Chinese Medicine Update

The bulk of my time in Nanjing has been spent studying Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) every morning in a class of 3--two German women and myself. We have an interpreter, Chris, (on the right) and our professor, Dr. Lu (center). September through December, we studied the theory and philosophy behind Chinese medicine and began diagnosis principles.


In January, we began studying herbal medicines, of which there are many, each with a very distinct function and properties. Part of our time is spent in the pharmacy of the clinic, getting to know each medicine in its partially-processed form.




Most of the medicines come to the pharmacy in dried form. After the diagnosis of the patient, the doctor will write a prescription (usually a decoction of around 12-16 herbs) of the necessary herbs needed for the patient's syndrome. TCM assigns a temperature quality to most medicines and symptoms, for example, a "heat syndrome" will be treated with a cold medicine and a "cold syndrome" will be treated with a warm medicine. A very simplistic example might be a sore throat with fever would be treated with cool medicine, like mint and pears, whereas a cold with congested nose would be treated with a warm medicine, like ginger.



Additionally, each syndrome is connected to specific meridians in the body that bring "qi" (pronounced "chi" and defined as the energy that propels all body functions) and body fluids to the organs and each medicine acts on specific meridians. So, a blocked liver meridian that causes PMS would require an herb that clears the liver meridian to allow free flow of qi and body fluids and resolve PMS symptoms. It is a very different approach from Western medicine. TCM seeks to treat the underlying issue leading to disease, rather than treating the symptoms. Herbal medicines often take longer to work but hopefully patients will see better, long-lasting results with fewer side effects. My goal is to look for ways that Eastern and Western medicine can complement each other for optimal patient care.

Once a prescription has been written for the patient, they have several options. They can have the clinic "cook" the decoction (boiling the herbs into a concentrated extract) and prepare the medicines for the patient, or the patient can buy the herbs and prepare the medicine at home. The end result is usually a very strong-smelling, bad tasting potion that the patient drinks 100 ml twice a day. Some have described the medicine as "pond scum." Yum!

Grace and I have both taken medicine for various issues and we can testify that it is disgusting...but hopefully worth it! I am continually amazed at the recorded information of each herb (or animal part). The "materica medica" for TCM includes when the herb should be harvested, which part is most effective, and how it should be processed. Specific qualities of each herb are listed as well as precautions.

Diagnosis is much different than Western medicine. The basic approach to diagnosing each patient involves looking at the patient's appearance, taking the patient's pulse on both wrists, looking at the tongue, and asking questions. Here we are learning about the tongue and how it's appearance is connected to what's going on in the body. TCM believes the function of the organs are reflected on the tongue, so tongue coatings (ewww!) are a critical piece of the puzzle. The color (white is a cold syndrome; yellow is a heat syndrome) and texture of the coating, as well as the color, shape, and size of the tongue all give information to the doctor for diagnosis.

I will spare you the close-ups of the tongue photos! As far as pulses go, the TCM dr. checks pulses on both wrists using 3 fingers, distinguishing the quality of each place, including strength, depth, texture (such as "wiry" or "floating" or "hollow"), and rate. On the right side, the 3 places correspond to the heart, liver, and kidney. On the left, the 3 places correspond to the lung, spleen (and stomach) and the kidney. Learning to take the pulse and interpret it correctly is key to the overall diagnosis and is somewhat of an art form.

Our favorite part of our day is when patients come in and we get to check tongues and pulses and listen to the symptoms and make our "guess" of what is going on with the patient. Then we sit with Dr. Lu and get her diagnosis and go over what herbal medicines she prescribed and why.

We have seen a 5-yr old boy who has Type 1 diabetes and is being treated with a small amount of insulin and herbs and has his blood sugar under control. We are watching the progress of a woman with chronic health issues (possibly arsenic poisoning from the long-term use of paint) being treated with herbal medicine and acupuncture. The "western" diagnosis is not needed to proceed with treatment because the doctor is treating based on the information from the examination: pulses, tongue coating and shape, questions, visual examination, etc.

Beginning in April, we will continue with a 6-week course in acupuncture. We will have another professor who usually teaches at the TCM University in Nanjing as Dr. Lu does not practice acupuncture. After the 6-week course, I will have completed my studies in TCM. My classmates, Rita and Michela, plan to continue studying TCM next year.

Beth's Perspective!

By Beth Arneberg, sister of Joann

When Joann asked me to write something for her blog, I wondered how you could condense 10 days in China into one little paragraph. I don't think you can but I do think a phrase that Joann stated often does capture what China is all about. When asking about this and that, she just kept saying "It's China!" As I discovered over the 10 days we were there, that phrase answered a lot of questions. Questions that probably didn't have an answer that made any sense. Questions such as: Where's that smell coming from? Why is there a sightseeing tunnel under the river in Shanghai? Why is it hazy? Why do the drivers drive like madmen and the bikes not stay in their lane? Why do the babies have slits in their snowsuits? Why do they put snakes and scorpions on a stick and eat them? Why do they have squatter toilets everywhere (and no soap!)? Why is there a FAKE Great Wall in Nanjing? Why don't they heat their homes and businesses?

