Sixty Years In Search Of Cures_ An Herbalist’s Success With Chinese Herbs

Search of Cures f* *v

49

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1*

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A An

Herbalist's Success

Dr.

With Chinese Herbs

Fung Fung

Digitized by the Internet Archive in

2012

http://archive.org/details/sixtyyearsinseaOOOfung

Sixty Years In Search

An

Herbalist's Success

Of Cures

With Chinese Herbs

n <>;0

Sixty Years In Search

An

Herbalist's Success

With Chinese Herbs

by

Dr.

Fung Fung

&John Fung

Get Well Foundation Dublin, California

North

Of Cures

Atlantic

Books

Berkeley, California

Disclaimer

The following information

intended for general information

is

purposes only. Individuals with a health problem should always see their health care provider before administering

made in

this

book.

following pages

is

any suggestions

Any application of the material set forth in the

at the

reader s discretion and sole responsibility.

Sixty Years in Search of Cures

Copyright

© 1994 by John Chung Fung. All rights reserved. No

portion of this book, except for brief review, in

may

be reproduced

any form without written permission of the publisher. Printed

in the

United

States of

America.

Published by:

Distributed by:

Get Well Foundation

North Atlantic Books P.O. Box 12327

7172 Regional Dublin,

Cover

St.

#116

CA 94568-2324

art

Berkeley,

and design by Bruce

CA 94701

Wang

Book design and production by Catherine E. Campaigne Copy editing by Nissi Wang and Andrew Gaeddert Sixty Years in Search of Cures

is

tion, a non-profit organization

published by Get Well Founda-

whose purpose

is

to educate the

public and health care providers about natural therapies that are

complements to Western medicine. Publications,

classes,

symposia,

and community-based research projects are planned.

ISBN 0-9638285-1-7

:

$15.95

How to Order: Single copies

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For

St,

may be

ordered from Get Well Foundation, 7172

#116, Dublin,

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and wholesale inquiries, contact North

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This book suffer

is

dedicated to those

who

from physical ailments and emotional

distress.

Acknowledgments Our

gratitude goes to

all

the patients

who

have come to us for

medical help. Their trust and faith in us and in Chinese herbs have

made

healing

them much

easier.

Their cooperation has provided

valuable information for broadening our knowledge and deepen-

ing our expertise. their

Many patients

have become our friends, and

encouragement has given us enough reason to write

We would like to thank Andrew Gaeddert, author.

this

book.

an herbalist and

His comments enabled us to make many refinements to

the manuscript.

The cult

if it

writing of this

book would have been much more

ly Christina,

who

assisted in the verification of the medical

information contained in her.

diffi-

were not for the constant support of our family, especial-

this

book.

We

are greatly indebted to

1

Contents

Foreword by Robert Johns, O.M.D., L.Ac.

xi

Foreword by Robert N. Dreyfuss, O.M.D., L.Ac.

xiii

Introduction

The Quest For Chapter

Alternative Medicine

1

1

An Overview Of Traditional Chinese Medicine The Three Branches

9

Of Traditional

Chinese Medicine

9

Distinct Characteristics

10

Fundamental Principles

12

Chapter 2

Canton 1930-1937: Where

My Medical Career Began

Medical School Versus Apprenticeship Private Practice Interrupted

21 21

By War

25

My Best Friend The Breakup Of A Family

Alcohol Almost Destroys

26

A

28

White Lie Prevents

Chapter 3

Hong Kong

1938-1939: Temporary Shelter

Resident Physician

And Private Practice

Hemorrhoid Is A Longtime Discomfort

From War

31 3

32

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

vill

Some

A

Of Superstition

Interesting Facets

33

Vietnam

Ticket To

34

Chapter 4 Saigon 1939-1969:

Home Away From Home

37

The Chinese

In Southeast Asia

37

Settlers

The Chinese Slave Workers

38

My New Practice In Cholon My Longest Day In A Flu Season Heat In The Body: A Source Of

39

42

Many Discomforts

45

Herbs To Maintain Body Fquilibrium

48

The Three Abundances That Cure

49

Leprosy

And

Typhoid:

Successful Treatment

The Simple Good

How

Approach

Life In

Of The

West

Cholon

5

53

The War Evolved

63

Departing With Sad Memories

68

Chapter 5

Hong Kong

1

969-1 979: Temporary Shelter Again

A Successful Colony Resuming

71

Hong Kong

76

Of Family Separation

82

Practice in

The Agony

7

Chapter 6 San Francisco 1979-1994:

My Permanent Home

New Life In America The Enthusiasm Of My St

The

The Side

Effects

AIDS: Can The Skin Irritations

85 85

it

doits

86

O) Chemotherapy

S7

Suffering Be Reduced?

88

90

Table of Contents Fertility Is

IX

A

Gift

From Nature

91

The Road To Longevity

92

How

95

Costly Is The Automobile?

Low-Cost Health Care For Society

96

God Bless America, My Adopted Country

98

Chapter 7 Herbal Prescriptions

101

Of Writing An

The Art

Effective Prescription

101

AIDS Relief

110

Alcohol Poisoning

111

Allergy To Pollen

112

Appendicitis

113

Arthritis

114

Asthma

116

Baldness

117

Beauty Enhancement For Brittle

Women

Bones

Chemotherapy Side Children's

118

119 Effects

Common Ailments

121

122

Constipation

124

Diabetes

126

Diarrhea

127

Energy Enhancement

128

Fertility

Enhancement For Men

129

Fertility

Enhancement For Women

130

Fibroids

131

Hemorrhoids

132

High Blood Pressure

134

Influenza

136

Insomnia

137

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

x

Longevity

139

Menopause

141

Menstrual Discomfort

142

Migraine

143

Skin Irritations

144

Stress Relief

145

Weight Control

146

Yin-Type Weakness

147

Chapter 8 Prevention

And

149

Self-Help

The Wisdom

149

The

151

The The

Of Prevention Goodness Of Soup Convenience Of Rice Porridge Gentleness Of Sweet Soup

159 162

Chapter 9 Simple Solutions To Health

And

Happiness

167

Bibliography

169

Resources

171

Index

173

Foreword Robert Johns, O.M.D., L.Ac. Fung has been my friend and mentor for over Dr.years. Although cannot remember any particular time that fourteen

I

I

became

ized that

his student, I

had been

the tone for

learning them.

tools

ability to see the

ing his world view,

I

I

I

some

when

I

real-

time. This beginning set

many

with Dr. Fung. There are

and prescription

Over time

most valuable

was an

can clearly remember the day

my future studies

facets of diagnosis

the

I

his student for

that weren't obvious as

I

was

have come to understand that one of

gained from

my studies with Dr. Fung

world through

his eyes.

By understand-

learned that Chinese medicine

is

not just the

application of a collection of facts called knowledge, but the

whole

configuration of the thinking that goes into Chinese medicine. see in this

way

is

To

to be able to take skills of diagnosing and pre-

more profound level. remember the time when a woman brought her infant to see Dr. Fung. The child's condition was serious, one that required longterm treatment. After they left, Dr. Fung asked me, "Did you scribing to a I

notice anything unusual about the mother?"

Without waiting for

an answer, Dr. Fung continued, "I prescribed only the best herbs,"

he

said.

"The mother was

closer than usual to her child

hadn't prescribed the best herbs

She wouldn't come back and

I

I

would have

lost

and

if I

her confidence.

wouldn't be able to continue

treat-

ing her baby." For the Chinese, health and the practice of medicine are part of the interweaving of the fabric of our lives, not

something separate. To be involved in the practice of Chinese medine

is

to be involved in

life.

The

XI

greater one's involvement

and

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

xil

understanding of

Looking back

treat.

was

life,

day

a

the greater

at all

one's ability to diagnose

and

my time in Dr. Fung's clinic, there never new way

that he did not have a

to teach. Sometimes,

is

what he had

of saying what he had

to say did not

ed to Chinese medicine. In retrospect,

I

saw

seem

directly relat-

that Dr.

Fung found

my thinking and orientation to the world around me, and thereby affected my thinking and orientation as a physi-

ways

to affect

cian.

To say sive

that Dr. Fung's understanding of prescribing

a great understatement. His office

is

owned by

store

is

and set

I

up

I

was watching Mr. Liu

by Dr. Fung which contained

asked

if

back of an herb

who was trained as an herbalist by his and whose own knowledge of Chinese

considerable. Once,

scription

in the

a Mr. Liu,

father and grandfather

herbs

was

exten-

is

a

number of unusual

he had had to stock additional herbs

office in his store. "Yes,"

was

a pre-

fill

his reply,

after Dr.

herbs,

Fung

"about four or

five

hundred herbs."

A side of Dr. Fung that he did not let his patients see studies every day. uses,

and

its

Each day he

one herb,

all its

that he

possible

combination with other herbs. His love of Chinese

herbs and his unrelenting part of

studies

is

commitment

what makes him so

great.

to improving his skills

is

Foreword

N.

Robert

O.M.D., L.Ac.

Dreyfuss,

was Dr. Fung's "indoor" student from 1984 end of 1992. The training

I at the

I

received

was

traditional:

I

sat

desk in the herb store while he saw patients, often forty to

at his

sixty in a given

day on

a first

come

ask questions, feel the pulses, look

first

at the

served basis.

me

in Cantonese.

tions or he

When

there

would comment on an

was

He would

tongue, and then write

the prescription in a beautiful flowing hand,

with

until his retirement

which he would share

time,

I

could ask ques-

interesting aspect of the patient's

case.

Dr.

Fung is fluent in several languages, and had many patients to him because of his lingual versatility as well as his

who came

considerable reputation in the community. Because

do not share namese,

I

his

command

I

unfortunately

of Cantonese, Mandarin, and Viet-

often did not have a clear understanding of the patients'

complaints nor of Dr. Fung's comments and advice to them.

Fung might or might not explain his prescribing rationale. He wanted me to work for the knowledge and underlying principles of his formulas. When Dr. Fung realFor any given

ized

I

was

truly

case, Dr.

committed to learning the

herbal medicine with him, herb's subtle uses

mation

I

received

command

and

its

little

pearls

intricacies of

would be shared

functions in a formula.

was not

available in texts,

Chinese as to

an

Much of the infor-

and

his extraordinary

of the pharmacopia greatly expanded

what

I

had been

taught in Chinese medical college, and revealed the paucity of the herbal curriculum considered sufficient for practicing. All Dr.

wanted was

that

I

show interest,

ask questions, and study.

xni

Fung

Through

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

xiv

the years cases to

I

have utilized what he taught me, and was able to bring

him

for consultation.

From visits

to his

home,

I

saw

that

even after sixty years of practice, Dr. Fung kept a book on herbs next to his bed and another in his bathroom, and that he studied daily. I shall

always be grateful to him for his generosity and knowl-

edge, both personally and in

my medical practice.

Introduction

The Quest

For

Alternative Medicine was another

great milestone for

Western medicine when Chris-

It tiaan

Barnard successfully performed the

plant in

December

electrified the

destined to

first

human heart trans-

1967. Western medicine had once again

world with

progress and specialization.

its

become the universal medicine accepted by

It

all

seemed

cultures.

Today, the technological advances of Western medicine continue to dazzle the world, but

America

is

facing

care problems brought to public attention istration.

As

a

reform

bill is

enormous health

by the Clinton admin-

being drafted and debated, the costs

At the same time, the quality of health care does not appear to show any significant improvement. Western medicine has reached an important crossroad in Amerof health care continue to soar.

ica. It is

efit

very advanced, but

every citizen, but so

insurance premiums.

It

it is

afford to pay the

should have developed permanent cures

for various illnesses, but so

ingly dependent

also very expensive. It should ben-

many cannot even

on drugs

many people find themselves

to stay healthy.

1

The

increas-

rapidly rising costs

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

2

of health care are drowning both public and private employers.

Many

corporations are

now requiring their

employees to shoul-

der a greater share of the health care expense.

my father and I decided to write a book on alternative medicine. We want to promote a better underWith

this reality in

mind,

standing of Chinese herbal medicine as a low-cost alternative with

minimum

side effects.

Chinese medicine emphasizes prevention

and natural cure by restoring or maintaining the balance of body functions. In contrast, Western medicine with

ern medicine has captured the limelight in

technology and

cost,

Chinese medicine

the art of living in balance and is

modern

tech-

human intervention to cure an illness. While West-

nology, stresses

that

its

content with perfecting

harmony with

subtle but essential for healthy

Because of the gulf that

is

exists in

areas including

all

nature, something

life.

theory and technology, West-

ern and Chinese medicines are likely to go their separate ways, thus widening the divergence between theless,

both

suffering.

disciplines

Given

this

them even

Never-

human two have many com-

have one commonality: to

common purpose, the

further. alleviate

book highlights the areas where Chinese medcan complement Western medicine in order to reduce costs

plementarities. This icine

and produce

a natural cure that has

few

side effects.

My father has been a practitioner of Chinese medicine for sixty years in four different places:

(now

Canton (now Guangzhou), Saigon

Ho Chi Minh City), Hong Kong, and San Francisco. Since

our family immigrated to America

Vietnam and Apart from

in 1979, other

Hong Kong have found him

this large

Asian

clientele,

immigrants from

again in San Francisco.

he has gained credibility with

an increasing number of native-born Americans

who

have dis-

covered the benefits and cost-effectiveness of Chinese medicine. In addition, for

many

and guidance to

a

years,

my

father has been offering tree lessons

group of acupuncturists and

San Francisco Bay Area.

herbalists in the

3

"Introduction

Many patients and students are enthusiastic to learn more about Chinese medicine. Presently, there are many English-language works about Chinese herbs and medical

theory.

We want to make

a contribution in other areas, such as prevention, diagnosis, ther-

and

apy,

practice.

and students,

who

lic

Apart from satisfying the enthusiasm of patients

we hope to arouse the interest of the American pub-

have never experienced the benefits of Chinese medicine.

Writing about Chinese medicine for a Western culture faces the twin hurdles of credibility and acceptability. al

that

many

known. Therefore,

in this

to heal them.

the

ca.

it is

simply foreign or

concentrate

on

little

the real-life sto-

and the herbs and methods

While readers may not understand

a for-

no problem in empathizing with those

have suffered and have been healed. (To preserve confiden-

tiality, fictitious

In

that

illnesses,

eign culture, they should have

who

is

book we

about people and their

employed

only natur-

Westerners harbor doubts or disbeliefs about Chi-

nese medicine. Part of the reason

ries

It is

summer

names of patients of 1968,

When young,

1 left

are used in the case histories.)

Hong Kong for college

had never been treated by

I

a

in

Ameri-

Western doctor

before except for inoculations and physical examinations required

by

my schools.

I

had grown up under the protection of Chinese

my parents), a fact that I had long taken for

herbs (and of course granted.

My first winter in America was very special. time

I

ever

saw snow. One afternoon, some

in the freshly fallen

State University.

next morning

I

snow

It

friends

was the and

I

first

played

outside our dormitory at Washington

We were not wearing any heavy clothing. The

could not get out of bed.

My joints ached, I felt My friends had to

extremely fatigued, and was short of breath. carry

me

to the hospital. After

ments with various

ma, but that

it

specialists, I

two days of

testing

was

my case was an enig-

told that

could be rheumatoid

arthritis. I

and appoint-

was hospitalized

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

4

week while

for a

the doctors administered treatment and observed

the results.

On the day that I was bill I

and asked the nurse

released,

was apprehensive about

I

desk

at the registration

owed. "Don't worry! Your insurance company

was the

I

had benefited from insur-

had always seen patients paying

my father in cash after each

Now,

treatment.

factor since I

and

was

that

tis

could see that health insurance was a great bene-

by

did,

I

should take the prescribed capsules, which con-

summer of

visiting

my constant companion.

became

my hospital stay.

my doctors that the arthritis could flare up again,

with agony. Rather than

dent on cortisone, which

had to take almost every Later,

time

did not have to pay a cent for

I

told

if it

I

first

tained cortisone. Since the early filled

will take care of

I

everything." This ance.

the

how much money

I

1969,

my life had been

me occasionally, the

Worse

carried with

yet,

me

I

arthri-

became depen-

wherever

I

went and

day.

transferred to the University of California at Berkeley,

I

would make a difference. The situation was recommended by one specialist to anoth-

believing that the climate

did not improve. er,

including a neurologist, an orthopedist, and a physical thera-

pist. I lost I

I

number of blood tests and X-rays that could not remember how many times I had to

track of the large

underwent.

I

answer the same questions about

walk to the nearest bus tives to drive I

The

me

realized that

stop,

I

relied

The

the costs, which must have

Then, disaster struck

could not

fit

my compassionate

it

my

my

was

I

faith.

a re-affirmation that

was possibly rheumatoid

arthri-

did not have to worry about

amounted

in the

kept

to a

autumn of

huge sum. 1970.

Within

knees had swollen to twice the normal into

rela-

months without any change

experts' final conclusion

My only consolation was that

my

on

my problem was grave, but I still

my case was an enigma, and that

of days,

medical history. Unable to

to the different specialists.

consultations lasted for several

in therapy.

tis.

my

shoes due to swelling.

1

size.

a

couple

My

feet

limped to the hos-

5

Introduction

pital

and was admitted immediately.

was frightened when the

I

doctors used a huge needle to extract the fluid from

next day, a Dr. Lee a

came

to administer treatment.

my knees. The He prescribed

heavy regimen of aspirin to be taken for two weeks during which

he would monitor

my condition

for fear of side effects.

My frustration had reached its peak. Aspirin was what had taken when the illness first started two years previously. Now I

it

seemed

that

I

was back

in the hospital, I

to the beginning.

was confined

about the future and

tain

to bed

felt

During those two weeks

most of the

depressed.

I

time.

I

was uncer-

had not yet written to

my family about the illness, thinking that all this would be over in just a few weeks. In my darkest hours I could hear myself murmur, "Dad,

I

wish you were here to heal me."

My body proved that aspirin. I

was out of the

it

hospital in

a gradually reduced dosage. last time.

case

was

After finding a miracle.

two weeks but continued on later, I saw Dr. Lee one

Three months

my health restored, he proclaimed that my

am

forever grateful to Dr. Lee for bringing

my life. It was a pity that I could not have found

happiness back to

him

I

could withstand the side effects of

earlier.

In 1971,

1

graduated and returned to

Hong Kong to

start

my

with my family, I received herbal my father for a couple of months. The formula he prescribed for my arthritis (see chapter 7) was aimed at eradicating the remaining "wind and dampness" trapped in my body, career. Shortly after reuniting

treatment from

which according addition,

the

body

I

to Chinese medicine

against

sudden changes

sures to environmental cold, ertion; get

is

the cause of arthritis. In

have been following his advice on prevention: protect

enough

rest;

in the weather; avoid long

expo-

wind and dampness; avoid overex-

and abstain from

alcohol. Since then,

only infrequent recurrences with diminished

I

have

intensity.

My experience with Western medicine was marked by suspense, frustration, endless testing and consultations, and high costs

which fortunately for me, were absorbed by insurance.

I

wanted

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH

6

to

OF CURES

know what caused my illness, but the specialists could not come

to a definite conclusion.

the illness vention.

I

wanted to change

from coming back, but

Had it not been for Dr.

never-ending

I

Lee,

circle of consultations

Chinese medical theory nature of the universe.

is

its

I

wound up

could have

in a

and drug dependency.

rooted in a philosophy based on the

The theory

served and accepted in

my habits to prevent

was offered no advice on pre-

as a

whole has been

original context.

largely pre-

Although

it

appears

out of date, one can easily appreciate the

wisdom

of prevention

and therapy accumulated over the

Through

my own expe-

rience,

I

,

too, have

medicine, and

come

millenia.

to appreciate the benefits of Chinese

am continually awed by its

mysterious wonders.

The number and diversity of patients bearing witness lend credibility

to a physician and to the medicine.

a foreign medicine takes

much more

than

The

that.

acceptability of

Chinese medicine

operates in a low-tech, low-cost, and low-profile environment.

Consequently,

it

does not create a dramatic impression

like

West-

ern medicine does. Despite constantly being refined, Chinese

theory has largely retained

ical

its

antiquity and symbolism.

preventive and therapeutic methods have

custom and ry, It

and

med-

folklore. This has created a

The

become part of Chinese

mystique about the theo-

a barrier of understanding for people of a different culture.

also poses a

communication problem for those

who want

to

acquire or transmit the knowledge.

The major achievements and treatment of

few

side effects

common

of Chinese medicine

illnesses. Its

lie

healing process generates

Chinese herbs have been analyzed

oratory to determine their chemical components.

support their therapeutic

This book

prevention

and no addiction to the medicine. During the

few decades, many

results

in

is

past

in the lab-

The published

effects.

organized as follows. Chapter

1

introduces the

characteristics and the theory of Chinese medicine. Chapters 2

through 6 recount actual situations based on

my

father's diary

and

7

Introduction

recollections over his sixty years of medical practice in Asia

America. In these stories

we

Chinese medicine and the circumstances under which

Chapter 7 presents ments.

The

a

list

and

illuminate the important aspects of

of herbal prescriptions for

it

works.

common

ail-

prescriptions are intended as a guideline for medical

practitioners

who want to refine their skills

prescriptions.

Chapter

in formulating herbal

8 discusses prevention

and

self-help,

and

some popular Chinese dishes and explains how to make special health

highlights the health values of delicacies.

This chapter also

foods using certain raw materials and herbs.

John Fung, 1994

Chapter

1

An Overview Of Medicine

Traditional Chinese

The Three Branches Of Traditional Chinese

Medicine

Chinese medical theory is based on the philosophy that regards life,

health,

and nature

as a delicate integrated

become ill when the equilibrium of this system is icine

is

used to restore the balance, but that

is

system.

disturbed.

We

Med-

only part of the cure.

The other part lies in prevention. Through prevention, we learn more about our physcial and emotional nature in order to maintain equilibrium within ourselves. To preserve external equilibrium, we learn how to live in harmony with nature and how its cycles of change affect our health. The more we appreciate these important relationships, the better health Traditional Chinese medicine

is

we shall enjoy.

comprised of three branches:

acupuncture, traditional orthopedics, and herbology. Acupuncture involves inserting hair-thin needles at various points

on the body

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

10

to heal

and

relieve pain.

According to

nels carries the "vital energy"

its

theory, a system of chan-

and blood throughout the human

body. The channels connect the internal organs with the superficial tissues thus making the body an organic whole. Certain points on the body surface represent the places of direct connection to a particular internal organ.

on the body,

By inserting needles

at the correct

points

the physician can regulate the flow of vital energy and

blood to that internal organ, thereby curing the ailment originat-

from

ing

its

source.

Traditional Chinese orthopedics

West.

With

It specializes in

fractures, the

by

virtually

unknown

in the

healing fractured bones and dislocated joints.

bones are

are applied externally

are also treated

is

set

by traditional methods, then herbs

and the area

traditional

bandaged. Dislocated joints

is

methods, followed by herbs to be

applied externally or taken orally.

The

third branch of Chinese medicine called herbology

parable to internal medicine due to age.

The practice

its

is

com-

broad and general cover-

involves prescribing materia medica, or medicinal

substances, found to have healing capabilities. (For the sake of simplicity,

materia medica will hereafter be referred to as herbs, since

a large portion of these medicinal substances are derived

The herbs are normally taken orally. other two branches also prescribe herbs for

plants.)

