differences between Chinese and laowai patients

[Guest guest]

Last week there was a discussion of an article that Bob summarized,

comparing differences between German and Chinese populations in regard to

TCM treatment.

This is an excerpt of an article written by Hu Jinsheng, published in the

English edition of the Journal of Traditional 21 (4):

312-316, 2001. The article is a teaching round discussion of a case of

restless leg syndrome in a German patient. Halfway the article, Prof Hu

elaborates on his personal experience treating foreigners and Chinese, and

the differences between them:

 

 

" Prof. Hu: Dr. Wang has raised a very big

question. Based on my experience in the training

course for foreign doctors and during my work in

foreign countries, I have made a comparison between

Chinese patients and foreign patients. Here, I'm going

to give you a brief account of it.

1. Diseases commonly seen in foreign patients:

Restless leg syndrome: I first heard of this

disease from a Swiss doctor. This disease is mostly

seen in Europe. And in recent years, it has been

noticed in China. The cause of this disease remains

unknown.

Pollen allergic syndrome: This syndrome is

commonly seen in Europe, and its occurrence is

closely related to the local environments. TCM holds

that this syndrome is related to insufficiency of qi and

invasion of pathogenic wind. I have worked in

Europe for several times. As each time I stayed there

for more than 6 months, I would have slight allergic

symptoms.

Catatony, depression, and phobia: They are

commonly seen in Europe. Because of the sharp

competition, people there tend to bear heavy

psychological pressure. They have varying clinical

manifestations. The main manifestations are fear of

going out and being hurt in the street, and increased

mental pressure while resting at home, which, in

certain cases, can be relieved by working.

2. Syndromes with different etiologies and

pathologies:

Migraine: For foreign patients, the

exopathogenic causes are mostly cold and dampness,

while the endopathogenic cause the interior heat. I

have once made an observation in 89 such German

patients. The local climate there is characterized by

constant rain in 3 seasons except in summer.

Therefore, people there were more likely to be

attacked by pathogenic cold and dampness. Moreover,

owing to intake of high-protein, high-fat, and highcaloric

diet, most people have interior heat. For

Chinese patients, pathogenic wind and cold are often

the main causative factors. This is mostly related to

the climatic characteristics in China.

Other causative factors of migraine for foreign

patients: The cause of migraine in part of such

patients is related to the sleeping posture or

administration of contraceptives. About 10% of such

foreign patients take the prone sleeping posture,

which affects the circulation of qi and blood in the

neck region, hence, the appearance of migraine.

Besides, the height of the pillow is also one of the

causative factors for this disease. What's more,

constant administration of contraceptives proves to

be another factor for migraine.

Asthma: Most of the foreign patients have

hormone dependent bronchial asthma. Owing to

 

medication, such patients have different clinical

manifestations. Based on the clinical manifestations,

they can be divided into the type of insufficiency of

qi and blood stasis, and the type of deficiency of both

the lung and kidney.

3. Different adaptability to acupuncture

treatment:

Different responses to acupuncture treatment:

For foreign patients, sensitivity to needling (+), and

fear of pain (+); but for Chinese patients, sensitivity

(-), and fear of pain (-).

Different requirements for stimulation: For

foreign patients, stimulation amount (-), less

manipulation is used. For them, needling producing a

comfortable sensation during and after it is regarded

as the best needling. But for Chinese patients,

stimulation amount (+), more manipulation is

performed, especially for those return-visit patients,

stronger stimulation or radiating needling response

are requited.

4. Difference in skins: For foreign patients, the

skin of colorless race is relatively thick, which makes

needle insertion more difficult. Therefore, stronger

finger force must be exerted while needling. For

Chinese patients, the skin of Chinese is relatively thin,

which makes needle insertion easier. The above is my

personal experience. "

 

Bob, I have read the article that you discusses earlier (from Tianjin

Zhongyi Zazhi), Would you like to see it translated for your ezine?

Tom.

 

 

[Guest guest]

" Bob, I have read the article that you discusses earlier (from Tianjin

Zhongyi Zazhi), Would you like to see it translated for your ezine? "

 

Tom,

 

Sure, if you are interested.

 

Bob