I guess it was only a matter of time before I gave in to some form of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Several years ago during SARS, I showed up at my doctor’s office for an appointment one day, and the kindly receptionist thrust a cup of black, swamp-like, liquid in my hand. The smell was like nothing I had ever encountered – not bad – just exotic. I looked at the concoction suspiciously. “Drink this! To avoid SARS!” she exclaimed. Why not? I obediently downed the entire up.
While considered alternative treatment in the west, Traditional Chinese Medicine is popular in Hong Kong and much of Asia. It mostly consists of using remedies such as herbal medicines, acupuncture, and massage to cure one’s maladies. TCM, as it is called here, is thousands of years old and based on ancient Chinese principles such as yin-yang and Daoism. While my Chinese friends all embrace western medicine, they also routinely consult their TCM practitioner – as the need arises – thus combining what they see as the best of two worlds.
Not long ago, a friend, concerned about my lingering cough, secretly went to a TCM specialist on my behalf. Several days later, a group of us were having coffee at her house when she shared what she had done. My friends all gave testimony to trying this same mix of herbs in the past – with successful results. Was this an intervention? I had been coughing for weeks, but I didn’t realize how annoying it must have been to others. They smiled and claimed friendly concern.
My friend, Sheryn, handed me a baggie of what appeared to be dried up pieces of fruit, bark and several chunks of wood, glistening with moisture. “He told me you need to boil these in water with a bit of ginger root for at least thirty minutes, and drink a cup every night before you go to bed for five days. If it doesn’t work, it just doesn’t suit you, and you should stop.” I accepted the bag of herbs.
I have to admit that as I stirred the brew later that evening, I couldn’t help but recall that famous line from MacBeth, “Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and caldron bubble.” The smell was sweet and earthy, but did it work? While the potion definitely helped my cough, alas it did not cure it. But then again, neither did any western medications. Would I try it again from some other ailment? Why not?