Chinese medical history

is full

Practitioners of the their specific cures.

of accounts of distinguished physi-

cians performing great feats in internal medicine. is

probably

Hua Tuo who

from

lived circa

200 A.D.

The most famous

He

is

known

to

have performed major surgeries of the head and the abdomen using herbal anesthesia.

Distinct Characteristics

Chinese medicine has several First, tice

it

stresses prevention.

over

a

long period,

it

distinct

and

practical characteristics.

Although prevention requires prac-

guarantees better health and a lower cost.

1

An Overview

of Traditional Chinese Medicine

1

Quite a number of Chinese herbs have preventive their effects are gentle

ents in ordinary

capabilities,

on the body. Many can be used

and by asking questions. Unlike Western tests, cultures,

X-rays, and the

Chinese physicians rely more on

nosis.

like,

feel,

diagnostic

is its

methods. Chinese physicians diagnose by observation,

no blood

as well as

8).

Another unique aspect of Chinese medicine smell,

as ingredi-

cooking to enrich the nutritional value

the taste (see chapter

and

feel,

touch,

practice, there are

to support the diag-

observation, and

com-

munication with the patient to form a judgment about causes and about what therapy to

more

institute.

Despite such traditional methods,

often than not, the results obtained

by Chinese physicians

are successful.

A third area that Chinese medicine aimed

at

known for is

treatment

body to provide it with more Through the ages, Chinese med-

strengthening the whole

ammunition icine has

is

to battle an illness.

developed gentle but effective cures. In contrast, West-

ern medicine isolates the cause of an a treatment as possible,

and applies

whether it be chemical,

type of direct intervention. In

more harmful than

illness,

many

surgical,

as strong

or another

instances, the treatment

is

the cure.

Chinese medical theory

is

based on a natural macroviewpoint

while Western medicine has developed into a sophisticated mechanical

and microviewpoint theory. The former stops while the

level

tures.

sees

latter includes cells

To account

body

organ

and even more minute struc-

for the origin of an illness, Western medicine

microorganisms such

ease,

at the

as viruses

and bacteria

as agents of dis-

or pinpoints the malfunction or degeneration of a specific part.

ease arises

On the other hand, Chinese medicine holds that diswhen

there

is

an imbalance of the environmental

ele-

ments and a disharmony of the organs. Because Chinese medicine does not see below the organ

level, it

the existence of microorganisms. tations of an ailment,

and

offers

It

can neither confirm nor deny

only deals with the manifes-

an explanation based on the func-

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

12

tional imbalance of the body. Since

microorganisms

person, only those with functional imbalances

infect every

fail

to defend

themselves.

Fundamental

Principles

Chinese medical theory tivity,

and

is

characterized

is

by symbolism and

rela-

based on a common-sense view of nature and the cos-

mos. Simplicity and beauty can be found beneath the layer of myth that envelops the theory.

Yin

and Yang

Yin and Yang are considered the two opposing fundamental cosmic forces responsible for

all

changes in the environment and

life

processes. Yin corresponds to things that are negative, passive, female, dark, cold, low-lying, contractive, descending, and the

while the opposite cine, the vital

instance, the

is

true for Yang.

As

like,

applied to Chinese medi-

organs also correspond to either Yin or Yang. For

kidney

Yin and Yang verse

is

is

considered Yin and the heart Yang.

are not absolute but relative forces. Since the uni-

in equilibrium,

one force cannot

exist

without the other.

When one becomes stronger, the other weakens. When one reaches its zenith, the other

of

is

at its nadir.

Hence, Yin contains the seed

Yang and vice versa. This assures that both forces stay in conThe eternal cycle of night and day is the premier exam-

stant flux.

ple of the

The caused

Yin/Yang concept.

pervasiveness of the Yin/Yang concept in Chinese thought it

to be quickly adopted in Chinese medicine.

Ym

is

to control the internal, lower, and front parts of the body, and

the external, upper, and back parts. Yin represents the (or matter) of the body, and

body

to

Yang

that a health}

essence

the vital functions. For the

perform properly, both must

This means

vital

said

Yang

whole

exist in the right balance.

body must be

in internal equilibrium.

3

An Overview of Traditional Chinese

Medicine

1

A body in stable equilibrium does not necessarily guarantee proper functioning. This

because the external environment

is

constantly changing, and can disturb the internal balance. ple

is

the sudden arrival of

stances, the

body

is

wind and

rain.

is

An exam-

Under normal circumHowever, when

able to adjust to these changes.

the internal equilibrium

is

lacking, such conditions

cold or a flare-up of arthritis, thus

some type of

may

cause a

intervention

necessary to restore the balance. For instance, in the winter

is

when

Yin dominates the environment because of coldness and fewer hours of sunshine,

many elderly persons may suffer from various

discomforts, such as the

body

requires a

body aches and

dominant Yang

the environment. Thus, herbs with

joint pains. In

effect to

Yang

such a

case,

maintain balance with

natures

may be prescribed

to relieve these discomforts.

Five Phases Another

of concepts the Chinese employed to understand their

set

surroundings

is

the Five Phases. Nature

basic elements: water, in great

abundance

originate

wood,

fire, earth,

is

seen to consist of five

and metal. These

in their natural forms. All

from them. The elements

order to maintain equilibrium.

man-made products

are in constant interaction in

When an element becomes domi-

nant or suppressed, the extreme conditions can be easily as in a desert (suppression of water),

ing volcano (dominance of

five exist

or near the

felt,

mouth of an erupt-

fire).

In normal conditions, a system of support and restraint

must

ships, or sequences.

gives rise to

allows

it

among

no one becomes dominant over This system has evolved into two types of relation-

the five elements

the others.

such

exist so that

The

wood by

first is

the generating sequence: water

nourishing

trees;

wood

generates fire and

to burn; fire reduces everything to ashes

and returns them

to earth; earth contains metals to be extracted; metal melts into a liquid like water.

The following diagram

illustrates this

sequence.

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

14

Wood

Water

Fire

Metal

Earth

Generating Sequence

The second

relationship

water extinguishes

and holds

it

fire;

known as

is

the restraining sequence:

wood (derived from trees) covers the earth

together; fire melts metal; earth

wood. This sequence

is

shown

dams

water; metal cuts

below.

Wood

Water

/

*-.

>

X

Fire

Earth

Metal

Restraining Sequence

The Five Phases as Applied to Chinese Medicine The cardinal premise of Chinese medical theory human body as a microcosm of nature. Through

the ages, the Chinese have developed

considers the

numerous

cor-

respondences associated with the Five Phases, some of which have

been applied in nature,

gins

in medicine.

While these correspondences

they have been successfully utilized to explain the ori-

and symptoms of diseases and to point to

Among

are abstract

most important

a direction oi cure.

is

the one that links the Five Phases

with the five organ-pairs. The

five organ-pairs arc: kidne) -blad-

the

der, liver-gallbladder, heart-small intestine,

spleen-stomach, and

king-large intestine. These correspond, respectively, to water,

wood,

5

An Overview of Traditional Chinese fire, earth,

1

and metal. Thus, the generating and

of the Five Phases

may

the elements of nature, in

Medicine

restraining sequences

be applied to the organ-pairs, which,

must perform

like

balanced integrated unit

as a

order to maintain normal functioning of the body. The follow-

ing diagram depicts the generating and restraining sequences of the organs. Liver-gallbladder

A

Kidney-bladder

l .

y.

i

Lung-large intestine ^-

Heart-small intestine

Spleen-stomach

Generating and Restraining Sequences of Organ-Pairs (Generating

^.,

The reasoning behind pair

is

Restraining

>

-

)

the correspondence for a given organ-

actually quite logical,

and

is

based on the function of the

organ-pair. Starting with the kidney-bladder/water correspon-

dence, the kidneys regulate the water content of the body. Excess

water ed

is

passed to the bladder for temporary storage, then excret-

as urine.

With

the liver-gallbladder/wood correspondence, the liver

The gallbladder likewise performed by the trunk

stores vitamins and other digested food nutrients. stores bile. This type of function

is

of a tree which stores nutrients.

With the heart-small essence absorbed

by

correspondence, the food

intestine/fire

the small intestine

is

distributed throughout

body via the blood stream under the pumping action of the heart. The functions of the heart and the small intestine enable the

the

food essence to ilar

rise

and spread throughout the body. This

to the property of fire

which

rises

is

sim-

and spreads.

With the spleen-stomach/earth correspondence, the stomach gathers and digests food. The spleen helps in the digestive process.

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

16

Both organs perform the functions of holding and containing the ingested food. This establishes the correspondence to earth

holds and contains Finally, in the

living

all

and non-living

which

things.

correspondence of lung-large intestine/metal,

open the body to the outside The lungs react with air and absorb the Qi from it, just like metals which react with air and the moisture in it when exposed. The correspondences associated with the Five Phases are not

the lungs and the large intestine

world.

limited to the organs.

Other parts of the body, even the emotions,

can be linked to the Phases as can phenomena in nature such the seasons. Attributes such as colors and tastes are

evidence.

the

The power by empirical

other inumerable correspondences (see table below). of these correspondences can readily be verified

among

as

An Overview

17

of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Correspondences Associated with the Five Phases

Wood

Water

Phases

Metal

Fire

Earth

Spleen

Lung

Stomach

L. Intestine

Mouth

Nose

Human Body Vital organs

Kidney

Liver

Heart

Paired organ

Bladder

Gallbladder

S.

Sense organs

Ears

Eyes

Tongue

Intestine

& Hair

Tissues

Bones

Ligaments

Arteries

Muscles

Skin

Secretions

Sexual

Tears

Sweat

Saliva

Mucus Sadness

Emotions

Fear

Anger

Joy

Pensiveness

Conditions

Withdrawal

Arousal

Excitement

Poise

Inhibition

Awareness

Primal

Active

Transcendent

Passive

Subliminal

Tastes

Salty

Sour

Bitter

Sweet

Pungent

External elements Winter

Spring

Summer

Late

Climate

Cold

Wind

Heat

Dampness

Dryness

Time

Midnight

Dawn

Noon

Late Afternoon

Dusk

Life Stage

Death

Birth

Growth

Maturity

Degeneration

Power

Consolidation

Expansion

Completion

Transition

Contraction

Directions

North

East

South

Center

West

Colors

Black

Green

Red

Yellow

White

Using the correspondence

table, different empirical relation-

ships can be observed and explained.

For example,

under wood, the following associations can be gallbladder, eyes, anger,

gallbladder are

is

in the

made with

column the

liver,

and the color green. Bile secreted by the

green in color;

when the liver malfunctions, the

examined for symptoms; and

liver

Summer

Autumn

Seasons

finally, individuals suffering

eyes

from

conditions are prone to anger.

The

restraining sequences can also be used to explain actual

symptoms. Continuing with the liver/wood example, restrains earth, a

sponding to

since

wood

weak liver will fail to restrain the spleen (correAs a result, yellow (corresponding to earth)

earth).

becomes dominant. Yellow eyes of a person with a

is

weak

often the color of the sclera in the

liver, as

the eyes also correspond to

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

1

wood. In

addition, since the liver

(metal), sadness (metal)

is

by

restrained

becomes dominant when the

Hence, an individual suffering

come with

(wood)

a liver condition can

the lungs

liver is

weak.

be easily over-

sadness.

In similar fashion, the generating sequences contribute to under-

standing disease processes. For example, a to give strength to the heart

flow resulting in

(fire).

weak

and the suppression of joy

fatigue,

(wood)

liver

fails

This leads to a slower blood (fire).

Conditions of other organs can likewise be analyzed by the Five Phase correspondences so that a

be obtained of a disease

more complete

picture can

as well as of the patient.

Qi

A sixth basic element, known as vital

lating freely in the

environment, Qi

ed into everything that has derive their its

Qi (pronounced

"chee"),

Qi from

Qi from

Qi from the

life

The Chinese have

thought to be incorporat-

An animal that eats the plants derives

air.

air.

The Qi

Similarly,

divided

Qi

humans

derive their

in every living thing dissipates life

span or longe\ity.

into different kinds to symbolize

various conditions in the external environment and in the

body. For instance, a

fire

when

the environment

neutralized

by

Qi

can increase in intensi-

If

the fire-Qi

fails

derived from vegetables and

to be fruits,

thirst,

bad breath,

constipation, sleeplessness, and canker sores

among oth-

the individual irritability,

It

hot and dry.

is

a cool type of

may

human

type of Qi can develop internally from

over-indulgence in fried or greasy foods.

ers.

the

including plants and animals. Plants

the plants and the

the air and food.

is

gradually and the rate of dissipation determines

ty

is

energy on which every living thing depends. Besides circu-

develop conditions such as

In another example, evil-Qi arises from poor sanitation (where

bacteria

and viruses

thrive);

it

can lead to serious ailment or disease

and must therefore be avoided.

9

An Overview

of Traditional Chinese Medicine

1

Qi also connotes the functional, active aspect of the body. The body itself is imbued with Qi as are the individual organs. Thus, when Qi is depleted without being replenished, disease will result.

Sources of Disease

According to Chinese medicine, there are three sources of disease: internal

due to disharmony of the organs, external due to imbal-

ance in the climate or environment, and trauma and injury. Vari-

ous kinds of Qi are used to describe internal disharmonies. For example, deficiency of kidney Qi indicates that the functional

normal physiological

aspect of the kidney

is

activity of that organ.

Treatment must therefore be aimed

insufficient for the

at replen-

ishing the kidney Qi.

External imbalance

is

related to the five climatic factors of cold,

wind, heat, dampness, and dryness (corresponding to water, wood, fire,

earth,

and metal respectively).

When one

environmental forces become excessive, disease instance, a rainy spell

may

thus giving rise to the

symptoms

that dispel the

of these

may develop. For

of arthritis. In this case, herbs

dampness can be prescribed. Besides the poor

environment, or contagious diseases which

its

more

cause dampness to invade the bones

factors, there exists evil-Qi representing

ness.

or

Herbs may then be used

climatic

sanitation, polluted

may

to strengthen the

bring about

body and

ill-

bolster

defense.

Trauma and

injury can result in loss of blood, and according

to Chinese medicine, loss of Qi. Treatment should be directed at

stopping the bleeding, after which, herbs

may

be prescribed to

replenish the blood and Qi.

In this chapter,

we have briefly covered the important aspects

and only some of the fundamental principles of nese medicine. Readers

who want to pursue

traditional

Chi-

this subject further

are referred to the texts listed in the bibliography.

Chapter 2

Canton 1930-1937:

My Medical Career Began

Where

Medical School Versus Apprenticeship

When

I

completed high school

author) wanted to

job security.

At

at eighteen,

work in the postal service

I

(the senior

because of the

that time, the postal service in the city of

Canton

was controlled by France. (China had been at the mercy of the European powers since her defeat by the British in the Opium

War of 1842.) ical.

I

passed the written examination but failed the phys-

The French doctor who examined me determined

that

I

had

a heart problem.

But,

more

I

was not concerned about

interested in finding a job.

study Chinese medicine. it

It

my heart problem for I was

My father then advised me to

was a respected profession even though

could not compare with the security offered by the

civil service.

My father had learned Chinese medicine in his spare time, and had gained experience

by apprenticing with

21

a practising herbalist.

Our

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

22

family had benefited from some of his prescriptions, one of which was Restore the Spleen Decoction (guipi tang) which strengthens the heart and nourishes the blood. larly for several

appetite

I

months and found

took the prescription reguthat

helped increase

it

my

and energy.

Apprenticeship used to be the only route to becoming a prac-

Chinese medicine. This was changing with the estab-

titioner of

lishment of medical schools in some major structured

program

cities.

Chinese medicine was the

in

The push

result of a

for a

broad

range of modernization policies initiated by the government and

some private organizations. The quest for modernization did not happen by awakening of China to external experienced defeat in the ful British

who

The

chance.

began when the Chinese

threats

Opium War at

the hands of the

possessed warships with the

power-

latest military tech-

nology of the Industrial Revolution. The awakening quickly turned into great humiliation as other

European powers such

Germany, and Russia moved

By

in.

1900,

all

the major coastal

were carved up into sectors where foreigners ed business under the protection of their

These

special privileges

were known

as France,

lived

own

cities

and conduct-

laws and troops.

as extraterritorial concessions.

They were in fact outright occupations by force that were legalized by treaties. Each of those treaties was signed after an incident of failed Chinese resistance against the intruders.

The Japanese military strength

later

by

entered the scene.

They demonstrated

their

defeating the Russian Baltic Fleet to take over

the Russian sectors in northeast China.

At

that time, Japan

was

the only country in the Far East to have successfully modernized.

Japan

later

became the

against China.

fiercest

and most brutal of

For the Chinese, World War

II

all

aggressors

did not begin in

September 1939 when German troops invaded Poland. earlier, in

July 1937,

when Japan

initiated a

It

began

massive military cam-

paign on the Chinese mainland. By 1942, shortly after Pearl bor, half of the Japanese

army was already

I

[ar-

stationed on Chinese

Canton 1930-1937: Where soil,

with a

region. tors

My Medical Career Began

total of six million

troops occupying the entire coastal

The Japanese troops had

and taken control of

all

23

liquidated

European

European

the

all

sec-

China.

interests in

In August 1945, the Japanese surrender and withdrawal from

China ended more than one hundred years of foreign tyranny. The period from

1

842 up to the end of World

War II

is

est and saddest part of Chinese history. Frankly,

that

China could survive

ling her

most important

as a nation territories

to I

me the dark-

did not think

with foreign powers control-

and

interests.

In addition to the external threats to her sovereignty, China's internal struggle for

modernization was protracted. In 1911, China

became

a republic after the

dynasty.

The

try

overthrow of the decadent Qing

revolution of 1911 could not save China.

was immediately thrown

into chaos

when

The coun-

regional warlords

asserted their power. The central government of the Nationalist Party ruled in name only. The formation of the Communist Party several years later split the country even further. The conflict between the two major parties later erupted into a civil war culminating in the Communist victory in October 1949. 1 can only

describe with tears the sufferings of the Chinese people during

those years

when wars,

tion, political chaos,

converged

at the

foreign aggression, government corrup-

economic depression, and hyper-inflation

same

all

time.

In the quest for modernization, Chinese medicine almost

became

a casualty.

Japan to study the return, they

Many

Chinese students went to Europe and

was thought

to

systems.

Upon

traditional

which

new technologies and political

were anxious to reform anything

hamper Chinese

progress. In 1929, a group of

recommended legislation The proposal was vigorously rejected at a national medical assembly later that year. The outrageous proposal was aimed at destroying a national heritage that had worked for so many centuries. Fortunately, the pragmatists gained returning medical graduates from Japan to abolish Chinese medicine.

the upper

hand over the

zealots. In 1933, the

government estab-

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

24

lished the Central Chinese Hospital for the systemization

and pro-

motion of Chinese medicine. This encouraged the establishment of

more medical schools

all

over the country. As a consequence,

Chinese medicine could be studied in a structured academic pro-

gram

rather than through apprenticeship.

In 1930,

1

passed the entrance examination and was admitted

Canton College of Chinese Medicine. The College was financed by a group of physicians and herb merchants. It operatto the

ed a four-story hospital where year.

There was

also an herb

all

new graduates

interned for one

farm on one corner of the campus.

The students learned how herbs were cultivated and processed. The course work lasted four years and included all branches of Chinese medicine.

chose to specialize in herbology.

I

The heavy emphasis on practical experience resulted in the students spending most of their time in the hospital and on the herb farm. In the hospital,

we

We

and applied therapy.

studied

effects

effects.

We

difficult skill to

herbs on

effects of

most herbs have multiple and over-

also learned

by combining

our professors diagnosed

observed the healing

the patients and discovered that

lapping

how

how to

produce

special healing

the herbs in various proportions.

master was controlling the effects of

in a single prescription because of the

number

The most

all

the herbs

of combinations

would perform experiments with herbs on one another. Through such experiments, I learned the fine details about the effects of herbs on different people under

possible.

Other students and

I

various conditions. This practical experience constituted the most

precious part of

my

medical education.

My training did not stop after graduation. mostly through

real-life

do not

guided by an exact theory or procedure.

Through

skills

the years,

1

is

gained

experimentation and empirical evidence.

In Chinese medicine, prescriptions

knowledge and

Knowledge

through

trial

I

follow a fixed pattern

constantly refined

and error with many

my

patients.

gained a great deal oi insight which increased

Canton 1930-1937: Where

My Medical Career Began

my success. Most of my

25

two consultations. My own skills notwithstanding, I have relied on the faith of my patients to allow me to perfect a cure. I have also relied on the were healed

patients

herbs which produce a gradual effect so that

I

after

can adjust ensuing

prescriptions accordingly.

my

During

school years, Western medicine had greatly

impressed the intelligentsia with dents up to date, our course

opments of the

in

new discoveries. To keep

its

work

also included

We were fascinated by the anatomy illustrated in the reading materials. How-

Western medicine.

human body

ever, dissection

as

was not performed

body was considered

our school because the

in

sacred in Chinese society.

strong objections against dissecting the

More

the various parts.

human body

as a natural

its

ment.

It

salary

teen dollars.

I

I set

up

my own private prac-

obtained a license from the city health depart-

cost fifteen Chinese dollars.

monthly

was around forty

During

dollars

that time, the average

and rent was about

fif-

charged forty cents per consultation. The herbs

which patients would buy with

my prescription from an herb store

nearby cost about the same.

Many patients

payment, and in such

simply waived the

ingly paid

necessi-

parts.

By War

In 1935, after one year of internship, I

also

solely for studying

whole and does not impose the

Private Practice Interrupted

Canton.

body

human

There were

importantly, Chinese medicine views the

ty of learning the minute details of

tice in

stu-

the latest devel-

cases,

I

more to show their appreciation,

in

could not afford the fees.

which

Others

case, I

will-

proud-

ly accepted.

My office measured about fifty feet by ten feet. A small enclosure

was

set

up

at

one end for conducting physical examinations

and for private discussions. Most consultations were done desk outside the enclosure where

I

at

my

performed regular diagnostic

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

26

There was no need for

routines.

the entrance so that

came

by

in

and

the wall.

too weak to

sat

I

a nurse or assistant.

knew how many patients

sat facing

there were as they

down to await their turns on a row of seats

On the opposite side, there was up. This office arrangement

sit

I

arranged

a

couch for patients

was

typical of the sim-

open, and personalized approach of this profession. Sitting

ple,

facing the entrance also gave ditions of

me an opportunity to

assess the con-

my patients through their postures as they approached

my desk. It

was customary for

a physician to display in the office the

presented by appreciative patients. In the beginning,

gifts

only

I

few that were given by some friends to make my office look As time went by, I accumulated many more from my patients. The gifts usually consisted of frames to be hung on the wall. The most popular was a set of Chinese calligraphy which translated had

a

nicer.

meant the reincarnation of Hua Tuo, the legendary Chinese physician of the second century.

The Japanese

aggression quickly spread southward. In

ber 1937, the capital city of Nanking resorted to guerrilla warfare. retreat

The

Chinese resistance had

fell.

central

government began

to the hinterland. The people were horrified to

the large-scale massacres and rapes committed in

Nanking. The

city of

Canton was now

bardment by the Japanese

Canton would soon

fall.

The

or to the British colony of British troops

my

air force.

rest of the

ited

is

little

ninety miles

bom-

doubt

that

tlee inland,

away where

might be able to deter the Japanese onslaught.

Hong Kong

1

left

with the

family

Alcohol Almost Destroys Alcohol

subject to daily

There was

medical practice and sought shelter in

its

learn about

by Japanese troops

population either had to

Hong Kong

Decem-

a

human

My Best Friend

invention tor adding

some

spice to

lite.