It was a fabulous visit and I'm grateful to Jim & Joann for living there so I could experience China. I really had no desire to visit beforehand but now would go back to visit again. I'm not sure I would want to live there, but as Joann says, "you can do anything for a year". Thanks for the GREAT visit Jim and Jo.

Our First Official Visitors!

Beth and Tom (Joann's sister and Jim's brother...yes, the ones that are married...) get the prize for being our first official visitors to Nanjing. We had a good visit with them as they tried to cram as much China into 10 days as possible. We met them in Shanghai, took the train to Suzhou, then drove to Nanjing. After 5 quick days in Nanjing, they went to Beijing. I have a few photos, but I must confess, when Tom is around I'm less inclined to take photos because he photographs EVERYTHING. Maybe, if we are really lucky, he will share a link with me when he gets all of his photos up on his website, http://www.arneberg.com/

No, they aren't in their Chinese hotel room! I took them out for foot massages, complete with fresh, hot ginger packed around the knees. Tom had a hard time relaxing because his feet are very sensitive. I think he giggled through most of it. I totally enjoyed my massage, until my guy stretched my hip joint in a direction it can't go and TORE my hip flexor muscle. I walked out of the massage o.k., but woke up in the night paralyzed from pain and unable to move my left leg. After anti-inflammatories, ice, rest, and prayer, I am moving alittle more freely. But it will be a process of healing. Unfortunately, I was very limited in my ability to be a tour guide after my injury. :-( My mom and Aunt Marjory are our next visitors in a few weeks and I am hoping they will slow down for me!

This one is for Alison! Wish you were here! Aunt Beth doesn't giggle quite as much as twizzlin' awesome Alison!

We went out for a Korean meal in Nanjing. Tom was searching for the perfect meal in China, but I'm not sure he found it. He is one tough customer--except when it comes to spicy hot peanuts made in Nanjing!

We visited some sites for the first time--we've been saving them to do with visitors. This photo was taken at a well-preserved gate to the Nanjing City Wall. The ramps were for soldiers on horseback to quickly ascend to the top. They allowed me to hobble up for the view.

One of the soldiers standing guard at the Nanjing City Wall (the big one in the back!).

Brothers. We took a boat ride through a series of canals from the city wall to the Confucius Temple. Tom was the quintessential tourist, with his red baseball cap, bulging backpack, camera bag, and ever-present water bottle. Jim travels light.

Some Chinese men carrying a load--photo taken from the boat.

Another picturesque scene from the boat. We hope to take this ride again with our next visitors. Beth and Tom took a night train to Beijing with Jim. They went to tour the big sites--Tiananmen Square, Olympic venues, and the Great Wall. Jim went to visit Rosemount in Beijing and saw some of the same products, processes, and machines he worked on 16 years ago in Minnesota. He felt like he was in the Twilight Zone. (He was involved in the technology transfer in 1992!)

We are eager to hear how life goes for Beth and Tom as they re-enter life in Wisconsin.

The Beat Goes On

Plum Blossom Festival is here! The plum blossoms have been gorgeous and have drawn huge crowds from all over China, which means taking small steps on the walking paths and long traffic jams as we try to come and go from home, esp. on the weekend. I'm glad we can walk to Plum Blossom Hill from our door.

There are many varieties and colors of plum trees. They are blooming at different times so the blossoms are lasting during the month-long festival.

The scent is as pretty as the view. This is a shot of Plum Blossom Hill in full bloom.

Part of the festival includes food vendors. Again, lots of variety--not all identifiable!

And a Chinese festival would only be complete with Chinese opera! Wish I could say I enjoy listening to it...

A food vendor...actually, he makes shapes out of toffee and puts them on a stick. Jesse chose a gun!

On this day, Rachel chose a tiger and Jesse opted for a gourd blown out of a lump of taffy. (Rachel ate hers, Jesse didn't.)

But we do more than hang out at festivals and tourist sites all day! Here are some glimpses into daily life...

Piano lessons! Rachel is back to the keyboard and Jesse is just starting out. Miss Jenny comes to our house once a week for their lessons. She speaks good English and has lived in Canada where she performed opera, piano, and cello.

New family members! Jesse has been asking for a pet since we arrived in Nanjing. Finally, we met his request by buying 2 hamsters from Pet Alley at the Confucius Temple (I really should have a photo of Pet Alley...not like Petco!)

After much debate, the new guys (we think) have been named "Pancake" and "Waffle." Jesse is learning how to care for his boys and has discovered the fun wears off when cage-cleaning needs to be done. Rachel takes her turn at holding Waffle. Don't tell Bumper!

One aspect of life in China is the affordability of custom-made clothes. Jim is getting suits made by a tailor that makes home visits. Stay tuned for the final product! (The blue lapel is just for the fitting!)

How about custom-made glasses in 30 minutes for about $30? Jim and I and Jim's coworker, Lon Wen, went to a town about an hour away from Nanjing and got glasses. The town has zillions of shops that sell glasses...very odd.