February 19 2014, Wednesday
Chinese Medicine
The pain in my stomach was
excruciating keeping me awake until almost daybreak. It must be my gall bladder
stones reminding me of their presence and complaining that I haven’t attended
to them in all these years! I had to call in sick! In the afternoon, I went to
consult my Chinese herbal doctor.
In recent years, I choose Chinese
medicine and acupuncture for most of my ailments. When I take western drugs in
the form of pills, tablets and syrups etc., I feel like I am pumping a lot of
chemicals into my stomach. Chinese herbal teas are more natural. I can see what
I am drinking. The large packet of roots, barks, leaves, even bugs, rocks and
turtle shells work together to bring about gentle but effective healing effects.
Now that there is the mandatory registration of Chinese medicine practioners,
the quality and safety of the service provided can be guaranteed. There have
also been more and more world researches on Chinese medicines. Then there is
acupuncture which can do wonders for my chronic muscular pains.
Last summer and winter, I received
a total of six treatments of moxibustion therapy which has become quite popular
in Hong Kong. On the three hottest days which fell in the two months of July
and August and then on the three coldest days in winter in December and
January, I had six nail-sized patches of herbs applied on six key acupuncture
points on the spine to generate heat so as to boost immunity. The patches were
removed after one hour. And I who cough every December did not cough last
December – touch wood! The charge for each treatment was $110 but it will be
increased to $120 this summer. I know because I placed my reservation already.