1

un-

and conscientious consumption can bring about appetite

Canton 1930-1937: Where

My

27

Medical Career Began

enhancement and better blood

circulation.

However, too much

can only do harm.

One I,

hot

summer

night in Canton,

my

Mok and

best friend

and a couple of other friends went to enjoy the cool breezes on

was

the water of Lychee Bay. This

a favorite pastime for ordinary

There were plenty of boats for

citizens in the city.

from small two-seaters to

ones for holding

large

hire,

parties.

ranging

After sun-

The calm water, the cool breeze, and the full moon together made a pleasant and romantic atmosphere. Occasionally, food peddlers on boats set,

the

passed

Bay was dotted with

by

these boats bearing lanterns.

selling fruits, beverages, fried clams, noodles,

porridge. If

one was

of musicians

in the

was waiting

and seafood

mood for music, a boat carrying a band

to serenade and play one's favorite tunes.

For those

who wanted

to stay close to shore, they could paddle

along the

embankment

lined with lychee trees

ripe for picking in the until nearly 3

A.M.

back with him to

The next day but looked very

summer.

Mok was

his

whose

were

We ate, drank, talked, and laughed half-drunk. We walked

more than

house to ensure

his safety.

Mok came to my office. He had tired.

fruits

The lower

part of his

a slight fever

body was

swollen.

He felt pain when urinating. Mok used to have some minor kidney problems. He told me that the night before, he took a cold shower before going felt cold. I

vated

and was awakened

to bed,

alcohol.

the swelling and the fever.

My immediate concern was to reduce I

initially.

him a prescription to strengthwater from his body. It worked as

gave

en the kidneys and clear the

However, he came back

condition. This time, his face and eyes

no

because he

thought that he had caught a cold, which was aggra-

by too much

expected

later

after three

days in worse

were swollen, and he had

appetite. I

consulted

my former teacher, Professor Chang. After exam-

Mok, he concluded that it was a case of alcohol poisoning of the kidneys. The water accumulated in the body was due to malfunction of the kidneys. A weak kidney would fail to restrain

ining

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH

28

the heart, according to Chinese medicine, and a

weak

easily

develop into heart and

cinnamon twig

prescription containing

prob-

eucommia

tralizing the alcohol

of the kidneys.

a

(gui zhi\ codonopsis (dang

(du zbong), cornus (sban zhu yu), and ginger

(gan jiang) as the main ingredients.

The formula was aimed

neu-

at

poisoning and restoring the Yin-Yang balance

The herbs produced

watery stools for several days. it

liver

were not treated immediately. Professor Chang wrote

if it

sben),

also lead to

liver.

Mok's case could lems

would

OF CURES

took almost a month. Later,

and

Mok gradually recovered although Mok recalled how bad he felt, and

had actually thought that he would learned about the great

a great deal of urination

damage

From

die.

this experience,

I

that excessive alcohol can render,

even to an occasional drinker, although

Mok s case was exceptional

due to kidney complications.

A White Lie Prevents The Breakup Of A Family One

late

afternoon just as

I

was about

woman came

to

end

my work day, a cou-

They seemed to have been arguing heatedly. The younger woman sat down, wiping her eyes with a handkerchief. The man was visibly angry. He and the elderly woman asked if I knew about the "white flower ple

and an elderly

disease."

I

into the office.

did not. However, since Chinese medicine

symbolism, the disease might well be

a

common

is

so rich in

one which

1

had

learned under a different name. Sensing that this might be a confidential matter,

1

invited the

man and

the elderly

woman

into the

enclosure to better understand the situation. 1

learned that

it

was

a family

problem

ple were newlyweds. The elderly

Alter the

honeymoon,

the

1

had to

woman was

husband discovered

resolve.

The cou-

the man's mother. thai the wife

was

not a virgin because he did not see any blood immediately after the first

sexual intercourse. tradition that the

The man

woman

is

felt

betrayed

It is

a long-held

Chi-

supposed to keep her virginity to

Canton 1930-1937: Where

demonstrate good

was

My

faith to the

man

she

is

to marry.

also frustrated because his wife refused to

thing.

29

Medical Career Began

The husband

admit or deny any-

He and his mother wanted me to confirm thakthe wife indeed

had the "white flower disease," which

that this

they understood, would

What should I do?

explain the absence of blood.

away and say

as

was not

my specialty.

I

could turn them

However,

I

realized

that a physician has a special social responsibility in traditional

Chi-

nese society. I

asked them to leave the enclosure so that

younger

could invite the

woman in for a private talk. The wife was very frank.

admitted that her

husband

first

She

marriage had ended with the death of her

in another province

did not have the courage to

wanted

I

some four

tell this

years ago. However, she

to her second husband. She

me to keep the secret and to persuade the husband to keep would be

her in the family. She also pledged that she the second

husband

faithful to

whom she loved dearly.

My medical duty suddenly took on the new dimension as arbitrator. I

had

just received the trust

by

ical

profession

me

previously.

a troubled family.

They

trusted

respected in our community.

save this family

from

vailing traditions

and

me

faith

bestowed to the med-

Nobody in this family knew

because herbalists were very

My compelling sense of duty was to

a potential breakup.

and medical

must disregard pre-

I

technicalities.

The answer

problem was already provided by the husband. All

was

to confirm

it

although

I

I

to this

needed to do

doubted very much that such a

dis-

ease existed. I

talked to both parties again separately.

sible existence of the

pointed out the pos-

"white flower disease" which might

date the proof of a female's virginity. But the

I

most important thing for

a family

is

invali-

also

emphasized that

to love

and care for each

I

other despite doubts and difficulties. Both parties accepted points readily.

them and

my

They agreed that they should put this matter behind toward building a happy family. The

direct their energies

husband asked

how much

he

owed me.

I

did not feel

I

should

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

30

charge them any insisted that

I

fee.

However, he paid one Chinese

should accept

dollar

and

it.

A few months later, the mother of the husband stopped by and happily reported that her daughter-in-law was pregnant. Shortly

Hong Kong, I learned with great dison which they lived had been decimated by bombs. I prayed that they had escaped the ravages of war, but thereafter I never had any news of them. before leaving Canton for

tress that the street

Chapter 3

Hong Kong 1938-1939: Temporary Shelter From War Resident Physician and Private Practice

My

entire family fled to the British

colony of

Hong Kong in

January 1938. In October that year, Canton

fell.

A contin-

Hong Kong was now facing the army within binocular 's distance on the Chinese mainJapanese land. Some kinds of foodstuff had to be rationed in Hong Kong. gent of British forces guarding

Electricity ial

was cut most of the

nights to protect the city

from

aer-

into December Harbor and unleashed an all-

bombardment. This tense standoff continued

1941

when Japan

attacked Pearl

out offensive against the European forces stationed in Asia.

Kong

fell

in

December

Hong

1941, so did other major cities in South-

east Asia.

Having been dislocated from Canton, vate practice in

Kowloon

all

over again in

Hong Kong.

District in 1938.

Most

31

of

I

had to

I set

up

start

my pri-

my home office

my patients

could not pay

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

32 their fees

became

due to the depressed economy.

a free clinic for the poor.

I

My private practice

therefore joined the

Tung Wah

Group of Hospitals as a resident physician. This enabled me to make a living and maintain my private practice in the evenings and on the weekends.

A Longtime Discomfort

Hemorrhoid

Is

Hemorrhoid

an inflamed tissue that develops close to the anus.

Many

is

adults are affected

by hemorrhoids. The common causes

include anal infection, straining during bowel movements, and

intra-abdominal pressure resulting from pregnancy. Minor cases

produce itching and

slight bleeding;

more

serious ones

may require

surgery to remove the hemorrhoid.

He used

Mr. Lau had had a mild hemorrhoid for a long time. to treat

it

externally with Chinese herbs. There

dard ones available

powder or

paste

at the

herb

store.

were

The medicine

form which could be applied

several stan-

existed in either

to the inflamma-

such remedies produced a soothing and gradual heal-

tion. Usually,

ing effect. However, the hemorrhoid often developed again in the

same location

me

for a I

after a short

permanent

period of

relief.

So Lau came and asked

cure.

discovered that Lau did not pay attention to personal hygiene.

He did not bathe regularly, especially during winter. He liked barbecued and peppery foods which invariably provoked heat body.

An

increase in heat

would thus cause inflammation

in the

of the

Lau described himself as a carnivore tor he The constipation that he often had attested to his unbalanced diet. Lau complained that when the hemorrhoid was just starting to heal, the straining during bowel movements hemorroidal

tissue.

disliked vegetables.

would open

the old

wound and

out to Lau that the answers to

a

cause bleeding again.

permanent cure

lay in

1

pointed

changing

his old habits.

Meanwhile,

I

prescribed

some herbs

inflammation by controlling the heat

that

in the

would reduce

body.

A

the

gentle laxa-

Hong Kong

1938-1939: Temporary Shelter

From War

33

to soften the stool. Lau took the prescription more than two months and gradually changed his dietary and hygiene habits. The hemorrhoid showed signs of healing. I cautioned Lau that hemorrhoids do not go away easily and that it would take a long time for a permanent cure.

was included

tive

regularly for

Some

Interesting Facets

Of Superstition

many practitioners of traditional medicine, a who wanted to consult an herbalist had difficulty in decid-

Because there were patient

ing

whom to go to. Usually, patients based their selection on per-

sonal experience,

word

of mouth, or they just went to the physician

in the

neighborhood. Quite a few patients employed other

esting

methods of

inter-

selection.

The Buddhist temple used

to be a popular place to seek help.

Believers could ask for divine advice in locating the best physician

by kneeling in front of the altar and talking to the gods. Then they would pick up a cylindrical container which held a few dozen wooden sticks with a number carved on each, and shake the container until one stick came out. The number on the chosen stick would point to a piece of printed advice which the believer could ask a priest or a specialist at the temple to explain.

The lived,

advice usually indicated in

how many

which direction the physician

strokes there were in the Chinese character of

the physician's surname, or whether the surname character contained certain desired parts. Indeed

many of my own patients

asked

me if I lived in the east relative to their residences, and some were happy to find me because the character of my surname contained two

strokes

on the

left,

which meant water, often found

to be

desirable.

While some express condescension toward such patients for their superstitious beliefs, I reserve

edge

is

constantly expanding.

judgment

Many

in this regard.

Knowl-

theories or explanations

we

hold today as reasonable are waiting to be disproved or overthrown in the future.

The human mind

has a limited capacity for under-

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

34

standing everything surrounding us.

be able to find a definite answer time goes on and

for;

new knowledge

is

Some things we shall never many others will unfold as

acquired.

on

Faith and belief are often founded

They

also vary according to the

sesses at a given time.

some

our

in

own

time

—

and thunder,

that an individual posin ancient times

believe that lightning

—even

and thunder were

Now that we know the cause of

an expression of God's anger. lightning

knowledge

For example, people

culture and tradition.

we brand this

ancient belief as superstition.

modern example, many people believe that technology is the solution to all of our problems. Some even believe that computers will save the world. I would not be surprised if some pop-

To

cite a

we

ular beliefs

hold today were to be considered preposterous a

few years from now. In the tle

whether we

will

final analysis,

we need something

standpoint,

it

should matter very

be proven right or wrong.

From

lit-

a practical

to believe in to keep us

moving

forward.

A Ticket To Vietnam The Tung Wah Group

of Hospitals in

tions with other hospitals established in Southeast Asia.

the city of

Cholon

many years,

I

Hong Kong

had connec-

by overseas Chinese

in

Vietnam wanted to

hire

two

physicians.

in

For

Southeast Asia had been a favorite place for Chinese

immigrants. Furthermore, the small island of

Hong Kong

not possibly survive should the Japanese decide to attack

where should applicants.

living

had learned that the Cantonese Hospital

I

seek refuge? So

I

applied for the job amid

1

could

it.

Then

13 other

Candidate selection was administered by the Tung

Wah

Hospital.

The

first

applicants. cal

I

written examination eliminated the great majority ot

was among the

examination held

convalescence

at

six finalists

lung

room where

Wah

1

who went

lospital.

We

tor the practi-

were taken to

tour patients were staying.

We

a

were

Hong Kong

1938-1939: Temporary Shelter

horn War

35

given an hour and a half to diagnose and write a prescription for

each patient. patients

The only

restriction

was

we

that

could not ask the

any questions. This of course did not correspond to the

real-life situation,

but

guessed that the examiners wanted to see

I

how experienced we were with

respect to other

methods of diag-

nosis.

carefully observed,

I

of each of the patients. fering ease.

her.

a

first

one was

a middle-aged

from

diarrhea.

third

was an

arthritis. I

male suf-

a liver dis-

younger woman whose menstrual problems

The

sudden flare-up of

ering

The

touched, smelled, and read the pulse

from high blood pressure and recovering from

The second was

had weakened a

felt,

elderly

woman suffering from

The fourth was

explained in detail

a small

boy recov-

my diagnoses, and wrote

down the prescriptions according to my judgments regarding these four cases.

Two months later, the Tung Wah Hospital informed me that I had been

had to assume duty

selected. I

Hong Kong on

as

soon

as possible.

Christmas eve in 1939 with Dr. Leung

the other applicant selected. There

we were, two

bachelors leav-

ing war-torn China to seek a better future in Vietnam.

occurred to us that

we would be staying there for the

of our careers.

We

would soon be

over,

private practices.

left

I left

who was

It

had never

greater part

our families behind hoping that the war

and that we would come back to resume our

Chapter 4

Saigon 1939-1 969:

Home Away From Home The Chinese

Settlers In

All the major

cities

ulations, over

Southeast Asia

of Southeast Asia have large Chinese pop-

twenty million

in total.

A significant portion

can trace their origins to the coastal provinces of southern China.

A great majority have settled in Southeast Asia for generations. Through intermarriage with settlers

the native population, the Chinese

have been assimilated into the local communities. In

most have adopted native surnames and become Vietnam and Singapore

countries they live

in.

where the Chinese

settlers

As

are

fact,

citizens of the

two exceptions

maintain a more distinct identity.

in the rest of Southeast Asia,

established various businesses

and

Chinese

settlers in

Vietnam

industries. Consequently, they

controlled a significant part of the local economy. This led to social conflicts

which

resulted in legislation designed to enhance the eco-

nomic power of the

natives. In

Vietnam, relations between Chi-

37

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

38

nese settlers and natives were

more harmonious compared

to other

countries in the region.

When

I

arrived in Saigon in late 1939,

was surprised by the

1

sprawling Chinatown of Cholon whose population was around

two million. Downtown Cholon was not much different from Canton for it was easily immersed in Chinese culture and tradiVietnam was part of French Indochina

tion.

a territory of the

ister

It

was

officially

French Union. The French had established

government

seat of

then.

in the

twin

cities

their

of Saigon-Cholon to admin-

the southern part of the country.

My long thirty-year stay in Vietnam left me with many happy memories. The happy ones are related to

as well as sad

my suc-

my marriage to Jing and the raising of our friends with whom I remain in contact today. The sad memories include my witnessing the difficult cess in private practice,

four children, and to

many

birth of the Republic of

South Vietnam, the protracted war with

the Vietcong, the failure of the massive

American

the degeneration of the Republic leading to

its

intervention,

and

eventual downfall

in 1975.

The Chinese

Slave Workers

Shortly after the Pearl Saigon.

Harbor

One day, a jeep and three trucks arrived at the front

of the Cantonese Hospital. preter to be

came

in

on duty

wanted us to

A Japanese officer with a

and asked to see

that day.

treat

Through

a resident physician.

the interpreter,

one hundred and

being off-loaded from the trucks.

and asked to sign

at

I

I

ing that they

in

two

local inter1

happened

sixty people

who were

was given

list

a

already

of their

names

the bottom. 'Hie interpreter then delivered a

would be shot

After the officer

entrance

learned that they

short speech in Cantonese to the sick people and gave

housed

swept into

attack, Japanese troops

left,

1

if

a

stem warn-

they tried to escape.

immediately ordered these people to be

halls of the hospital.

We did

not have enough beds

Saigon 1939-1969:

for this tresses

Home Away From Home

39

sudden influx of patients and had to make do with mat-

on

the floor. These people were male captives, mostly from

Canton. They were mainly suffering from malnutrition, dysentery,

and

limit for

fever.

one

The

entire

resources of the hospital were stretched to the

week as we attended I managed to talk

my spare time,

In

to them.

to the majority of these

A Mr. Kwan told me that he and his wife were captured from a street in Canton during the Japanese occupation. A day captives.

later,

together with other captives, they were led to a Japanese

transport ship and set military

was.

I

camp

After reaching Saigon, he was put in a

sail.

He

worker.

as a slave

asked the captives to write

had no idea where

down

the

his wife

names and addresses

of their relatives so that the hospital might be able to contact

them

later.

The Japanese that the

officer

came back

men had recovered.

after a

week when he

learned

My tears streamed down as I watched

my countrymen return involuntarily to their cruel captors. I cursed myself for not being able to do anything more than provide cure

and comfort.

My New Practice In Cholon When World War

II

ended

in

August 1945,

whether to return to Canton to resume discouraged to learn that the

civil

I

thought about

my private practice. I was

war in China had

flared

up again

between the Communists and the Nationalists. Furthermore, had already established ing

my five years

if I

wanted

to join

The owner of an herb him as a partner. I agreed

days of discussions.

The arrangement was house

with the patients dur-

as a resident physician.

firm in Cholon asked after several

a solid reputation

I

typical: the

office for the physician

patients thus enhancing

in-house office to

its

make

it

whose

business,

herb shop provided an in-

reputation could attract

more

and the physician wanted an

more convenient

for the patients to

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

40

The

obtain herbs after consultation.

consultation fees

would be

pocketed by the physician, while the charges for the herbs would

go to the shop owner. The name of

herb shop was "hundred

this

we had

complete shop," implying that

everything the patients

needed.

Our business picked up gradually. The clientele grew to include many Vietnamese who used Chinese medicine, and as a result, my Vietnamese improved.

A couple of years

owner, ran into some financial in the

later,

Kwui, the shop

my savings An employee

difficulties. I invested

herb store and became co-owner with Kwui.

of the herb shop suggested that

devote one afternoon a week to

I

providing free consultations. So

I

did

on every Wednesday

after-

noon. The kindness and goodwill of the free consultations generated a high

many

volume of business

for the herb store. This encouraged

other practitioners to follow

suit.

We might have sacrificed

some, but the benefits to society and ourselves were beyond measure.

my

Running an herb shop while maintaining quickly taxed

my energy to the limits.

making the purchasing decisions and

I

left

different

Hong Kong. The

quotations. In between consultations,

final price.

Through

this

I

salesmen representing

China was going through

We

effects,

a

week. They

and gave us price

found time to inspect and needed, and negotiate the

also learned about the conditions that

I

affected the supply of herbs.

a

the herbs were

acquired a first-hand knowledge of herbs

their different grades.

relatively stable.

I

how much we

taste the samples, decide

and

all

import houses came to our shop twice

brought samples, explained the healing

on

the accounting, personnel,

and inventory management to Kwui. Nearly imported from China via

medical duties

therefore concentrated

I

was impressed by the

a difficult period,

its

tact that

although

export of herbs was

had only encountered infrequent shortages for

tew kinds ot herbs.

My

private practice and herb business prospered.

main' friendships and business associates. ring their acquaintances to me.

the key to successful practice

I

is

My

1

developed

patients kept refer-

learned through experience that to

empathize with,

^\nd care tor

Saigon 1939-1969:

Home Away From Home

my patients and their families. me. The

trust in

initial

In return they plaeed their faith and

patient-doctor relationships developed nat-

urally into lasting friendships. It ful

41

my

is

conviction that a success-

medical practice requires the three ingredients of care,

and

which must

trust

I

realized that

exist

was

I

a

between the physician and the

most fortunate person when

around 1944. Love for Cantonese opera brought us

common

interest also gave

night at her mother s house. all

the love songs

were married

I

I

me

a

good excuse

met Jing

together.

Our

to visit her every

my feelings for her through find in Cantonese music. We

could possibly

as I did.

patient.

conveyed

a year later. Jing's family

about the same time

I

faith,

had

settled in

Her mother was

Vietnam

a midwife

at

and oper-

own business next door. We later had four wonderful chilwe became naturalized citizens of South Vietnam, and made Cholon our home away from home. ated her

dren. In the late 1950s,

Fever And Diarrhea: Children's

Common Ailments

Fever accompanied by diarrhea was a children in Cholon. There were er

many reasons.

promoted the multiplication of

ease.

common

insects

ailment

First,

among

the hot weath-

and the spread of

dis-

Second, food peddlers abounded, and attracted children with

pocket

money to

minated by traditional

often

flies

and

became

spend.

Much of the food sold was

and other

insects.

Third, frequent celebration of

religious festivals involved feasting,

sick

from too much

easily conta-

and children

eating. Fourth, small children

were often given powdered or canned milk rather than being breast fed. Refrigerators w^ere

not

common household

items at that time,

so children were sometimes given milk that had gone bad in the

hot weather.

One

case that

I

recall

was the four-year-old son of

a Mr.

and

Mrs. Pan. The boy was suffering from fever and diarrhea, and had

been treated by another physician with no improvement. The diar-

two hours with the passing of watery The boy looked very weak because most of what he ate

rhea occurred almost every stools.

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

42

could not be retained. The diarrhea and occasional vomiting also complicated the treatment procedure

as the prescription

had to be

taken orally and might not be absorbed by the digestive system.

Something had to be done to strengthen the child and stop the diarrhea.

I

boy

told the parents to feed the

small quantities of thin rice soup with

with no meat and

oil

at

hourly intervals with

some sugar added. The soup

could thus be easily absorbed by the diges-

boy seemed to be gaining strength. Then a small dosage of prescription was given to stop the diarrhea and cool the fever. The hourly feeding continued for two days, followed by more normal feeding with some fish and vegetables added. The prescription was given three times a day. Within a week the boy was restored to health. tive system.

After several feedings, the

After the boy's recovery, his grandparents invited

home

for tea.

I

learned that their family had a large

me

raw

to their

material

import and export business. The grandfather also operated a

local

He later published some good comments results. my healing Such recommendations by an influenabout tial family like the Pans boosted my credibility. Later, I became their family doctor and the boy became my godson as an expresChinese newspaper.

sion of gratitude

from

his parents.

My Longest Day in a Flu Season Influenza

is

a contagious disease that strikes in population centers

around the world. In San Francisco, we occasionally experience particularly severe flu season.

cannot compare with what sity,

I

saw

in

we

a

see in

America

Vietnam with regard

to inten-

But the

flu that

frequency, and spread.

During

my thirty years of

the flu struck

practice in the

one or two times

a

\

ear.

Saigon-Cholon

The major

factor

area,

was poor

sanitation, typical of a developing country. The occurrence of the tin

followed the pattern of seasonal changes, appearing usually

Saigon 1939-1969: in the

spring

developed

1 lomc

Away From Home

when growth

began.

a high fever in a

A

43

who

person

caught the

matter of hours. Other

flu

symptoms

included headache, joint pain, coughing, runny nose, phlegm, and

an alternating sensation of heat and

chills.

receded swiftly in a couple of days.

The

After treatment, the flu flu

epidemic in the city

usually lasted about three weeks. There were few fatalities as a direct result of the flu.

One day woke up

in

March

of 1960 at the height of the flu season,

I

my morning routine.

