have our records on file in the store in Beijing and we can order by email if we wish after determining the success of the herbs we brought home. Stay tuned for the results of that. The internet has made this an interesting world

A good healthy life we learned depends upon a balance of Ying and Yang, Water and Fire, and five elements: WFEMW (wood, liver, fire, heart, earth, spleen), OK five or six, and good healthful Chi received from our parents. They said that a Chinese saying is that it’s “too late to dig a well if you are thirsty”. Can’t argue with that philosophy!

On the 16th we flew from Beijing back to Shanghai to meet up with Rainbow who was to be our tour guide for the remainder of the trip. Rainbow was a very pleasant and congenial young Chinese lady in her mid-20’s. She was named by her grandfather because she was such a beautiful baby. We then boarded a tour bus and headed off to Suzchou with Rainbow.

Rainbow is unmarried and she shared a few cute things about Chinese girls looking for husbands. The girls look for the four “C’s” in a man to marry– car, cash, credit card, career, and condo. The groom goes to pick up bride in a BMW which stands for “Be My Wife” and also “Broke My Wallet”. Do you see Western culture creeping in here?

You know, I can't quite grasp the reasoning behind roofs that curve up to a point at the corners. Sure don't have any of those at home in Ohio. Beautiful surrounding gardens and if the buildings didn't have those curved roofs what would be unique about them. The world has to have some differences that make things unique. Just like people. What a boring place it would be if all the buildings and all the people were the same. I really hate seeing this constant proliferation of bluejeans on everyone especially teenagers everyplace that we go in the world. It's starting to take away the uniqueness of individuals. Maybe there's a reason for fashion designers after all.