A trip to the Doctors: TCM

[KommieKat]

I mentioned a while back on the Chat-box about a rash I had. Amy remembers quite well.

TCM means Traditional Chinese Medicine.
I like to resort to it for mild maladies and saving the serious stuff for Western medicine.

I developed an allergic reaction to a mold or fungus that contacted my skin.
I have two pairs of work out gloves and one of them, not being washed or used for a year, had a mildew growth inside, stimulating a reaction to my skin.

So, I decided to check out my local Chinese Doc.
Below are some pics. I was cured after two visits and two cups of this medicine (tea).

The consultation was HK$25. Thats about US$3.00.
The medicine was about HK$60. That's about US$8.00

(Cell phone pics)

Notice the three fingers and not the usual two.
Doc explained to me that the first finger is reading my lungs.
The second finger is reading my pulse.
The third finger is reading my liver.
Interesting.
If you look closely, you can see the rash on my wrist.


Here are the ingredients.
You can save the "tiger penis, bear paw" jokes.
None were used.


All the ingredients are boiled down to this one cup.
The taste is so bitter, they provide a sweet plum to kill the taste.

[Shade]

i love traditional chinese medicine. Japanese to. Usually herbalists can take care of half the shit in the first place. The only thing is there are so many damn snobs about it. like claiming its the best way. Or snobs claiming that the hospital is the best way. Thing is there about the same. Since most illness's are caused by stress stuff like massages and acupuncture can totally just cure your ass. I mean the most common things you get fixed is blood circulation and stress, which is basicly all heart attacks, heart problems, blood pressure problems, tiredness, colds, immune system, fevers, resistance to poisons, pretty much anything that doesn't grow inside you like cancer.

And as funny as deer penis is, i've had some WEIRD shit i've taken from a alt med doctor that i respected greatly. It's funny as shit, but it also got my shit cured where normal meds didnt, or they would of taken forever to do so.

[Pinkslit]

The only time I have tried TCM was for acupuncture, for pain relief.
It didn't work.

[Titty]

The power of suggestion is a magnificent tool. I lend more credence to its potency than that of any hack cures or homeopathic remedies.

If you believe it will make you better, you'll more often than not actually feel that it has worked (think placebo effect). Of course this has limitations, but they're probably not quite as narrow as we may think.

[mcsmc]

The power of suggestion is a magnificent tool. I lend more credence to its potency than that of any hack cures or homeopathic remedies.

If you believe it will make you better, you'll more often than not actually feel that it has worked (think placebo effect). Of course this has limitations, but they're probably not quite as narrow as we may think.

You took the words right out of my mouth. However, I think that with everything in life, there needs to be a balance.

In this case, I believe that balance tends to be between real medicine, and the mind. Both of the power of healing, but one cannot be fully effective without the other.

Accupuncture and accupressure are both interesting fields that I haven't studied much on, but they seem to be a way of controlling the mind functions to a point of the body healing itself, at least in small ways. They relate to the whole balance theme as well. The only function of these I've experienced is the accupressure spot on the hand for relieving headache pain. It works somewhat, depending on what sort of headache you're experiencing.

[Shade]

I've experienced is the accupressure spot on the hand for relieving headache pain. It works somewhat, depending on what sort of headache you're experiencing.

I think that sums up all medicine the best. Some stuff works some stuff doesn't. No one knows why. Most people in the field simply spend there time figuing out what works for the majority.

I agree with tity and mcsmc as for the power of suggestion. Curses in witchcraft work the same way. If you believe it will happen, you'll make it happen. I do think TCM has some actual value besides that, as alot of current medicines include shit like powdered elk penis. Of course the chemical is made in a lab, because its to much of a bitch to herd elks, and it's easier to take in pill form. The same chemical is there though. Take asprin. It's mold. It's been around forever. it was only entering the medical field i think like 100 years ago. however, the ancient egyptions used it as well. But then again i think all medicine is based on the belief you will get better. Just as if you tell someone they got a cold, they will start to believe it, and eventually they will have a pyhsical cold. I love doing that to people. dude, your really tired. ohh man, i'm exhausted! either way the fucker can't concentrate on work, so its real.

Buy the best selling book, think positive now! only 19.95!!!!! pm me for a 10% discount!!!!

yea i totally feel lame saying that shit.

[Jenn]

Lol Buddha..

How does that third finger read your liver?

I always thought it was interesting the way chinese people did things. I would love to travel to china and Japan and learn about their culture. I find it extremely in teresting

[KommieKat]

Lol Buddha..

How does that third finger read your liver?

I honestly don't know, but he did tell me that's what he is doing.
He has certificates all over his walls showing his training in China.
It's been around for abotu 10,000 years or more.