I

A.M. and hurried through

at 5

stopped by the bedside of that her fever at the door.

was under

Some

my youngest daughter to make

control.

sure

There was already a commotion

had arrived and were waiting outside.

patients

One

of the three servants in the household rushed to the door and

told

them

to wait quietly, for the doctor

was not ready

yet.

My

two teenage sons were up by this time. They went outside to count the patients and kept them in line. Around 6 A.M., one son reported that there were already over twenty patients outside. to let to

them

in.

The patients

spilled over into

our

living

I

told

room next

my home office, and thus began my longest day. The average

fifteen

The charge was monthly wage of

consultation lasted for ten minutes.

Vietnamese piastres

as

compared with the

seven hundred piastres for a live-in servant. For each patient, scribed herbs for one day's use.

next day,

I

would be

When the patient came

able to see the effects of the herbs

dition of the patient. This

would allow me

prescription and finalize the cure. is

him

flu,

When treating the

to relax the body,

and

pre-

back the

and the con-

to perfect the second

to reduce the fever, restore the balance of the

rupted by the

I

body

flu,

the goal

functions dis-

finally to strengthen the

body to enable a swift recovery. At 7 A.M., one of our maids accompanied three of our four children to school. My wife carried on the job of attending to the waiting patients. The living room was still crowded. At 8:00 A.M., an employee at the herb store came and informed me that many

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

44

were waiting

patients

to the herb store

there.

which was only two blocks away. home. on our youngest one who was now up and

Shortly before 9 A.M., I

went back

to check

playing in bed.

should be the

I

My wife asked the latecomers to go

finished with the last patient at

I

wrote a prescription and told

one to

last

finish off her fever.

me that she might have caught the flu, too. which would strengthen her body grabbed the newspaper and waiting at

at

the door.

the front.

I

was

It

left

I

my wife

Then

the

prescribed

that this

cook

some herbs

to guard against the

for the herb store.

told

flu. I

A "cyclo" was

a tricycle with a covered passenger seat

usually took a cyclo to the herb store so that

I

could

my

spend a few quiet moments browsing the newspaper before

day began. ing room.

On my way out the door, a maid was cleaning the liv-

My wife was collecting the cash in the drawer to deposit

in the bank.

started

I

The

five

working immediately

after arriving at the

herb

store.

employees were already busily packaging the herbs for

who saw me earlier at home. The morning went by quicktook a one-hour lunch break at one of the many restaurants

patients ly. I

nearby.

The wife

of the restaurant

owner came

to

my

table

and

asked for a prescription, as did a couple of her employees. After lunch, office

I

went back

hour ended

at

By that time, everyone at the store was One employee had come down with a fever,

6 P.M.

completely exhausted. all

the others needed I

some strengthening

took the same pcdicab

were already waiting there

by the herb

office hour.

home to

in the living

store

join

herbs, including myself.

my

fever

was gone. For the next tew days, we

was happy

cooked with some on the

fish,

side.

patients

room. They had been diverted

dinner.

I

Some

employees shortly before the end

came

vegetables

family.

spent another hour treating patients

I

My

to the herb store to face the long line again.

to see

our youngest one

at

at

my

ot

home. Then

the table.

I

[er

only gave her nee gruel

minced beet or pork, and some steamed

She also had some orange,

pear, or banana.

Saigon 1939-1969:

Home Away From Home

45

This light but balanced diet helped her recover.

would only

ing the recovery period

mon

A regular diet dur-

invite the fever back, a

occurrence in small children.

After dinner, before another patient could catch me,

and

com-

I

my

wife

dashed off to the Cantonese Expatriate Association a few

blocks away.

many

We frequented this club for recreation. Among their enjoyed singing Cantonese opera while being

activities, I

accompanied by a group of amateur instrumentalists. As expected,

some

friends

came

to

me and

requested prescriptions.

Some

flu whom I did not know also interrupted my evening. A few of them were surprised at my sudden burst of

people struck by the

temper for which

ended around returned

10:30.

The

sorry afterward.

I felt

Then we went out

home around

1

1:30,

activities at the

for a noodle snack, and

only to find yet more patients wait-

ing to see me. Finally at midnight, after the last patient had

was

able to relax in tranquility

club

and replenish

left, I

my energy for anoth-

er grueling day.

Heat The

In

A Source Of Many Discomforts

The Body:

climate of Southeast Asia

ity for

most of the

human body and genic factors of

year.

are

The

is

characterized

by heat and humid-

heat and humidity permeate into the

known

in

Chinese medicine

Heat and Dampness. In

this

as the

patho-

type of climate, salty

and peppery foods are desirable because they stimulate the appetite

which is dulled by the hot weather. Peppery food dispels the Dampness in the body. However, the hotness of pepper increases the Heat. The excess heat is not an illness but is enough to cause

many

kinds of discomfort. Conditions

commonly

seen include

canker sores, constipation, hemorrhoid itching, nose bleeds, sleeplessness,

and emotional

ple drink iced water

However,

irritation.

and

To

resolve these conditions, peo-

eat juicy fruits, especially

certain kinds of tropical fruit increase

watermelon.

both Heat and

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

46

Dampness

One

in the body.

but hate the discomfort

it

such

fruit

durian.

is

Other such

creates.

I

used to

like

it

pineapple

fruits are

and coconut which tend to promote Dampness. Excess Heat in the body

a

is

common

condition not limited

to tropical countries. In America, people like to eat barbecued and

deep-fried foods, roasted nuts, potato chips, and the are

cooked or processed

in direct contact

with

fire

and

like.

These

a process

oil,

that incorporates another pathogenic factor, Fire, into the food.

After being absorbed into the body, Fire immediately causes

To quench

the thirst, beer or

However, Heat

in the

some type of iced beverage

body cannot be

dispelled easily just

is

thirst.

desired.

by drink-

ing cold beverages. Eating juicy fruits such as watermelon, pear, orange, or grapefruit over a period of several days proves to be the best method.

To reduce

the absorption of Fire into the body, steam

cooking should be employed since

it is

water that comes into direct

contact with the food thus weakening the Fire.

It

should be men-

tioned that drinking coffee also promotes Heat because coffee

beans are processed by roasting which allows Fire to be incorporated into the beans.

Sometimes excess Heat can seek treatment. Mr.

dence

in

Cholon.

Chen was

One

persist

such that a person has to

a bellboy in a hotel near

evening he came by and told

my

me

could not swallow any food due to pain near the throat.

and had no temperature when

not appear

ill

However,

could see that his eyes were red, his

and

red,

I

and

showing no

I

his

I

when

it,

were swollen

I

him

concluded that he Had

inspected the inside of his

mouth and

yellow fur which

complaint about not being able to

taste certain foods.

sores.

His tongue had

uvula was swollen and there was

touched

did

a thick

saw some canker lis

He

his forehead.

signs of organ malfunction. After questioning

excess heat in the body.

1

lips

that he

could smell his bad breath. His pulse was normal,

about the food he ate for the past week,

confirmed

I felt

resi-

he indicated that

it

trying to swallow food.

a red blister

on

it.

When

1

was the same pain he experienced

Saigon 1939-1969: I

Home Away From Home

punctured the

the blood.

Then

I

blister

case of excess heat. ate

with

I

lots

I

advised

him

clear the

fruits. I also

American ginseng

(xi

Heat and moisten the

Heat discomfort has long bred try in

gave him a pre-

yang

shen), glehnia

licorice (gan cao),

throat.

a significant

consumer indus-

China and Southeast Asia. In Canton, the "cool

on many busy

pain

that he should balance the spicy

ophiopogqn (mai men dong), and

which would

The

explained to him that his was an extreme

of vegetables and

scription consisting of

(sba shen),

with an acupuncture needle to release

gave him a cup of cold water to drink.

was gone immediately. food he

47

streets offered

cups of black tea

at a

tea" shops

low price. The

tea was made from a standard formula of twenty-four kinds of

herbs that clear excess Heat. In Saigon, the streets were lined with stands selling iced sugarcane juice and other fruit juices.

set

In

Hong Kong, resourceful entrepreneurs

up

jukeboxes, television sets,

of "cool tea" shops

and comfortable

chairs.

Others

offered hot and tasty fried bean curd and curried fried squid

would

inevitably increase the

which

Heat of the body. Thus, customers

intending to "cool off" were tempted to order the tasty hot

stuff.

This would of course increase the Heat, hence driving them to

consume more "cool

tea."

This was certainly a devious

way

to

attract business. fruits which can be used to neurecommend the popular Chinese delicacy of dried green beans and sliced kelp. These two ingredients are available in most oriental food markets. The delicacy is prepared by boiling together (with a bit of rice if preferred) in water for several hours to make a nutritious broth. Adding sugar makes a tasty snack. Many people like to add crushed ice to make a cold

Apart from vegetables and

tralize

Heat,

drink. Apart

I

would

from

like to

this delicacy,

water chestnuts are also effective

in neutralizing Heat. After peeling the skin, these can

be eaten raw,

or chopped into small pieces to be cooked with other vegetables.

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

48

Herbs To Maintain Body Equilibrium Mrs.

Wong was

ly for a "tune

one of many patients

up"

prescription.

Her

who consulted me

regular-

physical condition was very

When the rainy season came, she experienced fatigue and joint pain. When the weather turned coolsusceptible to weather changes.

er,

she had to wear

den bursts of

chill

more

clothing than usual to suppress the sud-

originating within the body.

she was also afflicted

by paleness and

these routinely disappeared

when

the hot season

Cold- and rainy-season discomfort are people over the age of

forty.

During

this time,

However,

lack of energy.

all

came around.

common among many

These conditioins are caused by an

imbalance of body functions brought about by changes in the

The symptoms vary from person to person. The common element is that the symptoms will later disappear when the

weather.

cold or rainy season passes.

According to Chinese medical theory, a person can be catego-

Yang

rized as a Yin or

to the

type. In the

above

case,

Mrs.

Wong belongs

Yin type. This means her body tends to have

a

Yin domi-

nance. Yin has the characteristics of dampness, coldness, low-lying,

and

inactivity.

Thus, a Yin-type person will

when Yin dominates all

which throws the body functions

kinds of discomfort.

must slowly adjust to ronment. This the

is

a

new

To

find a

new

resolve this, the

body

in.

By

taking herbs,

equilibrium. In Mrs. Wong's ease,

she needed a Yang-dominant prescription to to

off bal-

equilibrium with the external envi-

where Chinese herbs come

body can quickly

uncomfortable

the external environment, such as during

rainy or cold weather, ance, resulting in

feel

"warm up"

the

body

compensate for the influences of the Yin-dominant environ-

ment. In contrast to a Yin-type person, a Yang-type individual will leel

more comfortable

in

cooler weather. In the hot season, the

conditions that affect a Yang-type person coincide more or wiili

those caused by

1

leat as

described.

1

leat in the

less

body seldom

Saigon 1939-1969:

Home Away

requires herbs for juiey fruits

relief.

and drink

1'rom

The

Home

easiest

49

way

to dispel

r

are of the

Yang-type

evidenced by their

as

high energy and activeness during the cold seasons.

Yang

in the

type,

and show

Besides the

American

human

loses

its

As

dominance over the

cold weather. This

body,

all

evidenced by

is

warmer, sun-belt

retirees in the

signs in the physical

Yin tends to dominate Yang

itself

indi-

which

out after consuming

everything on land. But water, which symbolizes Yin, fire.

states.

world

in the long term. Fire,

symbolizes Yang, will eventually burn

extinguish

a person

of the older population are of the Yin-

less affinity for

the settlement of

cate that

body slowly

many

Yin. Consequently,

to eat

is

a lot of water.

Most young people ages, the

leat

is

able to

Moreover, the great abundance of water on

planet will enable

it

to

immerse

all

continents as the oceans

this

com-

prise three-quarters of the earth's surface.

The Three Abundances That Cure The residents of Cholon were accustomed to living along with what I liked to call the three "domestic wildlife": the lizard, the bat, and the gecko. They were nocturnal inhabitants of Vietnamese cities as

well as of the countryside. Lizards and bats were unin-

vited cotenants of every in the

home,

their

home. Although geckos were seldom seen

"kap kerr" sound indicated

their presence in the

surroundings.

When darkness ruled the ceiling.

set in, the lizards

They were

came out from

a special type, three to four inches

long, yellowish grey, with four short legs, ity,

er

and a

tail.

they rested, walked, or ran belly-side-up on the

insects

such as moths,

around the

flies,

the attic and

Defying gravceiling.

Many

mosquitos, and spiders, liked to gath-

ceiling fluorescent lights.

The

lizards gingerly

approached and caught them with their tongues. The walls or the floors

were outside

their territory unless lights

the insects. This kind of lizard liked table

were there to

salt,

attract

so they were given

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

50 a

Chinese name that meant

ous name was "wall

"salt snake." In

China, their mysteri-

tiger."

Wall tigers have long served a medicinal purpose

in

China.

After they are butchered and cleaned, they are dried over charcoal

and then pulverized. This

is

later

combined with other powdered

substances such as musk, mercuric oxide, cinnabar, pearl, pinellia

(ban

xia),

icine

is

ular

and bezoar (niu huang). The resultant powdered med-

dissolved in water and administered orally. This

and

effective

can take a cough remedy that

wine for

a

a

is

pop-

medicine for childhood cough and phlegm. Adults

month or

is

made by brewing

wall tigers in

so.

Bats lived under the eaves of every

home

in

Cholon. At night,

they came out in droves to chase after the insects. After several

hours of feasting, they came back and rested in their sanctuaries.

Bat excretion has long been used in Chinese medicine. After

cleaning and then drying under the sun, bat excretion

is

called

powdered medicine is widely used to cure weak night vision or night blindness. Older people with cataracts may avoid surgery by taking this medicine regularly. Night bright sand is generally included in a prescription with "night bright sand." This

other herbs.

Geckos

lived in the

open spaces surrounding the homes. They

ranged between half a foot to one foot, and resembled dark green lizards

with dots. Their color would sometimes change into grey

and purple. After butchering and removing are cleaned, dried, treat

tails,

the geckos

and then pulverized. The medicine

lung ailments such as tuberculosis.

ditions

their

due to old age such

as

weak

It is

Gecko

used to

also effective for con-

knees, coughing, feeling con-

stantly chilly despite adequate clothing, especially during the night.

is

is

and frequent urination

usually a part of a prescrip-

tion consisting of ginseng (ten shen), glehnia (sba shen\ black dates,

and honey.

The human

residents o\

Cholon did not seem

to be bothered

by these three creatures. Their sanctuaries w ere never disrupted

Saigon 1939-1969:

or destroyed.

Home Away From Home

They were acecpted

as

51

members

of the ecosystem

because they played a part in controlling the insect population.

Leprosy and Typhoid: Successful Treatment

The chronic

disease of leprosy occurs mostly in tropical

to be contagious

through physical contact. As a consequence, lep-

were feared and

lepers

and sub-

When I was in Vietnam, the disease was believed

tropical countries.

ers

Approach Of The West

isolated

by the

rest

of the community. In Cholon,

would live together and care for one another in an isolated town rather than facing social rejection elsewhere.

section of

There was no

known

cure for leprosy in Chinese medicine.

I

attempted to treat a few early-stage cases with herbs formulated to nourish the skin

provide temporary

Leprosy

first

ually spread

and the blood. However, the herbs could only relief

and were unable to control the

disease.

appears as reddish lesions under the skin, which gradall

over the body. The lesions cause a loss of sensa-

tion and slow degeneration of the tissues especially of the face,

hands and

feet.

Left untreated, extreme disfigurement

with the disappearance of the nose,

ears, fingers,

would

and

result

toes.

The Saigon government attempted to contain and treat the dislittle result. American economic assistance to Vietnam in the 1960s funneled more resources to this project. The next few years saw a significant reduction of the ease in special hospitals, but with

leper population. Later

covered a cure for

Mycobacterium

I

learned that Western medicine had dis-

this disease,

leprae.

which

is

caused by the bacteria,

Thus, sulfonamides were introduced

as a

treatment for leprosy. Therapy was a long-term project involving education, isolation of the disease, chemotherapy, physiotherapy,

and rehabilitation of patients

after the disease

was

successful-

ly controlled.

Unlike leprosy which slowly erodes the body without causing death directly, typhoid fever

is

a dangerous disease that can

kill

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

52

within a few months. Typhoid

due to poor

sanitation.

The

is

common

disease

is

developing countries

in

mainly transmitted through

contaminated food or water. Symptoms

at

onset are a fever that

appears to be ordinary, with associated fatigue, diarrhea, headache,

An

cough, and loss of appetite. days ly

ordinary fever goes away a few

With typhoid, the

after treatment.

fever persists

and

steadi-

worsens for another two weeks. The appearance of small red

on

spots

the

body is

indicative of typhoid infection. If the patient

receives timely treatment, the fever will gradually fade in

weeks. With severe cases, the high fever can

months, leading to perforation of the

last

for

two

two

to three

intestinal wall, heart failure,

pneumonia, and acute inflammation of the

gallbladder.

remember one particular case of typhoid fever in which a man came to my home one evening. "I'd like you to come and I

my

treat

dying brother.

sped off in a

taxi to his

much information as ently,

has been sick for three months."

home

in Saigon.

could about the sick

got there, the funeral

preparations.

and was

laid in the

We

On the way, I gathered as man s condition. Appar-

he had been treated by another herbalist but with no

When we initial

I

He

company had

The patient had been

results.

already completed

dressed in funeral clothes

middle of the living room for the

moment

of

death to arrive.

When

I

touched Mr. Choi's forehead, hands, and abdomen,

body temperature indicated the severity of the illness. He was very weak but conscious. Although he appeared to be dying, his pulse still exhibited some vitality- His tongue, despite a thick his

high

and yellow

fur,

did not

show

intestines or other vital organs.

signs of major problems of the

A

person dying of typhoid would

usually have a tongue that had turned dark. This

but the patient 1

still

was

a

severe ease

had hope for recovery,

asked the family to dress him back

in regular clothes.

There

was some reluctance because the older family members were not convinced that the

man would

recover.

1

therefore proceeded to

Saigon 1939-1969:

Home Away From Home

53

undress him while rebuking those present for failing to see the remaining

of the patient.

vital signs

er then assisted

me

in carrying

The patient s

him back

wife and his broth-

room.

to his

We imme-

diately used ice to cool his temperature.

For typhoid

patients, the digestive

ing food containing meat or

oil.

The

system has

best diet consists of frequent

feeding of small quantities of thin rice soup with

At

the

same

difficulty absorb-

some sugar added.

time, the patient should be administered a prescrip-

tion to cool the fever

and cleanse the blood, with herbs such

as

forsythia (lian qiao), phragmites (lu gen), lophatherum (zhu ye),

and lysimachia

(jin

qian

cao).

After such treatment, Mr. Choi grad-

ually recovered within several weeks. for acting forcefully

on

His wife

later

thanked

me

that potentially fateful day.

A decade later, the incidence of typhoid was very much reduced, thanks to Western medicine.

An antibiotic was developed to com-

bat the bacteria, Salmonella typhi, later,

a vaccine

which causes typhoid

and

was discovered.

Thus, Western medicine had invented a

ment by

fever,

new method

directly attacking the agent of disease.

nese herbs are aimed at boosting the body's

of treat-

Even though Chi-

own defenses

against

the disease, they have shortcomings, especally in treating severe cases.

With leprosy and typhoid

fever,

it

was

clear that

Western

medicine was far more effective in bringing about a rapid cure.

The Simple Qood

Life in

Cholon

Due to geographic and cultural proximity, there long existed a special

kinship between the peoples of China and Vietnam.

older Vietnamese could speak and write Chinese.

of the Vietnamese vocabulary was

although

its

Many

A large portion

borrowed from Chinese The Vietnamese

alphabet was adopted from French.

government and the native people demonstrated generous accom-

modation and tolerance toward the

large population of

Chinese

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

54 settlers.

Cholon, which meant "big

city,"

was probably the

and most vibrant Chinatown that existed

largest

any country outside

in

of China.

The

Cholon was hot and humid all year round. In afternoon, the sun's heat forced most people to rest in

climate in

the early

the shade or take an afternoon nap. Consequently, the lunch hour

was usually two hours or more.

would come

able level, the rain

When the heat rose to an unbear-

to provide

soon season, heavy downpours the streets.

relief.

lasted for a

During the mon-

few hours, flooding

When the rain clouds departed, the weather would turn

cool for a day or so. In the night time after the rain dispelled the heat, everything

and singing of ed

me

seemed

all

to

come

alive as

one heard the humming

kinds of insects and other creatures.

of the pleasant

life

on

It

remind-

a farm.

Food Cholon

offered a bounty of culinary enjoyment at

low

prices.

Despite the on-going war in the countryside, food shortages occurred very seldom. In the morning, breakfast at

we

never had to prepare

home. The food market on the next block offered

great variety of delicacies,

a

both Chinese and Vietnamese. The ques-

was not what was there to eat for breakfast, but what to choose. Our choices were from among a dozen kinds of noodles, tion

porridge with different kinds of fresh seafood or meat, and

rice

some sweet ner, the

delights to conclude the breakfast.

din-

market offered foods appropriate for those times. Then

night, fruits

and

a snack before

past

At lunch and

light delicacies

dominated

as

at

everyone went for

going to bed. The food market stayed open until

midnight

Sometimes, for fast at a

a change,

French bakery

just

we would

have

a

Western-style break-

around the corner. Or, when we were

too lazy to walk the short distance to the food market, liisi sit at

home mk\

we would

wait lor the constant stream o\ food peddlers

Saigon 1939-1969:

each of

whom

Home Away From Home

had a unique

call

55

to distinguish his or her specialty.

During hot dry evenings, people on our doors

wooden

or

in their rattan

street liked to relax out-

chairs in order to catch

some

cool

breezes. I remember there was a woman peddler who sold nem nuong. She always found someone who wanted to place an order.

She then

sat next to the

customer, started a small charcoal

began barbecuing her marinated pork meat

was

filled

balls.

The

fire,

and

entire street

with the tempting smell of barbecued meat. Other neigh-

bors quickly placed their orders. After a while, other food peddlers selling

steamed sugar canes,

converged. Before street!

we

realized

it,

and sweet delicacies

fruits,

we had

a

food

festival

on our

This lasted for the entire evening before things finally

returned normal.

Food peddlers were common

in

Cholon

as well as in other

developing countries. There was always concern about the cleanliness of the food. I

food and

always advised people to stay away from cold

fruits that

were already cut open, which could

easily

cause dysentery. However, cooked food was considered quite safe.

While the growing number of peddlers constituted the lower end of the also

retail

expanded

food industry, the restaurant business in Vietnam

rapidly.

Most

of the fancy French restaurants were

located in Saigon less than forty-five minutes

away by

car.

The

we liked to patronize was a floating restaurant on the Mekong River. Cafes were also common. Along the tree-lined streets in one

front of the Congress Building,

it

was pure

delight to spend a lazy

afternoon in a French-style sidewalk cafe watching the colorful traffic

pass

by on

foot, bicycle,

and motorcycle.

For Chinese food, Cholon boasted many

fine restaurants,

most

of which served Cantonese cuisine. Larger restaurants could cater

homes

The restaurant would supply the personnel and equipment, and there was a choice between ready-made and made-in-the-home food. My at

customers'

mother-in-law

in the

same

tradition as in Canton.

who lived next door, liked to host birthday parties

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

56 at

home, and generally had the restaurant prepare the food

at

her

house.

On the day of the party, the chefs, waitresses arrived in the early afternoon.

