no, that's good, no, that's bad...

[Guest guest]

>

 

Last year, at the First Beijing Hospital, both the dermatology and liver

departments had their own favorite formulas made into pills and creams. They

would regularily prescribe these. In addition the hospital offered raw tea

mixtures in the " korean " plastic bags of liquid for

around an extra dollar per day.

 

Up until about two weeks ago, I was depressed I couldn't make it back to Beijing

this year. Now, I just laugh about what a disaster a trip and studying at the

hospital this May would be. Hang in there Ken. Any thoughts of bailing out?

doug

 

> Dear Listmembers

>

> I have gotten in a small argument here in Switzerland with a college who is

> saying that in China, the " predominant method of herbal administration at

> the hospitals is the individually wrapped day doses type of herbs. " I cannot

> really believe this, as, when I was there a few years ago, it was all on a

> raw herb basis. I will go to China this summer and see for myself. However,

> in the meantime, I would like to ask all persons on this list who a) have

> recently been in China b) know for a FACT how it is CURRENTLY done or c)

> live and practice there who this matter really stands.

>

> What type of herbal administration is carried out in what type of hospitals?

> Is it true that the daily dose packages are quickly advancing to become the

> standard? How are tablets and pills (modern manufacturing) faring IN

> COMPARISON to raw herbs?

>

> I appreciate yur help. If this does not belong on this list, e-mail me

> privately.

>

> Simon Becker

[Guest guest]

Last year, at the First Beijing Hospital, both the dermatology and liver departments had their own favorite formulas made into pills and creams

>>>This was also true in 1985 in the hospital I worked at, for out patients. You could also get raw herbs and powdered extracts. The hospital had its own factory which made some the pills (some were proprietary, especially cancer pills). Extract powders came from other sources. In patients got their herbs cooked almost 100% of the time.

Alon

[Guest guest]

Doug,

 

Now, I just laugh about what a disaster a trip and studying at the

hospital this May would be. Hang in there Ken. Any thoughts of

bailing out?

> doug

 

Of course I think about bailing out,

but not because of the disease itself.

I've spent years working in Chinese hospitals

and am quite used to seeing hordes of sick

people. As anyone knows who has done such

work, you can't be too concerned about

getting sick from your patients or you'll

go nuts.

 

As I suggested in my last post, what

concerns me most is the phenomenoa

of mass hysteria. I had some pretty

uncomfortable encounters with some

villagers outside of Beijing yesterday who had

closed the roads to the hiking trails

where my son and a friend of mine were

trying to go for a walk in the mountains.

 

On Saturday my son was at a cocktail

party in the middle of the afternoon

at a courtyard in the center of town.

The people were mostly foreigners, i.e.,

non-Chinese; and the neighbors called

the police saying that they feared the

gathering was a threat to their health.

 

The pathogen of panic spreads far more

easily than any microbe.

 

But I'm not bailing out, mainly because

when I look out across the world today

I don't really see a good drop zone.

 

I will be in Germany next month for

a few weeks, but I reckon I'll be back

in Beijing by early June. And for those

with a hankering for a first hand look

at what's going on, well, hotel rooms

are available at steeply discounted rates!

And Beijing traffic, usually a nightmare

of its own, is a breeze these days.

 

Ken