I'll trust it for simple cold remedies, but when it comes to a heart transplant??!

[Josie]

I don't know if you know much about something like this, but I did want to ask (because I'm going stark raving mad over this) if you know of something that would help with jumpy legs.

When I sit for over a couple minutes, my legs jump. When I try to go to sleep, my legs jump. When I'm tired (doesn't matter if I'm sitting or standing), my legs jump...

And it only gets worse when I'm pregnant. It also seems to get *much* worse if I lie on my back. Circulation issue due to pregnancy? I don't know, but it's becoming a serious issue.

Any thoughts/ideas/suggestions? I thought maybe you, your wife, or someone you know might have some weird asian suggestion that I've never heard of or tried.

[KommieKat]

I don't know if you know much about something like this, but I did want to ask (because I'm going stark raving mad over this) if you know of something that would help with jumpy legs.

When I sit for over a couple minutes, my legs jump. When I try to go to sleep, my legs jump. When I'm tired (doesn't matter if I'm sitting or standing), my legs jump...

And it only gets worse when I'm pregnant. It also seems to get *much* worse if I lie on my back. Circulation issue due to pregnancy? I don't know, but it's becoming a serious issue.

Any thoughts/ideas/suggestions? I thought maybe you, your wife, or someone you know might have some weird asian suggestion that I've never heard of or tried.

I'll ask my wife and see what she says. She may ask for more info like:
How long you had this affliction (common question).
When did you start to notice it.
And......going over your own life history and checking out if it is stress related (after marriage??).

You are your best doctor after all.

[funeeman]

I don't know if you know much about something like this, but I did want to ask (because I'm going stark raving mad over this) if you know of something that would help with jumpy legs.

When I sit for over a couple minutes, my legs jump. When I try to go to sleep, my legs jump. When I'm tired (doesn't matter if I'm sitting or standing), my legs jump...

And it only gets worse when I'm pregnant. It also seems to get *much* worse if I lie on my back. Circulation issue due to pregnancy? I don't know, but it's becoming a serious issue.

Any thoughts/ideas/suggestions? I thought maybe you, your wife, or someone you know might have some weird asian suggestion that I've never heard of or tried.

Whats your cholesterol level? A higher than normal amount for your body's liking can cause this. If you eat more junk food when your prego this might be the reason for its increased frequency. But I'm no ancient Chinese medicine man. But I did sit in a Native American sweat lodge once.

[Josie]

I'll ask my wife and see what she says. She may ask for more info like:
How long you had this affliction (common question).
When did you start to notice it.
And......going over your own life history and checking out if it is stress related (after marriage??).

You are your best doctor after all.

How long I've had it: All my life.
I noticed it: When I was born.

No, it never seems to be stress related. That's the nighttime teeth grinding for me, hehe :-P

Ever since I can remember (and as far back as my parents can remember), my legs have always needed to be moving. I was always the kid in school who was bouncing their legs around....

Actually, now that I think about it, I can sit completely still if I'm totally absorbed in something. Like math tests, for example. They required so freaking much of my attention that I would forget I was even in class and actually startle myself upon remembering sometimes. My legs don't jump during these times, and that's pretty much it.

Whats your cholesterol level? A higher than normal amount for your body's liking can cause this. If you eat more junk food when your prego this might be the reason for its increased frequency. But I'm no ancient Chinese medicine man. But I did sit in a Native American sweat lodge once.

I have no idea what my cholesterol level is. I don't think I'm fogey enough for them to start checking me. As for junk food, that's a no. I've craved mostly veggies and fruits with this pregnancy. I cook most of the food we eat also, and I use olive oil for sauteeing (sp) and what not.

Things we eat a lot of:

• steamed veggies and chicken over rice
• ground turkey and veggies in a mushroom sauce over noodles
• squash stew
• spaghetti
• chicken with spicy squash

Anywho, thanks for any advice you guys can come up with.

Every time I've seen a doctor for this, they always want to prescribe something for RLS... yeah... like I REALLY want to take super drugs for the rest of my life. No thanks.

[mcsmc]

I don't know if you know much about something like this, but I did want to ask (because I'm going stark raving mad over this) if you know of something that would help with jumpy legs.

When I sit for over a couple minutes, my legs jump. When I try to go to sleep, my legs jump. When I'm tired (doesn't matter if I'm sitting or standing), my legs jump...

And it only gets worse when I'm pregnant. It also seems to get *much* worse if I lie on my back. Circulation issue due to pregnancy? I don't know, but it's becoming a serious issue.

Any thoughts/ideas/suggestions? I thought maybe you, your wife, or someone you know might have some weird asian suggestion that I've never heard of or tried.

Check out this list of links. I believe it will address your questions.