They brought all

and

the necessary equip-

ment including

caldrons, utensils, tables and chairs.

nating to watch

them

The es,

set

up

It

was

fasci-

a makeshift kitchen in the backyard.

came when they

best part

assistants

started to prepare the various dish-

including roasting a small pig, and the delicate preparation of

soup to be steam-cooked inside

a special

The

a winter

melon.

guests began arriving in the late afternoon.

es served

The

them drinks and freshly-prepared cakes and

waitress-

appetizers.

Usually the parties lasted until midnight. The restaurant personnel did the cleanup before they

much more

not

labor. Best of

than

all, it

Films, Cinemas,

created a

large

was

its

movie

rich with

and 7

theatres.

mainly because of cheap

warm homey atmosphere.

museums or

own

concert

but

halls,

its

cul-

simple traditions. Within a radius

of one mile from our residence, ty

A dinner party at home cost

and Nightlife

Cholon did not have tural life

left.

at the restaurant

we could

count more than twen-

They put on continuous shows between noon

an admission ticket entitled the viewer to stay for the

P.M.;

entire time.

During Sundays and holidays, the show

A.M. Theatres that had air-conditioning were

filled

started at 9

with people

seeking refuge from the hot afternoons.

There were basically four types of cinematic entertainment.

The with

first

ed from

than

kind, Cantonese movies and operas, were very popular

women I

1

and the older generation. The films were

all

import-

Kong which, it is said, probably makes more movies wood. Most Cantonese productions were tragic love

long

lolK

stories or folk tales that depicted the suffering o\ ordinary peo-

ple caused

by China's feudal

the audience,

main

ot

society.

whom

These struck

a

chord with

had probably been victims

of the

Home Away From Home

Saigon 1939-1969:

feudal system.

57

My mother-in-law and her friends went to at least When

a couple of Cantonese movies every week.

home,

were red from crying.

their eyes

too, but

I

managed

they returned

My wife liked those movies,

to persuade her not to go so often, lest she

became melancholy.

The second

type,

Mandarin movies,

attracted the majority of

the Chinese community, especially the young. These films were

imported from

also

ment

talents

Hong Kong, and

featured

many

entertain-

from Shanghai. The period between 1955 and 1965

was considered the golden era of Mandarin movies. I can still remember the names of the movie kings and queens of that time. Unfortunately, most of them retired, passed away, or committed suicide at the zenith of their careers.

shown in some theatres

in Saigon

Mandarin

where they

films

were

also

attracted large Viet-

namese audiences.

The third type of film were American ones, and were appreciated by both Vietnamese and Chinese audiences. Westerns and Disney animated movies were films

from France were

ence,

American

The

films

favorites in

our family. Although

also popular because of the

French

influ-

were gradually eclipsing the French ones.

increasing popularity of the English language in Saigon also

facilitated the

acceptance of English movies.

Finally, there

was an assortment of films imported from Japan

and the Philippines, most of which were translated into Cantonese.

The former were

action-oriented centered around gang warfare

and heroism. In the

late 1950s,

the story of an invisible

gle-handedly battling the gangs was

first

man

sin-

featured in a Japanese

movie. Films from the Philippines were rich in imagination and plot.

One popular story was

based on the theme of a superman.

Saigon's nightlife featured a variety of night clubs

addition to the movie theatres.

in

My wife and I sometimes left the

children at

home and went with friends

We

all

were

and bars

enthusiastic dancers.

to the night clubs in Saigon.

We

waltzed, tangoed, and

cha-cha' ed through the night before returning

home

in the early

OF CURES

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH

58

morning hours. The world seemed the late 1950s and early 1960s.

to be a happier place during

The entertainment

through a renaissance. To keep up with fashion,

new dance

field

was going

we had

to learn a

mambo, rock and

every month, such as the

roll,

and

the stomach- wrenching twist.

The Growing American Influence In the 1960s, the Beatlemania that swept America to Saigon

by

the

was

carried over

American Armed Forces Radio. Within

of years, the establishment of a

TV

station

a

couple

by the Americans

brought the visual images that profoundly transformed the thinking of the local residents. Because of an increasing

ence, the youths in Saigon caught

on

American pres-

and

blues, surfing music,

and folk songs, and

craze reflected the simple and

happy

was hot in rhythm

to whatever

America within weeks. The emergence of rock and

life

their

roll,

accompanying

of that period.

In America, disillusion with the Vietnam war gave

rise to anti-

war sentiment. The hippie movement and the use of drugs as an escape were expressions of disenchanted youths. I could understand the feeling of powerlessness among the young. The older generation occupied take

all

the seats of power, and

by sending the young generation faraway land.

attrition in a

protest and rebel in their

the young, pie

I

What could

made

a grave mis-

to a questionable

the

war of

young people do except

own way? Although

I

sympathized with

did not condone using drugs as an escape. The hip-

movement

did not find a following in Saigon except for the

long-hair look.

Besides

pop music, American

nam through added

culture

was imparted

the import of automobiles. Cars

a great deal o\

made

in

to Viet-

Detroit

color to the streets of Saigon mk\ Cholon.

They dwarfed the smaller Renaults and Citroens made in France. The modern desitrn of a Cadillac convertible and other American

Saigon 1939-1969:

makes often

Home Away From Home

attracted a

59

crowd of curious and admiring onlook-

The wealthy were switching to the conspicuous and trendy American models. Some of my friends owned an American car. I was impressed by the styling, the smooth ride, and the automaters.

ic

transmission which was a

new

invention then. With the added

reputation of high fuel consumption, the American automobile

immediately translated into wealth, fashion, and prestige for the local people.

My wife and children had desired a private car for some time. One

whom I knew drove over a huge Buick

evening, a salesman

with large high filled

with excitement but

ride,

tail fins

I

had

to take us for a ride.

as

The

they jumped into the

my own reservations.

I

children were

was

car. It

a fine

had never wanted to drive

a car, for the disorderly traffic frightened

me.

My diminutive wife

probably could not even see over the hood of that big vehicle, alone learn

how to drive

it.

let

On our way back after stopping off at

up some more information, I cautioned the children to keep their hands away from the door before I closed It. "Ouch!" I caught my own hand instead. The salesman was the car dealer to pick

embarrassed by the accident and quickly drove us home. Three fingers of

mine turned swollen and

were broken. This incident gave the car issue.

The

black, but luckily

me

a

rest of the family did

good excuse not bring

it

no bones

to postpone

up

again.

Home Entertainment and the Japanese Influence The

activity I

enjoyed most was to throw a music party

Once or

twice a month,

evening.

They brought along

and

I

I

at

home.

dozen friends over for the string and pipe instruments,

invited a their

sang to their accompaniment well into the night.

The

neigh-

bors did not mind, and ended up coming over for a free concert of Cantonese opera.

At 10

P.M.,

we had an intermission and served

snacks which usually included sweet soup, a popular sweet broth

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

60

made from

The Cantonese

a variety of foods.

believed in the nour-

ishing effect of sweet soup, especially for the lungs, the throat, and

the skin.

To play music later

party was fun; to record and play

at a

provided a higher

made by

the famous

the shop

owner who

level of

enjoyment.

I

owned

sold

me this

recorder asked

ers

Grundig model was twice

as big as mine,

and two microphones. After

listening to

it,

day,

me to go over to

being incorporated into the tape recorder for the latest

back

Grundig Company of Germany. One

new products. The new sound technology called

see his

it

a tape recorder

stereo

was

time.

The

first

and had four speakI

thought

was an

it

impressive piece of technology.

Then thing."

the shop

It

looked

owner led me like a

in Japan.

What do you

down and listened

that of the that a

it

see the "real

was made

America. "This

same

is

had never been impressed

for their firepower

to the beautiful

at the

I

in

I

and

sound which

price. It

ferocity.

We

far surpassed

suddenly dawned on

me

second Japanese invasion had already begun. This one was

economic I

Grundig

if it

think?"

by the Japanese before except sat

room to

black robot sitting upright on the table.

saw the name Akai and asked

made

to a separate

as

opposed to the military one some twenty years

needed no more

home, the

sales pitch to settle for the

living

Akai. After

room was turned into a display

bors came to marvel

at the "little

I

ago.

brought

hall as the neigh-

monster."

Within a few years, Japanese products were everywhere. In the

home, Japan had market

a

monopoly on

in electric fans.

We

recorder with the Akai, the the

American

refrigerator

RCA

was

a

rice

cookers and dominated the

had replaced the German Grundig

Dutch

Philips radio with a Sony,

record player with a National.

Sanyo replacing

a

French Solex and the the Suzuki, and the ers,

Italian

Our

second

We

did not

European make.

see any Japanese cars in the streets, yet.

As

tor motorcycles, the

Vespa were giving way to the

Yamaha. Soon,

and

1

[onda,

television sets, air condition

and washing machines were added to the long

list

of Japanese

Saigon 1939-1969:

products.

Home Away from Home

The Japanese had

61

successfully ousted other competitors

from Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries, which had constituted Japan's first export markets and provided them with valuable international marketing experience.

Who could have imag-

ined at that time that Japanese automobiles to 25 percent of the

Festivals

and

would capture

American market twenty more years

close

later?

Celebrations

Like Canton, Cholon was rich in Chinese tradition. The most important

festival

was, of course, the Chinese Lunar

which the Vietnamese celebrated closed for a whole week.

and the number of

Almost

as Tet.

businesses were

all

Fewer people seemed

New Year,

to get sick then

my patients dwindled considerably.

Children

especially loved this festival because parents traditionally relaxed

few things

the household rules. There were only a

go to the movies, and for the

visit friends

round the

to do: eat, play,

clock. Preparation

New Year ordinarily took three weeks; recovering from

it

took another week. Then came the Dragon Boat Festival in May, the

Ghost

Festival in July, followed

by

the

Mid- Autumn

Festival.

In between these major celebrations, there were Christmas and countless Buddhist festivals,

enough to allow work breaks and

renewal of the body and soul.

Even the natural death of a person was cause for celebration. My mother joined me in Cholon around 1954. She passed away age of services including three days of

company provided a packhomage and celebration at

home,

conduct prayers, a funeral

in 1961 at the age of eighty.

a

The

group of Buddhist

procession with a band, and

funeral

priests to

finally, burial in

the cemetery.

A tem-

porary structure was erected in front of our house which required pedestrians to detour.

placed in a relatives

The body was clothed

wooden coffin in the middle

and friends came to pay

ed their prayers

in funereal dress

of the living room. All the

The monks chantThe ceremony lasted round

their respects.

at regular intervals.

and

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

62

the clock for three days. Close relatives and friends stayed overnight

and helped with the organization of

when one could meet and

occasion

This was the best

activities.

entertain

all

the friends at

home

within a short period of time.

Excursions Outside the City

Although the Saigon-Cholon area had much to ventured to other

Thu Due,

a

by

car.

Our most frequent destination was

a pleasant half-day holiday for

store employees.

highway

cities

We usually chartered

our family and the herb

a taxi,

and drove along

huge rubber plantations.

that cut through

Vietnamese restaurant that was essentially a

swimming pool

that

drew

its

we regularly

offer,

a

We arrived in with a large

villa

water from nearby creeks and wells.

we just ate, swam, napped, or hiked along the trails. One of Vietnam's best vacation resorts was Dalat in the Cen-

There,

The journey took about nine hours by car, but the overnight train was the most relaxing mode of transport. It left tral

Highlands.

wound through the wild counwe were warned to keep the windows

Saigon station in the afternoon and tryside. In

some

locations,

shut and not to wander outside the carriage for fear of tigers waiting in the bushes

passengers.

At one

train

in

and preying on the straying

point, the train stopped for the passengers to

view the ancient mountain

engaged

when the train stopped,

tribes

whose

scantily clad

fying.

The slow-moving

of the

cliff.

Looking

hundreds of

round.

feet

out,

train

we

seemed

The

terrific

to be hanging

and

terri-

on the

side

only saw rocks, trees and waterfalls

below.

to the high altitude, Dalat

French had

still

hunting with spears and arrows. In the morning, the

began a steep climb. The scenery was both

Due

members

tourist local point built elegant

circumnavigate the lake

was

s

climate was autumn-like

a beautiful lake in the city.

bungalows along the shore. in a

We

\

ear

The

loved to

rented horse-carriage, and to paddle-

boat on the calm waters. Another outdoor activity

m

Dalat was

Saigon 1939-1969:

deer hunting.

Home Away From Home

Some

63

restaurants specialized in deer meat, and

allowed customers into their slaughter houses to pick the fresh catch of the day.

Some

of Vietnam's largest waterfalls were locat-

ed in Dalat.

As

war heated up,

the

increasingly dangerous. after 1965.

We

caught in cross

was

if

plane utes

heard fire.

travel

through the countryside became

We did not venture out of town anymore

many horror stories about motorists being One of the worst things that could happen

Vietcong were found to be near a highway, a

would mark

later,

the location with

American

bombs on

jets

smoke

light spotter

in the sky.

A few min-

from nearby bases would drop napalm

the area.

How The War Evolved Japan took over Vietnam from France between 1942 and 1945.

When Japan

surrendered, the Vietnamese nationalists led

Ho

by

Chi Minh proclaimed the country's independence. The Vietnamese nationalist

movement had been nurtured and supported by

Chinese Communist Party which was then fighting

war in mainland China. France was opposed

a

long

the

civil

to Vietnamese inde-

pendence and sent troops to regain control of her former colony. In 1949, France reinstated the Vietnamese emperor, retained actual governing power.

which culminated

in the

Bao Dai, but

Ho led a protracted guerrilla war

French defeat

at

Dien Bien Phu

in 1954.

The United Nations intervened and divided Vietnam along the 17th parallel to enforce a cease-fire: the north to be ruled by Ho Chi Minh and the south by Bao Dai. France then began her final disengagement from Vietnam. In 1955, Prime Minister Ngo Dinh Diem engineered a referendum that abolished the monarchy of Bao Dai. Ngo became the first

president of the Republic of South Vietnam. In 1956,

Ngo

refused to participate in the general election throughout Vietnam as

agreed to

by both

sides earlier in the

Geneva Accords

to deter-

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

64

mine

if

the country could be unified under one government.

the election cancelled, the

Communists from

the north began

With infil-

trating the south in support of the local Vietcong to seek unifica-

tion

by

force.

Fearing the spread of readily

came

communism

in Asia, the

to South Vietnam's assistance.

By

United

States

the end of 1961,

U.S. military advisors had increased from several hundred to

who took on tarian

fighting responsibility

government

failed to

economic and military

make

on

one

fire

after

on both the

by

protested

them-

setting

another in the streets of Saigon, an event

dent Kennedy ordered the

Novemberl963,

Ngo's authori-

significant progress

monks

world headlines.

that captured

necessary.

8,000

Furthermore, he antagonized the

fronts.

popular Buddhist church. The selves

if

1

Ngo was

It

CIA

was widely rumored to plot

that Presi-

Ngo's removal. In early

killed in a military coup.

The U.S.

involvement in Vietnam deepened. Vietcong insurgency increased correspondingly.

The

marked by frequent

instability of the

Saigon government was

reshuffling at the highest level.

The war in Vietnam

escalated.

By

bered over half a million. The United States managed to international support. South troops; Australia and tion, the U.S.

Korea committed around 47,000

New Zealand to a much less extent.

In addi-

navy carried out daily bombing missions against

North Vietnam from

employed

numgain some

1969, U.S. troops there

its

giant B-52

aircraft carriers offshore.

bombers based

in

The

Guam,

U.S.

air

force

the Philippines,

and Thailand for frequent carpet bombings of communist concentrations and supply routes.

The prospect was

Vietnam could be reduced to the stone age

real that

as threatened

North

by U.S.

General LeMay.

There was

little

doubt

that the

with her overwhelming might.

of

won by

many

lowcver, the world would soon

war was planned by people, fought by people, people. Technology and weaponry were only one

be reminded that

and

1

United States could win the war

a

factors that bring victory

under certain circumstances.

Saigon 1939-1969:

Home Away From Home

The Communists were growing guerrilla warfare

tanks

on both

65

stronger day by day.

sometimes erupted into

sides

below

battles

The

usual

supported by

the 17th parallel. In the south, the Viet-

cong controlled the countryside. The Saigon government controlled the

major

cities.

The Americans

controlled the military

bases along the coast and adjacent to the major

and the bases were

The cities enemy territory.

cities.

in fact isolated islands in a sea of

The War Hits Home It

was

clear that the

midnight,

war was approaching

closer to

home. After

we frequently heard the thunder of sustained bombings

in the outskirts of

up and we would

Cholon. Sometimes, the horizon would

feel the

light

concussion shortly afterward. Later,

we

bombing raids from an altitude of over 30,000 feet. The bombers could neither be seen nor heard, but they brought enormous destruction to the target area. There were usually no reports about the number of enemy killed, nor about the civilian casualties. We only learned from the news that learned that those were B-52

Vietcong concentrations had been neutralized to allow U.S. and

South Vietnamese troops to continue their search-and-destroy missions.

As more American servicemen arrived, more accommodations were needed

in Saigon. Hotels

version to military quarters.

were rented or purchased for con-

A few blocks from our residence in

Cholon, one hotel was converted for American servicemen, and another for their Australian counterparts. The concentration of foreign military personnel attacks

was an

invitation to Vietcong terrorist

with grenades or plastic bombs. This led to the Americans

sealing off the areas surrounding the hotel buildings

tioning of

armed guards

at strategic locations.

The

and the posi-

fortressed hotels

created a high level of tension in the neighborhood.

As

residents,

we could only circumvent that forbidden area for safety's sake.

In

my mind, I worried about the prospects of this war. After all these

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH

66 years,

it

had evolved from

tryside to almost an

OF CURES

guerrilla warfare restricted to the

urban

coun-

Now we did not feel safe even

conflict.

in the capital.

The

Tet Offensive Shakes

In late January 1968, the year) offensive against

My Faith

Communists launched

all

the major

cities

the Tet (lunar

of South Vietnam.

new

Even

embassy in Saigon was attacked. The Cholon was fierce. We fled to safety in another district of town when we saw South Vietnamese troops with artillery and the heavily-defended U.S. fighting in

tanks

moving

into the neighborhood, supported

gunships hovering above. ing

helicopter

We also had a first glimpse of the fight-

men and women of the Vietcong as they came out of nowhere

and assembled for the house-to-house

The

street battle in

Cholon

fighting.

lasted for several days.

returned, a repulsive smell of dead bodies

borhood. ee

by U.S.

who

hung over

When we the neigh-

My herb shop was partially destroyed. Fei, an employwas

lived there,

Most

ransacked.

killed.

Our house

of the houses already had a

underneath a couple of years ago.

still

stood but was

bomb

shelter built

My mother-in-law was lost in

the confusion of the evacuation. She and another relative had lived

through the

street battle inside the shelter.

was probably dead.

We

thought that she

When I saw her emerging from

the shelter,

1

ran toward her, embraced her, and cried.

The Tet strike

was

offensive

showed

the world that the Vietcong could

whenever and wherever they wanted. The only consolation

that the popular uprising expected

by the Communists did

not materialize. Washington finally came to realize that the war

could not possibly be won, although the military commanders continued to request more troops. President Nixon, newly ed

in late

L968 with

a

mandate

to

elect-

end the war, began the Viet

nami/ation process which involved

a

phased withdrawal of

American land forces from South Vietnam. The horrors of the

all

let

El 1*1

W9t

J*

St

Dr. Fung's license in Canton.

Outside the Tung Dr.

Wah Hospital in South Vietnam circa Fung

is

the

first

on the

right.

1940.

A.

Dr. Fung's license in South Vietnam, 1948.

.

t

arthritis

(also

*

fie

I*

4

*

•I

\\

+4

An

*

*

*•

*4

Formula from Dr, Fung's practice

reproduced on the cover).

Dr.

Fung with

students and friends at his retirement party, 1993.

Dr.

Fung

at

Yosemite.

The two

authors,

John Fung and Dr. Fung

Home Away From Home

Saigon 1939-1969:

offensive

was only more of an encouragement to

try in spite of

for

67 leave the

coun-

my business success. Our two sons had already left

Hong Kong

two daughters

several years ago.

left

for

My wife, her mother, and our

Hong Kong later in

1968.

1

was now com-

mitted to leaving as well.

America's heavy involvement in Vietnam greatly impacted the

The most obvious influence was the estabArmed Forces Radio which broadcast the latest

ordinary local residents.

lishment of the

news and American music.

Many teenagers including my children

pop music. Later, the Americans ushered in television when they set up a station in Saigon. The first freeway was built between Saigon and Bien Hoa Air Base which developed a craze for American

became

a showpiece of

American technology and progress.

Many

youngsters began learning English rather than French as a second language, and they aspired to go to the United States for higher

The French-made city buses were replaced by ones Detroit. Some streets were filled with bars and brothels

education.

made

in

catering to

American servicemen.

A black market of U.S. military

supplies flourished in the streets of Saigon.

The American

influence

incident that occurred at a

was not only

busy intersection when the

broke down. The scene was a mess at

one another.

materialistic.

as the drivers

I

recall

one

traffic light

honked and

yelled

A U.S. Army jeep pulled up. An American mili-

tary policeman rushed to the intersection

and began directing

traf-

fic. The drivers were pleased to see an authority trying to restore order. At the same time, there were two Vietnamese policemen standing on one corner of the intersection. They just watched and chatted away. To a significant extent, this interesting street scene explained why America lost the war. The intended joint effort

between South Vietnam and the United

States eventually deteri-

orated into American takeover of almost everything that the South

Vietnamese government should have done for

As

its

own citizens.

war heated up, the Saigon government was drafting earnest young men for the army. I began to worry about my two the

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

68

sons' safety

joined an

when they turned

elite

thirteen.

Our

neighbor's son had

group of the South Vietnamese army and was

killed

We had heard stories about bicy-

in action after just three

months.

cle riders in the streets

being rounded up by the police as a

conscription law went into

effect.

wanted to send

I

my

new

sons to

Hong Kong where my brother and sister were living. At that time, leaving South istry.

Vietnam required an

The chances

exit visa

from the Foreign Min-

of a teenager obtaining an exit visa were very

small because of the draft requirement.

A native Vietnamese friend of mine told me that he had some connections with a high

official in

be able to help get an exit visa for

the Foreign Ministry

who might

my eldest son who was approach-

in a nice restaurant.

The friend arranged for a dinner meeting The deal was sealed for the price of 30,000

Vietnamese

Two years

ing fifteen years of age.

piastres.

exit visa for 50,000 piastres.

later,

my second son obtained an

Another friend of mine had to pay

half a million for his nineteen-year-old son.

was an open market for

exit visas.

By the late

1960s, there

Some unlucky people

paid the

wrong officials who did not have the power to secure an exit visa. Many young men who could not afford payment escaped the draft by fleeing to Phnom Penh in neighboring Cambodia, where the Chinese embassy issued passports for them to go to China via Hong Kong. Many of them ended up staying in Hong Kong as illegal

immigrants.

Departing In 1969,

me

With Sad Memories

two days before my

to a farewell dinner.

was

in a

departure,

my

The food looked

close friends invited

delicious but everyone

somber mood. A waiter brought over

shark-fin soup and prepared to set

it

in the

a large

bowl

center of the table.

bowl suddenly broke. Everyone was caught by

surprise.

1

Ol

he

The owner

of the restaurant immediately came a\k\ apologized. The breaking oi glass

on such an occasion was

a

bad

omen

in

Chinese

tradition.

