During my one week in China, I had the privilege to experience traditional Chinese Medicine. I visited a well-known Chinese medicine clinic in Beijing, where I learned many interesting things about acupuncture and alternative treatments. The clinic I went to is one of the most famous acupuncture clinics in Beijing and also has a branch in Melbourne and New York. This clinic has a separate wing for foreigners where they receive VIP treatment for insomnia, joint pain, weight loss, acne, erectile disfunction, fertility, migranes, depression, allergies and other health issues modern medicine does not necessarily have a cure for.
The Beijing Dacheng TCM Acupuncture Clinic
2 Floor Qingqing Plaza,
No. 1 Building, No 39 Yunada Road, Haidian District, Beijing
email: liujuan@chengs.cn
Visiting a Chinese Medicine Clinic in Beijing
Background of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Chinese medicine is built on a foundation of more than 2500 years of medical practice. Acupuncture, massage (tui na), exercise (qigong) herbs and teas are used to treat health issues. By now, TCM has invaded the Western World. It has become overly popular in Europe and North America in the last decade. TCM looks at the body as a whole and aims to find disharmony between the organs.
A Visit to a Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic in Beijing
My First Visit
After entering the hospital, we visited a small museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Here I saw needles that were used about 1000 years ago to do acupuncture. Saw photos about different kind of TCM treatments. The tools were under a glass cupboard. It was fascinating to walk through the history of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Museum of a Chinese Medicine Clinic in Beijing
Museum of a Chinese Medicine Clinic in Beijing
Chinese Herbs at the Chinese Medicine Museum
Check-Up
Meeting with a traditional Chinese doctor was a very eye-opening experience. I have learned that these doctors study western and traditional medicine for 8 years. They are highly trained in both fields. I have met a friendly female doctor at the clinic. She had a translator, who helped us communicating. She listened to my symptoms checked my pulse and examined my tongue. She asked some questions related to my lifestyle, my exercise habits, and my diet.
Consultation with a Chinese Doctor
TMT Screening
Thermal Methabolic Examination is a new test that has been recently introduced at the clinic. I was asked to get naked in a cabin, and they x-rayed my whole body with a machine that senses the temperature of the organs and highlights abnormalities within the body. Based on the colors, the doctors can detect problems at an early stage, before symptoms can even occur. After the screening, a specialist went through the issues she noticed in my body. She mentioned things like cold feet, which is a sign of low blood pressure and declining eye-sight (It must be from staring at the computer screen while blogging). Also, the doctor mentioned that a few organs were red, which is a sign of inflammation. I was amazed to see the colors of my inner body.
Thermal Metabolic Examination
Foot Bath
After the TMT exam, they asked me to change for a white Chinese outfit to begin the treatment. The assistant arrived with a large bucket of hot water full of herbs. The water was steaming, and it was dark from all the herbs inside such as saffron flower, Chinese oriental pepper. The water was super-hot, and I could hardly put my foot inside. I kept my feet in this relaxing herbal foot bath for about 20 minutes. It was great to wind down and enjoy the bath. When I took my foot out, they were red from the hot water.
Herbal Footbath at the Chinese Medicine Clinic
Acupuncture
I laid down on the bed, and the acupuncture started. I had four small needles in my ankles and my hands for 15 minutes. They put a device on my ear to generate electronic shocks on various points.
Acupuncture at a Chinese Medicine Clinic
They striped a few moksas on my leg and my body, and they were burning them to make the acupuncture more effective.
Moksas Burning While Getting Acupuncture
The acupuncture was not painful at all. The doctor was massaging my head, while the needles were working. I enjoyed the treatment very much.
Acupressure by a Doctor
End of the Session
After the acupuncture session, we had a short conversation with the doctor. She gave me some useful lifestyle tips. She stuck some seeds on some acupuncture points on my ear. She told me to keep pressing them for the next couple of days. After we ended the session, she took me to the in-house pharmacy and gave me herb teas and herbs to make a foot bath at home. The interesting thing about Chinese pharmacies is that it has piles of superfoods and herbs as opposed to drugs.
Chinese Herbs at the Chinese Pharmacy
Overall I enjoyed my experience at the Chinese hospital. It was a fascinating experience, which I would love to repeat when I return to London.
Second Visit
I returned once again in the same week to the hospital, and I received the same treatment. I enjoyed every minute of it, and I wished I could have returned again. The staff was very attentive and kind. I can only recommend all of you trying Traditional Chinese Medicine on your next visit to Beijing to find a cure for your medical issues. These are herb based, alternative treatments, so there are absolutely no side effects.
I collaborated with Ctrip, Juicertrip and The Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development Board to make this trip happen. The above is an honest review of my experience, and I will only recommend things to my readers that I genuinely enjoyed.
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About Barbara
Barbara is a London based luxury travel and lifestyle blogger. She started traveling through Paris, London, New York, Milan, Tokyo at the age of 17 to conquer the World as a model. Ever since, she has visited 67 countries. She writes about the most exclusive jet-set destinations such as Cannes, Venice Film Festivals, Monaco Grand Prix, Oscar Parties in LA, Fashion Weeks in Milan or Paris as well as yacht parties in St-Tropez, Miami Art Basel, Biennale in Venice, Frieze in London or the Royal Wedding in Monaco.
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