Saigon 1939-1969: as

it

Home Away From

69

I Ionic

implied the destruction of something dear to everyone pre-

sent such as closeness and partnership. All of us tried to ignore

what had happened. For most of us,

it

was the

last

supper

we had

together.

On the day I

I left,

rode to the airport,

I

my mind was filled with sad reflections. As saw groups of young American servicemen

gathering in their favorite spots in the streets of Saigon.

They had

been sent to a faraway land to safeguard democracy and protect

The noble meaning of democThe national security of the United States was ill-defined by Washington. American intervention was based on the unfounded fear of the the security of the United States.

racy was hardly tenable in the case of South Vietnam.

spread of

communism

in Asia.

After involvement, U.S. intelligence overestimated their firepower, but neglected the will and tenacity of the enemy. also overestimated the capability of the

ernment

They

South Vietnamese gov-

By the end of the war, more than would never return home. Others would suf-

in delivering reforms.

50,000 Americans

fer for the rest of their lives the injuries

ing the war. cause,

own

As

a parent

and trauma incurred dur-

who hated to see children die for a dubious

my heart impulsively went out to

know but had

lost their

those

whom

loved ones in this tragic war.

I

did not

Chapter 5

Hong Kong 1969-1 979: Temporary Shelter Again

A Successful Colony Hong Kong had changed beyond recognition upon my return after thirty years.

One could easily feel the heartbeat of cap-

italism thriving in this British

The

success of

political

Hong Kong

six million people.

the result of a unique interplay of

and economic forces shaping East and Southeast Asia.

When Japanese its

is

colony of about

troops

former colony of

left in

August 1945,

Hong Kong,

Britain reclaimed

ignoring the protest from the

Nationalist government struggling for survival

mainland.

The

British re-occupation

on the Chinese

was made easy thanks

to the

movement in Hong Kong. In October 1949 when the Communists won the final victory over the Nationalists on the Chinese mainland, Britain was among the first to extend recognition to the People s Republic of China. The Communist troops advanced to Canton but stopped at the bor-

non-existence of an independence

71

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

72

der with

Hong Kong,

thus guaranteeing the status quo of the

Colony for the next few decades. During the 1950s, the world saw and the emergence of

China delivered

a message to the

wave of de-colonization states.

United Nations emphasizing the

Hong Kong

special political status of

tional attempt to foster

a

growing number of independent

a

and opposing any interna-

independence. This position has never

its

been challenged by the world community. China had maintained that the political status of

Hong Kong would be settled when the

time was

finally

That time

ripe.

came

in

when

1984

Britain

and

China signed an agreement for the return of the Colony to Chinese rule in July 1997.

The agreement

two governments

for

to

change hands peacefully with neither significant support nor opposition

from the

local residents

was indeed

modern history. The people of Hong Kong may tics

a rare

exhibit

little

phenomenon

in

interest in poli-

and government, but they embrace capitalism with utmost

enthusiasm.

The economy of Hong Kong was

ed on entrepot trade between China and the the close of the to be winning,

civil

war

in

left

world. At

Shanghai and settled in

Kong, thus laying the foundation for sumer

rest of the

China when the Communists appeared

many industrialists

This manufacturing base

originally found-

later

a

Hong

manufacturing industry.

developed into

a world-class

con-

and

elec-

industry, exporting products such as clothing, toys

tronics mostly to the developed countries of

North America and

Western Europe. In the latter half of the 1980s just

markets of

Hong Kong

Nationalist

government

when

the principal export

were heading toward

in

restrictions with regard to

Taiwan relaxed China.

Due

travel

a

recession, the

and investment

to the absence oi a direct

transportation link, millions of Taiwan residents had to pass through I

long

Kon^ on

their

greatly benefited industries.

The

1

way

to

and from the Mainland. This has

long Kong, especially the tourist and related

overtures between the

two Chinese governments

Hong Kong

1

969-1 97V: Temporary Shelter Again

on opposite

sides of the

Taiwan

has produced a windfall for the ation will probably last for

Strait

73

without formal recognition

Hong Kong economy.

some time

as the

on-and-off negotiations trying to establish

communication

The

Chinas opening of its

all its

since the late 1980s

is

coastal regions to foreign investment. This

presents a golden opportunity for for

situ-

two sides engage in some sort of direct

link.

most important development

single

This

Hong Kong to

solve once and

chronic problems of labor shortage, high land and raw

Hong Kong capital flows into China like water through an open dam. Many factories have reloAs

material costs.

a consequence,

cated or expanded their production to Shenzhen and other across the border. In addition, Chinese investment in the

cities

Colony on

has also increased significantly due to economic liberalization

Even before

the Mainland.

Hong Kong

reversion to Chinese rule,

has in fact largely integrated

Economic

integration with southern

term insurance policy for its

its

economy with

that

Canton Region.

of the Greater

Because of

its official

Hong

China

Kong's

the best long-

is

stability

and

survival.

dynamic economic development, southern China,

Guangdong province, will amass more clout and bargaining power as time elapses. Southern China has already gained especially

exemptions and favorable treatment from the central government in Beijing.

The

identification

and integration of

southern China will only secure

its

Hong Kong with

future.

The other insurance policy that Hong Kong has suit of peaceful reunification

is

China's pur-

with Taiwan. Because Taiwan has a

modern American weapons, would prove costly. On the other hand,

strong defense force equipped with reunification

by

force

reunification talks attempted previously have resulted in deadlock

and

frustration. China's proposal of a

"one country two systems"

formula has always been viewed by Taiwan with great suspicion.

Should the situation in after 1997,

Hong Kong remain stable and prosperous

Taiwan would be more inclined to pursue the

reunifi-

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

74

cation talks. Therefore,

ority as

it is

if

now, China

peaceful reunification remains a top pri-

have every reason to maintain the

will

Hong Kong

thriving capitalist system in

model

as a

to placate

Taiwan.

However,

major uncertainty that has recently surfaced

a

democratization of Taiwan's political system. In the

new

is

the

Legisla-

Assembly, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has cap-

tive

tured almost one-third of the seats versus a slight majority the ruling Nationalist Party. the island natives and

a

is

The DPP

won by

has grass-root support from

champion of Taiwan independence. China

has repeatedly threatened to use force should Taiwan declare

an independent tinues

present course favoring the

its

war could erupt lize all

the political development in

state. If

in the

Taiwan

Strait,

it is

Taiwan con-

possible that a major

an event that would destabi-

of East Asia.

The

stable

attracted east Asia.

and open banking industry

Hong Kong

in

huge amounts of capital from Chinese

settlers in

has

South-

Between 1950 and 1980, Southeast Asian countries were

plagued by various types of

communist insurgency land,

DPP,

itself

and Laos; bloody

instability.

The notable ones were

in Malaysia,

Vietnam, Cambodia, Thai-

racial riots in

Malaysia; and the large-scale

purges of Chinese communities in Indonesia after a failed com-

munist coup attempt sidered

Hong Kong

safely deposit their

early 1960s

when

settlers

where

con-

the}'

could

Hong Kong

in the

a Switzerland of the East

money.

myself began to funnel

I

Thus, wealthy Chinese

in 1965.

my

the Vietnam

savings into

war started

to escalate.

At

that time,

foreign exchange restrictions were already in place which limited

remittances to very small amounts.

one

1

long

ever, there official

Kong dollar to about

The

fifteen

official

exchange

Vietnamese

rate.

This was

still

travel agent

1

at

1

was

low

-

twice the

reasonable considering the

absence of other alternatives and the depreciating

A

piastres.

were other remittance channels available

exchange

rate

piastre.

knew had connections with some export-import

Hong Kong

1969-1979: Temporary Shelter Again

houses

both

in

75

Hong Kong and Cholon. agent in Cholon. Two weeks

to this travel

I

delivered the piastres later,

an import house

Hong Kong called my sister to pick up the Hong Kong dollars I wanted to remit. The travel agent told me that he used the piastres to buy Vietnamese raw materials, then sold them to the Hong Kong importer, who also got a list of the payees for payment in Hong Kong dollars. All transactions on the Vietnamese side were in

done

in cash.

I

can

still

my petite wife carrying three

remember

bags of cash and riding off to the travel agent in a offered to help load the "baggage" but

The

proof. All transactions

The

driver

my wife nervously refused.

on

remittances were solely based

taxi.

trust

with no receipts for

were executed smoothly and

confidentially.

The outflow of money from Vietnam to Hong Kong was due to a war. There was also an outflow of money from Hong Kong to other countries, particularly Canada and the United States. The political uncertainty in Hong Kong was the major reason. The open banking and financial system in Hong Kong placed no restrictions on the amount of remittances, hence only one official

when the Cultural many Hong Kong residents started

exchange rate applied. Since the early 1960s Revolution began in China,

opening foreign accounts overseas Foreign consulates in

as a hedge.

Hong Kong also received increasing num-

bers of applications for immigrant visas. In 1982 after cially

demanded negotiation

Chinese sovereignty, the streets at the

lines for

immigrant

American and some other

been most successful in ital as

for the return of

China

offi-

Hong Hong

to

visas spilled into the

Canada has attracting Hong Kong manpower and capconsulates.

evidenced by the real estate developments in Vancouver and

Toronto. Australia has lately become a popular destination. in the 1990s,

many Hong Kong professionals

Now,

hold Canadian or

Australian passports. Despite the outflow of talent and capital, the

economy

of

tion with the

Hong Kong

continues to flourish due to

booming Chinese economy.

its

integra-

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

76

Resuming

Hong Kong

Practice in

Hong Kong, I was introduced by a friend to the owner of an herb store in Mong Kok District. Mr. Chao asked if I wanted to join him as a resident physician in his store. Our partAfter settling in

nership was to

last

for the next ten years.

An Alternative

Fibroids: There Is

Surgery

is

To Surgery

an expensive procedure in Western medicine. Manx-

Chinese are fearful of surgery. The traditional thinking

do

surgery, although successful, will

Source Qi of the body, just lose

some of

its

carbonation. Source

sipation of Source

Qi

damage

Qi

is

considered the innate

A gradual and irreversible dis-

takes place over a lifetime until

tion at death. Surgery opens

up

to the

an opened can of soft drink will

like

energy of the body.

collective vital

irreparable

that

is

a part of the

its full

body and

deple-

accelerates

this dissipation of vital energy.

The above traditional

thinking

of going through surgery

is real.

may be mystifying, but the stress Surgery requires extensive

tests

and preparation. Anesthetics and other drugs that are administered produce varying degrees of side effects.

Recovery may extend

over a long time during which the patient must gradually learn to adjust. Therefore, the benefits of surgery all

should be weighed against

the costs. In contrast, Chinese medicine offers cures for non-

acute conditions at a

At came

a

to

me and

However,

prise.

cost and devoid of unpleasant side effects.

wedding banquet of

my memory, patients

low

I

I still

some

asked

if I

a friend in 1970, an elderly

remembered

inquired about her

could not

forty

recall

her. In

an effort to refresh

name and

family profession.

who

she was. "1 was one of

ears a^c^!" That really gave

\

me

Mrs. Chai then recounted that she had had

around 1939 when

1

woman

was practising

in

I

\

our

a pleasant sur-

a uterine fibroid

long Kong.

A

Western

doctor had recommended surgery but she was frightened by the

Hong Kong

She eonsulted

idea.

Fibroids are not

on or

thirty

and

me

for a prescription

year. The fibroid uncommon. They

one

ularly for almost

ring

77

1969-1979: Temporary Shelter Again

in the uterine wall, fifty

years of age.

fibroids are caused

by

and took the herbs

gradually disappeared.

tumors occur-

are benign

and usually

affect

From a Chinese

a deficiency of

reg-

women

between

medical point of view,

Yang

in the blood.

taking herbs that nourish the blood and tonify the

Yang

Thus,

will grad-

ually eliminate the tumors.

Menstrual Conditions

women at different ages. One day

Menstrual conditions occur in a

Miss Liang was carried on the back of her mother to the herb

The young lady was

shop.

sixteen years old.

of the great pain in her abdomen.

I

touched

gesting muscle tension. She indicated force.

I

read her pulse,

typical of people with high

indicated the existence of excess

have a fever but

no

it

and

it felt

hard, sug-

more pain when

I

applied

There were no signs that the pain originated from any of

the vital organs.

was

She was crying because

felt

very

warm

it

was quick and

strong,

which

blood pressure. The pulse also

Heat

inside the body. She did not

in the

abdomen. There were

also

signs of organ malfunction. I

diagnosed the condition

as a

menstrual problem.

she had menstruated yet. She answered never.

mother

that she

was about

I

I

told her

to have her first period.

It

asked

if

and her

was delayed

because of the muscle tension in the uterus. The tension was the root cause of the pain.

I

wrote a prescription aimed

at relaxing the

muscles and promoting the menstrual flow. During the next few days, the

girl in fact

had her

first

period.

The abdominal pain was

alleviated as well.

Another case involved

a Mrs.

Chu who was in her thirties.

had had excessive menstruation for three days. The rendered her pale, In addition, she

tired,

felt

and dizzy. Her pulse was

pain in the lower

She

loss of

blood

relatively

weak.

abdomen which was due to

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

78

muscle tension.

used gelatin

I

incense (ru xiang) in

The

relieve the pain.

promoted her blood

(ejiao),

myrrh (moyao), and frank-

my prescription

to reduce the bleeding

and

prescription also contained other herbs that circulation, relaxed the muscles,

and replen-

ished the Qi.

common menstrual problem is

Another

going through menopause, which

is

by women

experienced

the cessation of menstruation

that usually occurs after age forty-five.

Menopausal

women often

During the menopause

experience physical and emotional

stress.

which may

the physical stress can include

last

for

many months,

irregular menstruation, loss of appetite,

numbness of

the limbs,

nightsweats, insomnia, dizziness, a mild roaring sound in the ears,

and sudden onset and dissipation of heat known

The emotional

hot flashes.

as

stress involves the anxiety associated

menopause, which

in the

with the

minds of many women, implies the onset

of old age and the loss of productivity. Thus, depression and fluc-

tuating emotions

menopause can

Menopause

may

set in.

The

physical discomforts of

intensify the emotional stress is

not an

illness

and vice

versa.

but a natural physiologic process.

Therefore, treatment should not interfere with this process. Instead, it

should be aimed

at resolving the physical

and mental

Chi-

stress.

nese treatment of menopause emphasizes easing this physical transition.

A delicate balance of herbs that regulate the blood

flow,

restoring the functional balance of the organs, especially of the

kidneys and the

liver, will

usually help alleviate the

symptoms

of

menopause.

Diabetes: Inexpensive Supplemental Treatment Diabetes creas

is

a

which

symptoms weight

chronic disease caused by

a

malfunction ot the pan-

hormone,

results in deficiency of the

insulin.

The

are frequent urination, thirst, weakness, itching, hunger,

loss,

and high sugar content

in the

blood.

Hong Kong

1969-1979: Temporary Shelter Again

remember one such

I

employee

ment

for his diabetes in a

adhering to a

mone

case, a

in his mid-thirties.

strict diet,

injections to

Mr. Hui

who was

He had been

government

a

government

receiving Western treat-

clinic for three years.

Besides

he received regular urine testing and hor-

keep the disease

side effects of the medication particularly distressed

79

by the

in check. Unfortunately, the

had taken

Mr. Hui was

their toll.

future possibility of going through

the painful process of dialysis and of having to carry a dialysis

machine wherever he went.

me

Mr. Hui came to

him

that the

to explore an alternative.

approach of Chinese medicine was completely

ferent. Instead of interventions

nese herbs

would

on

act

such

as injections

or

dialysis,

dif-

Chi-

the spleen and the kidneys to regulate the

diuretic process of the body. in

explained to

I

The purpose was

performing their proper functions.

I

to assist the organs

assured

him

that the herbs

would produce few side effects. Furthermore, the traditional modality would not interfere with the Western treatment he was receiving.

Mr. Hui came to

me regularly for one year or so, and took the

herbal prescription three times a week. During this time, the dia-

symptoms gradually happy when the government

betes remained under control, and the

improved. Mr. Hui was especially clinic sis.

recommended

that he probably

would not need any

dialy-

This was a case where Chinese and Western medicine could

complement each other became

a

good

to alleviate the patient s suffering. Mr.

friend of mine. Several years

been reduced to

a

Natural Beauty

Is

it

remained

diabetes

had

a careful diet

and

later, his

minor ailment, and through

occasional treatment,

Hui

so.

The Best

Yu was an accountant in her mid-twenties, and led an active social life. Her lifestyle involved frequenting restaurants, night-

Miss

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH

80

clubs,

was

filled

way

she looked. Besides her social

she

activities,

her

with irregular schedules. Occasional heavy work-

loads required her to straight.

As

how

and the movies. She was very conscious about

dressed and the life

OF CURES

work

well after midnight for a few days

When the work subsided, she was busy with the nightlife. from various minor ailments such

a consequence, she suffered

as constipation, indigestion, irregular

menstruation, and insomia.

She appeared quite pale without her makeup. She lacked energy

and was

irritable.

So she turned to various over-the-counter reme-

dies to alleviate her ailments.

Miss

Yu came

to

wanted some herbs

me on

that

would improve her

look more beautiful. Miss her

late

body functions

her friends' recommendations. She

Yu needed

make her

to bring about normal health. She took

my prescription twice a week. that she felt

health and

formula that would regu-

a

After a

month

or so, she reported

much better overall. Because her health improved, she life more. Her paleness also dis-

had more confidence and enjoyed appeared gradually, and as a

result,

she did not have to put on so

much makeup to mask it. Another woman, Mrs. Chan, was a middle-aged housewife. Her routine housework gave her little time for recreation except for watching television. ed.

Her husband was

a

Sometimes she businessman

ments out of town. The

little

felt

bored and low-spirit-

who was on frequent assign-

time they had together was not

particularly filled with excitement. She thought that her

had

lost interest in

husband

her because she was aging. She pointed

at

some

wrinkles on her face and the dryness of her skin, and wondered

Chinese herbs could help her skin look

The

case of Mrs.

Chan

if

better.

did not involve any

needed some herbs to consolidate the Yin

in

illness.

She

just

her body, energize

the blood circulation, and nourish the skin. She took the prescription twice a

week

for

many months, and

herbs had restored her to normal appearance.

became moist and soft She

also

mentioned

reported that the

1

ler skin gradually

that

one time her hus-

band asked why she suddenly appeared more

attractive than before.

Hong Kong

1969-1979: temporary Shelter Again

81

Beauty docs not necessarily require cosmetics, nice clothes, or plastic surgery.

getic

A woman wants to have good health and be ener-

and confident. This

is

what

natural beauty

is all

about. Chi-

nese herbs are able to enhance the beauty and femininity of a

woman by doubt

improving her health and complexion. There

Mr.

no

that the condition of a person s health determines the appear-

ance, confidence,

Lack

is

and behavior of that person.

Of Energy

Cho was

an office worker in his early

thirties.

lacked appetite, and was underweight. His

He

drowning him.

slept for

He was pale,

work seemed

over ten hours a day but

still

to be

lacked

He showed little interest in other things besides work and television. After seeing me, Mr. Cho took my prescription daily. He felt better after a few days and wondered if he could continue energy.

with the herbs.

I

advised that since the herbs were natural, he could

continue with the prescription, but that twice a

week would

suffice.

A few months later, Mr. Cho came by my office to say hello. He told me that he felt like a different person. In fact, he had clearly gained weight. He said that he was participating in many different activities including the active

ing

YMCA sports program, and was an

member of a neighborhood church. I advised that by keephis new activities, he would not need the prescription

up with

anymore.

Another one of

my patients, Mr. Hu, was

a recent retiree in

He was unaccustomed to life that was without a regular schedule. He found himself staying at home and napping his early sixties.

most of the

time.

The more he napped,

the less interest he had for

He tried to read but could not concentrate for He could not amass the energy to even engage in gardening,

doing other things. long. his

longtime hobby. Mr.

Hu took my prescription for two weeks

and the herbs gave him enough

He was

able to divide his time

exercising.

lift

to adjust to his

new

lifestyle.

between gardening, reading, and

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

82

Lack of energy or feeling apathetic

when

the Yin and

Yang

a

is

common phenomenon

are not in tune. This

means

that the vital

organs do not perform in harmony, and blood circulation at its best.

Consequently, the Qi of the body

ural herbs will restore the organs

is

is

not

suppressed. Nat-

and the body to normal per-

formance.

The Agony Of Family In

Separation

my generation, many Chinese families have to endure the agony

war and economic depression. When I was young, my father had to leave Canton and work in Hong Kong out of economic necessity. I always treasured the times when

of family separation due to

he rejoined us in Canton during It is

easy to take family togetherness for granted until a

ber has to leave for appreciates the

his brief leaves.

its

some

reason. Just like

value until one loses

agony of separation when our

good

mem-

one seldom

health,

In 1962, our family faced

it.

eldest

son of

fifteen

had to leave

to avoid the possibility of being drafted into the South Vietnamese

army.

Two years later,

our second son also

left

for

Hong Kong.

In

968, my wife, her mother, and our two daughters left for Hong Kong. After closing my business in Cholon, I came to Hong Kong to join them in 1969. However, shortly before I arrived, my moth1

er-in-law died of a heart attack.

Then

the

two boys

left

us again

to pursue their college educations in the United States. Thus, since 1962, our family has never

for

two

had the chance of being together except

brief periods in 1971

and 1975 when our sons came home

to visit us.

My ily

wife was especially saddened by this long period of fam-

separation.

bit ol

I

ler total

devotion to our children had taxed every

her energy. She worried constantly about the well-being of

our children, especially OUT sons

were only teenagers. Main- times weekly

letters

from the boys.

I

who I

had

left

her care

saw her weep

tried to

when

they

after reading the

comfort her by

telling

her

Hong Kong

1969-1979: Temporary Shelter Again

boys knew

how

83

to take care of themselves.

The worry

and depression gradually weakened her health. She

later devel-

that the

oped anorexia and passed away in

in 1978.

1

had cured many people

my life, but to my deepest sorrow, I had failed to cure my most

beloved one.

By 1978, my eldest son had been settled in San Francisco for many years. He wanted the entire family to join him. I had never imagined myself to be living in the United States before. Although I

could speak and write some English,

tural

ing

shock for

I

knew

it

would be

a cul-

me at the age of seventy. However, there was noth-

more precious than being together with

In the spring of 1979,

1 left

was probably one of the

the family once again.

Hong Kong for the

United

States. I

oldest immigrants to enter the country.

Chapter 6

San Francisco 1979-1994:

My Permanent Home New Life

The

In

America

Americans enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the world. Although the quality of life can be viewed from angles,

many

Americans are blessed by the open spaces, a temperate

cli-

mate, a generally clean environment, and a relatively low inflation rate.

Suburban

living in

fort unavailable in

America represents

many

Despite the comfort of suburban a car,

I

com-

for

life,

one who did not drive

discovered that getting around was the most difficult chal-

lenge because public transportation icans are so

dependent on

without them.

when

a high degree of

other countries.

was not

their cars that

easily available.

A second challenge was the loneliness

the younger

members

were no children playing

was accustomed

of the family

went

in the streets of the

to seeing back in Asia.

85

Amer-

nothing seems to get done

to

I

experienced

work. There

neighborhood

On occasion, I

as

I

managed

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

86

to catch a glimpse of the neighbors

from work. without to leave

We would wave

much

when

they

left

or came back

and exchange

to each other

hello's

time for socializing. The hustle and bustle seemed

everybody with

little

the telephone and television

time.

were

Confined mostly to the home,

my main connections to the out-

side world.

After the collapse of South Vietnam in 1975, ter million

Vietnamese

fled to the

United

more than

States.

Many

a quar-

settled in

my utmost joy, I later found many of my former friends and acquaintances, including my next-

San Jose, California where

door neighbor

in

family reunion.

many

I

Cholon

I lived.

To

for twenty years.

did not feel lonely

It

was much

anymore now

like a big

that

I

had so

old friends around.

The Enthusiasm Of My

Students

A year or so after settling in California, I met the owner of a Chinese herb shop in Oakland

dent physician. So, years

later,

the

I

resumed

to join him. Thus,

the

two herb shops. As

to join

in

I

slowly built up a

and friendship with members of the

as a resi-

couple of

San Francisco asked

found myself dividing

I

him

my private practice. A

owner of another herb shop

me

tion

who wanted me

my

time between

clientele,

local

my

associa-

community

also

expanded.

Due

to the low-tech

icine, the

and low-profile nature of Chinese med-

study and practice of

this

profession did not catch the

enthusiasm of youths in China. During several decades,

I

met only

a handful of

my

career that spanned

young people who had

expressed a sincere desire to learn Chinese medicine. Thus, pleasantly surprised interest in

when

I

discovered that there was

Chinese medicine, especially

were already

a

number

of

in

a

I

was

strong

California where there

acupuncture schools ottering licensure

programs.

Mv

private practice in San Francisco and

Oakland

facilitated

contact with other local practitioners oi Chinese medicine. Espe-

San Francisco 1979-1994:

My Permanent Home

87

daily gratifying was the development of friendships with a large

number

whom when we to

me

some of They had come

of American-born acupuncturists and herbalists,

met were

in their late twenties.

with a burning desire to learn more about the application

of Chinese herbs.

We thus

began a long and interesting dialogue

covering both medical and cultural topics.

Our exchanges took on two approaches. Some became apprenby coming

tices

observe

shop for a day or two each week to

how I diagnosed and prescribed herbs.

seminars where

and

to the herb

I

was

their treatment.

Others organized

invited to talk about certain medical cases

These regular exchanges further deepened the

understanding of Chinese medicine and our different cultures. Indeed, the enthusiasm of

me

my American students

encouraged

to write this book.

The

Side Effects of

Chemotherapy

One day, after I began practising in California, a Mr. Williams came to

my office accompanied by his wife. He was

ties,

and appeared

fragile in a six-foot frame.

puter engineer and loved basketball. for a couple of years sionally.

He

by

his

mid-twen-

Williams was a com-

He had had stomach trouble

and the stomach pain haunted him occa-

obtained temporary

cine prescribed

in his

relief

by taking an

ulcer medi-

Western doctor.

During the past few months, Williams was experiencing quent and intense stomach pain. it

was

cancer. Surgery

Williams

left

A detailed checkup showed that

was performed

the hospital in less

fre-

remove the stomach. than three weeks, and resumed to

work one month later. Because the cancer had

spread, he

was

receiv-

ing chemotherapy treatment.

The chemotherapy produced many adverse side effects. Since body weight had dropped by almost onethird, and he had lost his hair. But the most unpleasant symptoms were nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue, and low spirits. Williams was referred to me by one of his friends. leaving the hospital, his

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

88

Williams took

my prescription

regularly twice a week.

herbs did not interfere with his chemotherapy.

As

The

the chemicals

eradicated the cancer, the herbs nourished the body, regulated and

balanced the functions of the organs, and relieved the pain from the side effects of the chemotherapy.

Williams' condition improved visibly with an increase in

and body weight. "Your herbs

worked wonders!" was his comment. I was very happy to see a young man of another culture so ready to accept traditional medicine which he had not known about before. He continued to see me twice a month for half a year. Then unfortunately, the cancer could not be stopped. I paid him a visit during his last days. I was deeply touched when appetite

really

he held

my hand and thanked me for bringing some happiness to

the last

months of his

AIDS: Can The The spread

of

life.

Suffering

AIDS

Be Reduced?

has caused grave concern

Although the suffering of people dying of that of cancer patients, people

The

former.

centage of

all

over the world.

AIDS

is

seem to sympathize

reasons are not difficult to understand.

no

less

than

with the

less

A large per-

AIDS patients contract the disease through sharing drug

needles, or engaging in unsafe sexual activities. Consequently,

people think of

AIDS as someone else's problem

own. Nevertheless, ering of an

as a physician,

AIDS patient and

I

many

rather than their

cannot bear to see the with-

the pain and indignity

accompany-

ing the disease.

Mr.

Brown was

a

young man

in his late twenties.

1

was con-

le

firmed to be HIV-positive, and was advised by the hospital to enroll in a ot

monitoring and treatment program to delay the onset

lull-blown AIDS.

Brown was

seared and depressed.

1

le

could

not decide whether to enroll in the program. Sonic ot his friends referred

hope

him

that

to me.

Both Brown and

I

did not harbor any false

Chinese medicine could cure AIDS. Brown knew

that

San Francisco 1979-1994: his

My Permanent Home

89

days were numbered, but he feared the slow death and the

Western method of treatment. medicine.

I

had to

do what

I

He wanted

to try an alternative

could to lessen his suffering, and

possible, to delay the onset of

if

AIDS.

symptoms appear during the initial stage of HIV infection, I put Brown on a prescription of herbs that strengthened his body against infection. The herbs also increased his Since no specific

appetite,

boosted

his energy,

and nourished

his

blood and

skin.

He saw me once a week and reported that he was feeling better overall. He was eating more, sleeping better, and enjoying the outdoors. This situation continued for almost

two years during which

Brown was

and had actually gained

some

able to avoid major infections,

weight.

We were praying that the herbs would continue to

postpone the onset of AIDS.

One day however, Brown came down with a fever. With a usually healthy individual,

three prescriptions. I

suspected

it

such fevers should disappear

two or

But Brown had the fever for more than a week.

was an AIDS symptom and persuaded Brown

seek Western treatment which could administer Initially,

after

Brown was

reluctant to go because he

friends that the treatment

was

to

more potent drugs.

knew from

his

as painful as the disease.

AIDS. The docbut Brown suffered from nausea and other

Tests at the hospital confirmed the arrival of tors cured his fever, side effects

down

from the drugs

of his

immune

tion after another rashes,

treating the virus.

system,

Due

to the break-

Brown was plagued by one

which caused

fever, diarrhea,

infec-

mouth sores,

skin

and bronchitis. Brown continued with the herbs in order

to balance his

body

functions which had been disturbed

powerful chemical drugs.

I

gave

him

by

the

a modified version of the pre-

week went by when he was not affected by some kind of illness. However, Brown said that the herbs helped him a great deal in coping with his daily struggle. After seven months, Brown eventually died as a result of pneumonia. I admired his courage during the last few months when he,

scription.

Hardly

a

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

90

despite being so afflicted, continued to visit

wished

Skin

me

I

only

Mrs. Li brought her ten-year-old son to see me.

Due

could have done more to

I

regularly.

alleviate his suffering.

Irritations

One day

a

boy could not stop scratching his knees and the surrounding area. The mother had been applying skin ointments for some time with little effect. Continuous scratching had already

to itching, the

damaged

the skin.

Another skin case involved tions

on

a Mrs. Smith. She

the face and the hands for a

had had

number of years. The

irrita-

skin of

the affected areas were coarse, dry, and cracked. Medications and

skin lotions that she had tried did not produce a permanent cure.

A third case involved a Vietnamese immigrant named Mrs. Tran

who had ringworm.

abdomen and on some

Small violet-red circles appeared on the

parts of the back. She

was very uncom-

fortable because of the persistent itching. She had used various

medications without significant

results.

According to Chinese medicine, most skin conditions are ed to the blood and the

liver.

Thus, herbal treatment consists of

herbs that will "clean" the blood and "balance" the

manent cure normally takes patient

must

refrain

a

relat-

A per-

liver.

few months. During treatment, the

from stimulating food and beverages such

as

pepper, vinegar, and alcohol. Sea food such as crab and shellfish

may

cause itching of the skin as well.

In the above cases, the patients

came

Each time they reported some progress. tions according to

my

Alter a lew months, itching

and

Iran, the

all

their skin

ringworm

I

to see

me once

a

week.

adjusted their prescrip-

observations and each patient's feedback. three experienced complete

was restored

sites

from the

to normal. In the case of Mis.

changed slowly to

until they finally disappeared.

relict

violet,

then to yellow,

San Francisco 1979-1994: Fertility Is Fertility

is

My

Permanent

Home

91

A Qift From Nature

a gift

from

nature,

out problems. However,

and healthy persons reproduee with-

many

couples in America are not able to

bear children for various reasons. Interestingly, infertility

dom a problem that so

for people in developing countries.

many American

couples are affected by

One

infertility

is

sel-

reason their

is

postponement of having children. Then when they do decide,

many are past their prime for producing children. Another reason is

the use of the birth control

pill

which

is

designed to interfere

with a woman's natural cycle of egg production and release by the ovaries. After several years of constant use, the body's natural

reproductive cycle can be significantly altered.

Even

if

the

pill is

discontinued, the longtime usage will most likely result in irregular

may even produce a permanent negative impact of the woman.

menstruation.

on the

fertility

Infertility

It

can also be caused by various physical problems that

can reduce the chances of impregnation. In men, such problems can include lack of energy, difficulty in having or maintaining an erection,

premature ejaculation, and low sperm count. In women,

they can include anemia, irregular menstruation, and lack of energy,

among

others.

For both men and women, herbs can help

alle-

viate these physical problems.

In general, Chinese herbs restore the

anced condition. In treating

infertility,

vital

at increasing

to

its

normal

bal-

herbs are administered to

eliminate the deficiencies that have caused

herbs are aimed

body

For men, such

infertility.

sperm production and restoring the

energy of the kidneys. For

women,

the goal

is

strengthening

the receptiveness of the reproductive organ toward sperm.

Two

cases that

I

treated successfully

were

a

Mr. Johnson and

Mrs. Lyons. Mr. Johnson was in his mid-thirties.

He was

not in

good health not because of illness, but because of persistent weakness in general. His face at all active.

was

pale,

he was underweight, and was not

His Western doctor had confirmed that he had a low

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

92

sperm count.

He took my prescription

and gradually regained

strength.

regularly for about a year,

His appetite improved and he put

on more weight. He told me that he and his wife were enjoying having sex more often. Almost a year after he started on my prescription,

he happily reported that

his wife

was pregnant with

their

first child.

Mrs. Lyons was an accountant in her early

thirties.

After four

years of marriage, she and her lawyer husband finally wanted to

have a

child.

The couple

tried their best

but could not bring about

They came to see me and I determined that they had no major problems because they were in good health. All they needed were some herbs to increase the chances of pregnancy. I put the couple on separate fertility prescriptions for several months. They were cooperative patients, giving me feedback on what they felt after taking the fora pregnancy. (She

mulas, so that

I

had been on the

for several years.)

could adjust the prescription ingredients to fur-

ther improve the effectiveness.

on the

pill

herbs, Mrs.

About seven months

after starting

Lyons was confirmed to be pregnant.

The Road To Longevity The telephone rang one evening. A somewhat familiar voice asked if I remembered him. I took a couple of wild guesses. The caller then revealed his identity. It was Mu, my long-time friend and business partner in Cholon!

Mu did in 1975.

not leave Vietnam

Over

when

the ensuing ten years, he lost his business and was

sent to a labor

camp

countryside. Life was tougher than

in the

lie

could have possibly imagined.

to

Cholon

in 1986.

rebuilt part of his ly flourished, 1

the Saigon regime collapsed

Mu was

I

le

a resilient

was

finally

man who

allowed to return never gave up.

1

le

former Stationery business. Mu's enterprise slow-

but he

left

laving learned ol

tor

my

San Francisco to see me.

Canada anyway

whereabouts,

We

to join Ins daughters.

Mu made a special

trip to

were overjoyed when we met Alter

My Permanent Home

San Francisco 1979-1994:

more than twenty hair

years,

93

Mu was as tough as ever, despite his grey

and stooped back which he blamed on the hard labor of

lift-

ing stones in the Vietnamese countryside.

Mu's career had

started as an

entrepreneurial talent carried

employee

him

in

our herb

he lost

He used

to say:

and Heaven takes away, but a determined person a way." This

in

was what kept him going despite

Communist takeover. is still

all

"Heaven

will

gives

always find

the hardship after

In his mid-seventies, five years

my junior,

enthusiastic about the potential business opportunities

Cholon when

their

Even though

his entire fortune, he was ready to forgive and never har-

bored bitterness toward anyone.

he

His

to eventual ownership of a mil-

lion-dollar business of selling stationery products.

the

store.

the

Hanoi government

finally decides to

open

domestic market to the world.

Mu is a survivor. He invested all his energy into building his dream business but seldom indulged success.

good count

He

donated generously to

to others

in enjoying the fruits of his

charity, believing that

doing

would guarantee happiness in life. Mu liked to He did not see them as expanding deposit

his blessings.

accounts in the bank.

He

found happiness

in nurturing his chil-

He took comfort in seeing the Buddhist temples he sponsored feed and shelter the poor. He enjoyed dren into independent adults.

the

company of friends, and was ready to

offer help

when he saw

a need.

Mu realizes the fleeting nature of material wealth, as experiWhat one owns today can easily be swept away tomorrow by a natural disaster, or it can be destroyed by man-made events such as war. Even if one's material wealth can enced by him personally.

escape destruction,

its

departure from one's possession cannot be

avoided. There exists only a thin line dividing

life

and death tak-

ing into account the occurrences of terminal disease, traffic acci-

dent and street crime. In between

life

and death, there

also exists

the possibility of incapacitation. All of these potential mishaps

make

life

seem very

fragile indeed.

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

94

seems so

If life

fragile

and material wealth so

fleeting,

people so obsessed with materialism? Perhaps

human

nature.

covered the true meaning of to give

away

it

life.

to charity, or invest

realize that material things are

one

is

They amass

born into

it

and

material wealth, only

in future generations.

we

leaving. If

believe that

cannot be the creation of material wealth

it

ership of material things meaningful during one's lifetime

good deeds one does with them and If

good deeds and happiness

years in happiness in

in this world. This

is

the

sounds sim-

true, yet so difficult to appreciate, let alone to practise.

no longer take on any

will

They

we shall lose it all at the time of death. What makes own-

because

ple

dis-

world empty-handed with no possessions,

this

has a mission,

light

only the means to an end, for every-

and has to surrender everything upon life

just part of

it is

However, many people have seen the

why are

are the

meaning of life, longevity

significance. It

by doing good

is

better to live twenty

to others, than to live forty years

misery without seeing the true meaning of

longevity

is

mainly a

state of

life.

Consequently,

mind and should not be measured

in

years. I

am

fortunate to have

philosophy about lar beliefs as

happier.

life. I

Mu as a close friend and to share his

have noticed that people

who

Mu manage to live longer. The reason

They

are able

to throw away

is

their obsession

that they are

with expand-

worry and

ing or losing their material wealth. Obsession breeds anxiety, ly

when

which have

a debilitating effect

on

one's health especial-

these emotions plague a person day after

Understanding the meaning of

life is

that

must be pursued

humans

is

is

the other part.

prevention, which consists of

in parallel.

The

are an integral part of nature.

respect and live in

daw

already halfway toward

achieving longevity. Taking care of one's health

The key to good health

harmony with

hold simi-

first is

two

aspects

the realization that

As such, we must

learn to

nature. Polluting and upsetting

the delicate balance of nature can only create misery tor mankind.

The second

aspect

is

the practice ot moderation. This

means main-

San Francisco 1979-1994:

between work,

taining a balance also

My Permanent Home

means maintaining

body

ing the

As tions.

95

play, eating, rest,

a healthy

and balanced

I

overcome by an

illness. I practise

and protect-

practise

have seldom been

prevention everyday by main-

Kung

Fu,

Qi Gong, or

walk two miles everyday

An additional

I

my activities. For exercise, many of my patients

taining a balance in

ality, I just

It

have been exposed to a great variety of infec-

However, by taking good care of myself,

I

diet,

exercise.

against infection.

a practitioner,

think that

and

in

aspect of prevention

But

Tai Chi.

in actu-

my neighborhood. is

the centuries-old Chi-

nese tradition of incorporating herbs and foods that can help pre-

vent disease, into the daily meals.

How this

geographic regions of China. Since

and foods that

I

I

is

done varies with the

am from

Canton, the herbs

use will reflect the traditions of southern China.

(See chapter 8 for a discussion of preventing illness using herbs

and

special foods. In addition, see chapter 7 for a

formula for

longevity.)

How Costly For a lane car.

Is

The Automobile?

first-time visitor to

highway

full

America's love

and grow. Besides

America, a lasting impression

affair

its utility

dom, independence, and a

the multi-

with the automobile continues to grow

and convenience, the automobile pro-

vides an expression of traditional

is

is

of automobiles, mostly with just one person per

American values such

individualism.

as free-

While private car ownership

luxury for most countries, the car has become almost an

absolute necessity in American society

and way of

From which

life

life.

The

car has transformed our

more than any other invention in history. more driving means less walking,

a health standpoint,

in turn

part of daily

means deprivation of the most

life.

basic exercise that

In addition, driving can be stressful because of

the constant sitting and of having to focus close attention road.

As

is

on the

the stress adds up, one's physical and mental well-being

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

96 are affected. This

on

is

certainly reflected in the incivility that occurs

the road every day. Interestingly, once out of the car, people

behave more gently toward one another. Hence, the automobile brings out the worst in people probably because of the stress caused

by

driving.

In addition, the cost of the automobile to the environment

multiplying precipitously, as evidenced by the polluted

air,

is

and

Amerare proud of their car ownership statistics which average two

mountains of rubber icans

tires,

and other discarded auto example for the

cars per family. This sets an

follow, for they

want

parts.

rest of the

world to

to attain this standard of living, too. If pri-

vate car ownership continues to grow, especially in the develop-

ing countries

what

will

which account

for

most of the world's population,

happen to the environment decades from now?

Low-Cost Health Care For Society Health care

is

The demand

the

most important among

for health care

is

all

consumer

The need

universal.

age as the physical condition of a person weakens.

must

see a doctor or take a prescription,

it is

services.

increases with

When a person

due to

a physical or

emotional condition that forces that person to seek help. Consequently, charging a high price for medical help in distress

is

is

a

moral issue

ourselves and other people.

ety.

to

There

all.

bility

is

a

person

is

not only cruel, but immoral.

Health care

better health

when

if

It is

we

believe in love and care tor

good investment because

also a

improves productivity and lessens the burden to

no question

The problem

is

of a society and

that health care should be

how and

its

to

what

extent.

government to rind

made

It is

soci-

available

the responsi-

a standard that

is

both

universal and affordable. Achieving that standard ultimately

depends on the success ot cost containment for medical In Asian societies Iv practised, a patient

where

traditional

Chinese medicine

services. is

wide

can get help easily without the need tor gov-

San Francisco 1979-1994:

My Permanent Home

97

eminent subsidy. Although a small consultation practitioner with a kind heart

those

who

I

charged, the

is

always willing to waive the fee for

my

cannot afford to pay. During

Cholon,

tice in

is

fee

thirty years of prac-

dedicated one afternoon of the

week

to free con-

sultation for the poor.

Furthermore, traditional herbs are quite inexpensive, and their cost

is

stable despite periodic

bad weather, war, and

moil in the places of origin. Because

many herbs

political tur-

have overlapping

healing effects, the herbalist can always substitute high-price herbs

with cheaper ones, thus sparing the patient's budget. Apart from

what the

herbalist can do, the

owner of the herb shop

to waive the charge for the herbs

if

the patient

is

is

inclined

in a dire finan-

cial strait.

The

hospitals that provide traditional medical services in Asia

are either

run by government or charity organizations. Hospital

expenses are low because of low tech equipment. In

staff cost,

and the absence of high-

China for example, health care

to the remote villages

by

even brought

is

traveling doctors. Thus, in Asia

where

the standards of living and medical technology are relatively low,

Although the quality can-

health care costs are easily contained.

not match that of the West, health care

maintained

is

at

an appro-

priate level consistent with the local standard of living, acceptable to the local population. Apart

medicine which

is

available to

all,

from low-cost

Western medicine

is

and

is

traditional

also acces-

who can afford

it. Some hospitals of Western medon the complexity of diseases they treat, subsidized by the government. In China today, Chi-

sible for those

icine base their services

and are also

nese and Western medicines are integrated in

many

hospitals in

order to reap the benefits of both modalities. In America, the health care system

dard of living specialized,

is

high, the medical field

The

is

quite different.

is

highly technologized and

and the health care system

is

extremely sophisticated

and includes the participation of insurance companies and neys.

The consequence

is

stan-

a high price for patients,

attor-

and high cost

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

98

The probcontainment, because an increasing num-

for employers, government, and even for practitioners.

lem we must face is

cost

ber of consumers and employers cannot afford to pay for health

The government

care.

is

also finding

increasing health care subsidy.

difficult to

Another problem

fund a rapidly the quality of

is

Universal coverage seems out of reach, and increasingly lim-

care.

ited

it

coverage becomes the

rule, especially for the elderly.

While we continue to grapple with cost containment,

it

may

be worthwhile to investigate the possibility of incorporating ditional

tra-

methods of health care into the American system. The

low-cost nature of Chinese medicine presents a great advantage.

The

effectiveness of

ly reduce the claim

Chinese herbs for

on

common illnesses can vast-

existing health care resources. Since Chi-

nese medicine emphasizes prevention, especially through the use of tonic herbs which invigorate the

body and boost

its

defenses,

an additional savings can be achieved. Another advantage of Chinese medicine

is

that patients receive customized herbal prescrip-

tions that are inexpensive

which

and more desirable than pharmaceuticals

are only for the "average" patient,

side effects. Thus,

ditional

many

and which usually cause

benefits can be derived

Chinese medicine

as

by adopting

tra-

an adjunct to Western medicine in

America.

Qod

Bless

America,

One morning were

My Adopted Country

in the spring of 1985,

sitting in a large

room

my

son John,

his wife,

and

of the U.S. Immigration Office in

I

San

Jose, California, for the naturalization swear-in ceremony. There

were two hundred or so citizens-to-be, mainly of Asian and Me\ lean descent.

The judge came

in,

performed the short but solemn

ceremony, then congratulated and welcomed us United

At age seventy-five, ship.

1

as citizens of the

States.

was born

a

this

was

to be

my

Chinese citizen but saw

third

my

and

last

citizen-

native country go

San Francisco 1979-1994:

My Permanent Home

through turbulent and agonizing times.

99

When I was

young, Chi-

nese citizenship carried almost no rights and privileges compared to those enjoyed

middle age,

by the foreign occupiers on Chinese

became

I

a

South Vietnamese citizen but

izenship as the country

happy

to have

apart twenty years

fell

found an adopting country.

I

later.

In

my

my

cit-

soil.

lost

Now,

am proud

I

am

to be an

American.

The

greatness of

America

lies

in the high principles

and

ideals

expressed in the Declaration of Independence and safeguarded by the Constitution. it,

The democratic system,

and the resultant opportunities

stant stream of immigrants

from

ready acceptance and toleration of

country with

America

is

new

ideas

a relatively

the free enterprise spir-

available have attracted a conall

over the world. America's

many things foreign infuse the

and energy so

essential for self-renewal.

young country whose people

dreams and view things with a certain degree of unique American

quality. It

is

believe in

naivete. This

desirable because only great

is

a

dreams

can lead to great achievements previously thought to be impossible.

With the ic

collapse of the Soviet

power of Europe and

Union and

Pacific Asia, the

the rising

world

is

econom-

evolving into a

multipolar system where economic competition will intensify to

an extent never seen before. As other countries develop, the impor-

economy relative to the rest of the world will undoubtedly decline. As a consequence, American influence in world affairs will be more limited. As the twenty-first century tance of the U.S.

approaches, America

is

immersed

in

enormous domestic prob-

lems such as the rising cost of health care, the federal

deficit, dif-

ficulty in job creation, declining standard of education

which

in

turn lowers productivity, drug abuse, increasing street violence,

and the breakup of the family

The next century

will

unit.

be one

when

the rest of the world will

how we Americans try to transform and reinOur domestic problems will tax every bit of our resolve, ingenuity, and courage. Our ability to lead the world will

be watching closely vent ourselves.

1

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

00

depend on the success of our domestic reforms. As always,

great

countries achieve great things through the willingness to accept

the challenges posed

shown

by

the world that

great problems.

we

As

a nation,

are able to gather our strength

resources to tackle the great problems facing us.

or

fail as

we have done

recover in the process. end.

in the past.

We

we have

We may stumble

However, we

are sure that

we

and

shall

shall learn

triumph

and

in the

Chapter 7

Herbal Prescriptions

The Art Of Writing

An

Effective Prescription

The primary goal of the medical profession suffering

due to

illness.

For an

is

to alleviate

herbalist, writing

human

an effective

is what the job is all about. To bring about an herbal by no means a mechanical procedure governed by a fixed set of formulas. Through trial and error early in the herbalist's career, success eventually comes when enough experience about and insight into a diversity of medical cases have been gained. The

prescription

cure

is

factors contributing to the complexity of formulating an effective

prescription are enumerated below. First,

most herbs have multiple healing

effects.

normally wants to enhance only some desired the

rest.

This

is

The

effects

herbalist

and suppress

done through combination with other herbs. But

the other herbs in the formula also have multiple effects. Thus, the

method of correctly combining herbs probably the most

to yield the desired effect

difficult skill to master.

later in this chapter.

101

is

This will be explained

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

102

body chemistry and physiAn herbal prescription that works for one person

Second, every patient cal condition.

may

not

work

unique

is

in

for another.

Third, the herbalist depends on the patient for a second to

examine the

more

visit

results of the first prescription. In difficult cases,

consultations

may be required to enable the herbalist to com-

plete the cure with a better prescription. If the patient does not return, the herbalist will be deprived of valuable feedback.

Fourth, each herbal prescription

is

unique for each

patient. If

the prescription does not work, the herbalist shoulders

blame and must formulate a better one. This thetic drugs. lar patient,

For example,

if

is

aspirin does not

all

the

in contrast to syn-

work

for a particu-

the physician simply switches to another ready-made

drug and informs the patient of the unsuitability of aspirin for that particular case.

Where should one begin logical starting point

is

to

become an herbalist? The amass the knowledge about different

herbs and their therapeutic ship in the old times.

tured program

in order to

effects.

This was done by apprentice-

However, beginning

in the 1930s, a struc-

of Chinese herbal medicine has been offered by

medical schools in China. Similar programs are also offered by schools of acupuncture and oriental medicine elsewhere.

knowledge of herbs

consists of empirical evidence of their heal-

ing effects as recorded in medical literature. Thus, ists

would-be herbal-

can learn the basic technique for writing prescriptions

and from textbooks. This knowledge serves the training and internship period patients occurs. tising herbalists

The

The

final test

must deal with

when

comes

as a

on

school

foundation for

supervised treatment of

in the real

patients

at

their

world when prac-

own.

This

is

where

the road to mastery begins.

Today, there are around one thousand herbs that arc commercially available. This represents the universe of herbs from

which an

herbalist can prescribe.

expensive. Since

Some

are rare

and others are very

main herbs have overlapping

effects,

based on

Herbal

Prescriptions

1

experience, the herbalist can

narrow

this universe

03

of herbs to around

three hundred of the less expensive ones. Generally, these include

the herbalist's

own

usually write a prescription that consists of ten to

prescribes.

I

teen herbs.

Other

herbalists

ods of cure. Given effects

favored herbs from which he/she normally

have their

own unique styles and

fif-

meth-

this diversity of prescription styles, therapeutic

can vary widely. The ultimate

test is

determined by the heal-

ing progress of the patient.

more than one way to treat In writing an herbal prescription, there is no standard procedure to follow, except for some basic formulas presented in In Chinese medicine, there can be

an

illness.

the classical medical literature. Thus, the herbalist has the sole responsibility of delivering an effective prescription. If other factors

remain the same, the herbalist

has seen a diversity of cases

who

ence. Like

more experienced and an

ail-

than a

sci-

in a better position to heal

is

ment. Writing an herbal prescription

it

is

is

more of an

music and painting, one perfects the

art

everyday. Just following a textbook can never

art

simply by doing

make

a

Beethoven

or a Picasso. Mastery comes with small refinements over

many

The few years spent in school pro-

years of practice and reflection.

vide only a foundation to serve as a starting point.

To

treat

an ailment, the traditional herbalist

first

diagnoses

by

by feeling the pulse on the wrist, and by asking questions. No modern diagnostic techniques are employed such as X-rays or blood tests. The herbalist then comes to a conclusion as to what type of ailment it is and what herbs to observation, touch, smell,

prescribe. Starting ist

with the basic herbs learned in school, the herbal-

adds to and subtracts from

this basic list

ticular condition of the patient.

The

according to the par-

herbalist then determines the

proportions of each herb that will yield the best possible

The patient takes

the prescription to an herb store,

""Herbal formulas that have already been prepared in

be selected.

effect.""

where the herbs

pill

form may

also

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

104 will

be put together in the prescribed quantities in a package. The

patient takes the package

to

make

a tea

home,

which the patient then

With regard

A diagnosis

These

facts

traditional

more

it

in

water for about an hour

drinks.

to diagnosis, the question that arises

the chances of misdiagnosis

used?

boils

is

a

when no

is,

what

are

sophisticated equipment

human judgment based on the facts

is

obtained.

can be obtained through a variety of methods, both

and modern. In some

effective,

and

instances,

modern methods

in others, traditional diagnosis

is

are

sufficient to

mean that traditional methods cannot be supplemented by modern ones as human knowledge expands, or that the use of modern tech-

yield a correct conclusion about the disease. This does not

nology necessarily leads to a correct diagnosis.

Some may

question the risks involved

when

ratory analyses and controlled clinical tests

very

labo-

little

on herbs have been

done. In actuality, millions of people around the world, especially in Asia, have

herbs are tiveness. tain

life.

still

widely used

Herbs

If

been using herbs since time immemorial. That is

testimony to their safety and

are products of nature

we consider ourselves

the value of nature

s

effec-

which nourish and

a part of nature,

sus-

we will appreciate

products, and will not hesitate to take advan-

tage of these products.

The

effects of

herbs contrast greatly with those of synthetic

drugs.

Herbs usually do not produce an immediate

cure. Their

effects

can take hours or even days to be manifested.

When

cure an

illness,

tion. In contrast, synthetic ic

they

they also bring the body to a better overall condi-

drugs are invented to cure very specif-

ailments through concentrated dosages. Unlike natural herbs,

they do not have a long history of empirical testing on ty ot subjects.

To compensate

on rigorous laboratory and produce side

effects.

must

rely

clinical testing to establish their safety

mk\ effectiveness. Even with still

tor this, synthetic drugs

a diversi-

all

the testing, most pharmaceuticals

Herbal

To

Prescriptions

1

write an effective prescription, the herbalist should stress

the therapeutic effects of herbs ter to rely

on hard

more than medical

than on a

facts

undergoing refinement. During tice, I

05

have always

let

empirical

theory.

human concept that

my

is

It is

bet-

constantly

sixty years of medical prac-

knowledge and

practical experi-

my prescriptions. The first prescription mainly based on my diagnosis. This first

ence be the foundation of I

write for a patient

is

prescription seldom produces a complete cure.

ond

visit

(and ensuing

visits if

of prescription writing.

At

necessary)

is

The

patient's sec-

when I practice the art

this time, the results of the

previously

prescribed herbs can be closely examined and evaluated. Further-

more, the nosis.

results will validate

Based on

this additional

into the particular case,

my previous prescription and diaginformation,

I

can gain more insight

and adjust the prescription for a complete

cure.

The Composition of the Herbal Prescription As mentioned er

above, combining herbs in a prescription to deliv-

an effective cure

is

a

complex and

learned through practice. There are

how herbs

intricate art that

no straightforward

To help

rules

about

should be combined. The composition of a formula

depends on the condition of the patient and the ist.

can only be

illustrate this point, the

style of the herbal-

following table

is

presented.

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

106

Strengthening Effects of Selected Herbs on the Body Heart

Ginseng (ren shen)

Tang-kuci

(dang gui)

Peony root bark (mu dan pi) Notoginseng (san qi)

Astragalus

(huang

qi)

Psoralea

(bu gu zhi) Poria (fu ling)

Atractylodes (bai zhu)

Ophiopogon (mai

men dong)

Ligusticum (chuan xiong) Biota seed (bai zi ren)

Polygala

(yuan zhi)

Lycium

fruit

(gouqrzi)

Peony (bai shao)

Gentiana (long

dan cao)

Raw rehmannia (sbeng di huang)

Ash hark (qinpi)

Saussurea

(mu xiang) I

law thorn

li

(shan zha) (

\

nanchum

(h.n qian)

mi

Liver

Stomach

Lungs

Kidneys

Blood

Qi/Energy

Herbal

Prescriptions

1

07

Strengthening Effects of Selected Herbs on the Body (continued) Heart

Liver

Stomach

Lungs

•

•

•

Brassica seed

Kidneys

Blood

Qi/Knergy

(baijie zi) •

•

Agrimony (xian he cao)

•

Gecko (gejie)

Eucommia

•

(du zhong) •

Morinda (ba ji tian)

Dodder (tii si

•

seed

zi)

Cynamorium

•

(suo yang)

The herbs

in the table represent a

sample of

my favorite herbs;

each has strengthening capabilities on various parts of the body.

Based on

this table,

it is

easy to identify the appropriate herbs to

be used for an ailment associated with an organ. Suppose a kid-

ney ailment

column

is

to be treated, the herbalist can check the "kidneys"

to find

all

the herbs listed in that column. These, then, are

the herbs that can be included in the prescription package for they

have a

common strengthening effect on the kidneys.

However, the multiple thought. This

effects of those

herbs warrant further

insight come in. Does weak heart? Does the patient complain about Does the kidney ailment lower the patient's ener-

is

where the diagnosis and the

the patient have a

poor appetite? gy

level significantly? Is there a fever

accompanying the kidney

What will be the body's reactions to those herbs? There may be other observations and considerations to take into account. ailment?

The following discussion should

Moutan (mu dan pi).

help elucidate this line of thinking.

Besides strengthening the kidneys, this

herb also strengthens the heart, the

liver

and the blood. Accord-

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

108

ing to the Five Phases correspondences (see chapter

neys will lead to a weak

heart (restraining sequence).

"weak"

harmony

body

of

weak

the patient has a

if

liver

herb

If

may

the patient has a strong pulse but

on

increasing the energy level,

Biota seed (bai zi ren). for

the blood

which

weak

is

and

will not

be of

by

weak kidneys, this on the heart. This

effect

considered desirable.

The only other

Psoralea (bu gu zhi).

a

heart as manifested

not be suitable due to the side

herb's nourishing effect

are referring to

but not on the heart.

pulse, strengthening the heart will be desirable

concern.

kid-

functions. Consequently, this

herb has a desirable side effect on the

However,

weak

should be noted that "strong" and

meaning because we

are only relative in

the balance and

It

1),

sequence) but a strong

liver (generating

effect this

herb has

is

desirable.

is

The same reasoning can be

applied as

peony root bark (mu dan pi). Polygala (yuan

zhi).

In addition to the kidneys, this herb

strengthens the heart and the lungs.

be of concern

as explained for

ever, the effect

on

The

effect

on the

heart

peony root bark (mu dan pi).

may

How-

the lungs indirectly helps the kidneys (gener-

ating sequence). Thus, this herb gives the kidneys an additional

boost.

Lycium

fruit

neys and the effect

on the

Gecko

(gou qi

liver.

zi).

This herb strengthens both the kid-

Strengthening the kidneys also has a positive

liver (generating sequence).

(gejie).

This herb strengthens both the kidneys and the

lungs. Strengthening the lungs indirectly helps the kidneys (gen-

erating sequence).

For the remaining herbs which include eucommia (du zhong), morinda (baji

tian),

dodder seed

(tu si zi\

and cynamorium (suo

yang), the same reasoning applies as for lycium fruit (gou qi

Based on the above thinking, included

in

each other

all

zi).

ten herbs identified can be

the prescription package. These herbs will reinforce

when

they act on the kidneys. In addition, they will

affect the heart, liver, lunes,

blood, and enerev

level.

But these

/ Icrbal Prescriptions

effects will

1

be moderate

relative to the reinforced effect

on the

09

kid-

neys. With regard to the three herbs that also strengthen the heart, if

the patient has a

weak

heart, then the effect of the herbs will be

a positive one. If the heart

is

not weak, these three herbs can

be used because as the kidneys are strengthened, the heart restrained.

Depending on the

patient's other

be substituted or added to yield the desired

For

a prescription to be effective,

it

so that they will reinforce each other. achieve

two

things: a

main

body

also

symptoms, herbs can effects.

must include

several herbs

A formula must be able to

effect to cure the ailment,

portive effect that will not disrupt the

bring the

is

still

body

and

a sup-

functions but will

to a higher level of balanced strength.

The remainder of this chapter presents prescriptions for comailments. The herbs and formulas are ones that I have used

mon

over the past decades. Each of these prescriptions serves as a guide only. It does not

mined

list

proportions or weights, which must be deter-

for each individual case.

ers will gain

more

By studying these formulas,

read-

insight into the art of prescription writing. In

addition since herbalists and herb supplies are not available to every patient

who

tablet form.

section).

needs them,

They are

I

have prepared herbal prescriptions in

available

from Health Concerns

(see resource

110

AIDS At

Relief

this time, there

ful disease of

is

no known medicine

that can cure the dread-

AIDS. The AIDS patient is subject to all kinds body loses its defense against diseases.

of

infection as the

Prescription Rationale

Many

Chinese herbs are capable of improving the overall condi-

tion of the body. This prescription specific infection. Instead,

its

is

not aimed

intention

is

at

addressing a

to nourish the blood,

reinvigorate the vital energy, and to restore the equilibrium of the

body functions so

that

its

defense mechanism

is

able to fight infec-

tions.

Recommended Herbs English

Name

Pharmaceutical

Name

Chinese

Name

gm

Radix Angelicae Sinensis

dang

Ligusticum

Radix Ligustici Chuanxiong

cbuan xiong

Codonopsis

Radix Codonopsitis Pilosulae

dang shen

Rehmannia

Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae

shu di huang

Tang-kuei

Conquitae Cistanche

Herba Cistanches Deserticolae

you cong rong

Atractylodes

Rhizoma

box zhu

Atractylodis

Macrocephalae

Cinnamon twig

Hamulus Cinnamomi Cassiae

gut zhi

Morinda

Radix Morindae Officinalis

ba

Peony

Radix Paeoniae Lactiflorae

bat shoo

Cynomonum

Herba Cynomorii Songarici

suoyang

}!

tun

Ill

Alcohol Poisoning Excessive alcohol consumption over a long period can have a devastating effect

on one's

health.

For the occasional drinker,

overindulging can aggravate an existing health problem.

Prescription Rationale This prescription

is

intended for occasional drinkers

ence a bout of alcohol poisoning.

who

The following herbs

experi-

"clean" the

blood, restore the vitality of the liver and kidneys, and regulate the water content of the body.

Recommended Herbs English

Name

Pharmaceutical

Name

Chinese

Name

American ginseng

Radix Panacis Quinquefolii

xi yang shen

Pueraria flower

Flos Puerariae

gehua

Viola

Herba cum Radice Violae

zi

hua

di ding

Yedoensitis

Chaenomelis

Fructus Chaenomelis

mugua

Licorice

Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis

gan cao

Raw rehmannia

Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae

sheng di huang

Curcuma

Tuber Curcumae

yu jin

Magnolia bark

Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis

houpo

Jasmine flower

Flos Jasmini Officinale

su xin

hua

112

Allergy To Pollen

common Symptoms may include

Allergy to pollen, or hayfever,

during the spring. nasal congestion,

is

a

watery eyes, and skin

condition, especially

sneezing, coughing,

rash.

Prescription Rationale

The following herbs

are intended to relieve itching; to reduce

swelling; to strengthen the lungs;

and to nourish the

skin, the eyes

and other sense organs. The herbs also have an overall

effect of

promoting the flow of vital energy.

Recommended Herbs English

Name

Silcr

Xanthium

fruit

Pharmaceutical

Name

Chinese

Name

Radix Ledebouriellae Divaricatae

fangfeng

Fructus Xanthii

cang er

Sibirici

zi

Perilla leaf

Folium

Cinnamon twig

Ramulus Cinnamomi Cassiae

gui zhi

Atractylodes

Rhizoma

cang zhu

Codonopsis

Radix Codonopsitis Pilosulae

dang shen

Perillae Frutescentis

Atractylodis

zi sh

ye

Radix Angelicae Dahuricae

bdi zhi

Spina Gleditsiae Sinensis

zoo

Bup leu rum

Radix Bupleuri

thai hit

Lonicera flower

Flos Lonicerae Japonicae

jin

Angelica root

Honey locust

spine

jiao ci

ym

hua

113

Appendicitis Inflammation of the appendix

is

sometimes due to blockage of the

appendix opening by a small stone formed from digestive wastes.

Chinese herbs are tis.

However,

effective

infection

during the

and gangrene

stages of appendici-

initial

may

lead to bursting of the

appendix wall which requires surgery to remove the appendix and to clean the abdominal cavity.

Prescription Rationale

According to Chinese medicine, appendix inflammation malfunction of the

which

results in

The herbs

in the

vital

due to

is

organs, especially the digestive system,

food stagnation or sluggishness of the

intestines.

formula below are used to reduce inflammation

and pain, and to clean the blood. In addition, the herbs invigorate the digestive system so that food stagnation

is

eliminated.

Recommended Herbs English

Name

Tang-kuei

Gardenia

'

Pharmaceutical

Name

Chinese

Radix Angelicae Sinensis

dang gui

Name

Fructus Gardeniae Jasminoidis

zhi zi

Scutellaria

Radix Scutellariae Baicalensis

huang qin

Akebia

Caulis

Notoginseng

Radix Notoginseng

san qi

Coptis

Rhizoma Coptidis

huang

Phellodendron

Cortex Phellodendri

huang bai

fruit

Mutong

mu

tong

lian

Peach seed

Semen

Pueraria

Radix Puerariae

gegen

Raw rehmannia

Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae

sheng di huang

Saussurea

Radix Aucklandiae Lappae

mu xiang

Bupleurum

Radix Bupleuri

chai

Persicae

tao ren

hu

114

Arthritis

Inflammation of the

factors. Presently, there tis.

The

en

is

ailment tends to worsen with aging or with sudden weath-

er changes. In illness,

known as arthritis, is due to various no known medicine that can cure arthri-

joints,

Chinese medicine,

due to the

after

an

arthritis

fact that the aches

individual

is

is

known

as

"wind damp"

and pains of the

exposed

to

joints

cold,

wors-

wind,

or

dampness/humimidty.

Prescription Rationale

From

the Chinese medical viewpoint, exposure to cold, wind, or

dampness changes the nature of the blood to a consequence, blood flow

becomes

to be captured in the tissues

"flushed out"

by

its

aches and pains of the joints.

joints,

is

As

thought

and cannot be lies in

restoring

original state, thus alleviating the

The following prescription produces

effects: reinvigorating the

inflammation.

around the

a certain extent.

Dampness

the slowed blood flow. Relief

the nature of the blood to

two

sluggish.

blood flow and reducing

arthritis

115

Arthritis,

continued

Recommended Herbs English

Name

Pharmaceutical

Name Chinese Name

Tang-kuei

Radix Angelicae Sinensis

dang gui

Kirin ginseng

Radix Ginseng

ji lin

Chinese quince

Fructus Chaenomelis

mu

Cinnamon twig

Ramulus Cinnamomi Cassiae

gui zhi

Rehmannia

Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae

shu di huang

shen

Conquitae Millettia

Radix

Fleeceflower root

Radix Polygoni Multiflori

he shou

Cistanche

Herba Cistanches Deserticolae

rou cong rong

et

Caulis Jixueteng

ji

xue teng

wu

Loranthus

Ramulus Sangjisheng

sang ji sheng

Pubescent root

Radix Angelicae Pubescentis

du huo

Notoginseng

Radix Notoginseng

san qi

Wild ginger

Herba cum Radix Asari

xi xin

Achyranthes

Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae

niu xi

Prevention Protect the

body

against

sudden changes of weather

Avoid long periods of exposure to Avoid overexertion Rest sufficiently

Avoid alcoholic beverages

cold, wind, or

dampness

116

Asthma Asthma ing,

attack der,

is

characterized

by shortness of breath, wheezing, cough-

and gasping, due to constriction of the bronchi.

may be triggered by an allergy such as

and the

smoke can

like.

An

asthma

to pollen, dust, dan-

Respiratory infections, exposure to cold

air

or to

also set off attacks as can physical or emotional stress.

Prescription Rationale

The following

prescription

is

aimed

at

reducing cough and other

asthma symptoms. The herbs help nourish the lungs and the piratory tract, tors of

promote blood

Cold and Wind

circulation,

and dispel harmful

res-

fac-

in the body.

Recommended Herbs English

Name

Pharmaceutical

Name

Chinese

Name

Ephedra

Herba Ephedrae

ma huang

Siler

Radix Ledebouriellae Divaricatae

fangfeng

Gypsum

Gypsum

shi

Fructus Gardeniae Jasminoidis

zhi zi

Gardenia

fruit

gao

Apricot seed

Semen Armeniacae Pruni

xing ren

Wild ginger

Herba cum Radix Asari

xi

Licorice

Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis

gA)l coo

Pinellia

Rhizoma

ban xu

Fritillaria

Bulbus

Cinnamon twig

Ramulus Cinnamomi Cassiae

Pinelliae Ternatae

Fritillariae

xm

chuan bei

Cirrhosae

gui zhi

Prevention Avoid ice-cold and peppery foods

Avoid environmental conditions

that can trieeer m\

asthma attack

mu

117

Baldness Baldness, especially in

men

as

should not be considered an

they age,

is

usually hereditary, and

illness.

Prescription Rationale

Chinese medical theory considers the hair an extension of the blood. Thus, nourishing the blood should produce healthy

The herbs hair,

in the following

promote

hair growth,

hair.

formula are used to maintain healthy

and delay the onset of baldness.

Recommended Herbs Name

Name

Chinese

Tang-kuei

Radix Angelica Sinensis

dang gui

Lycium

English

Name

Pharmaceutical

Fructus Lycii

gou qi zi

Codonopsis

Radix Codonopsitis Pilosulae

dang shen

Cistanche

Herba Cistanches Deserticolae

rou cong rong

Ho shou wu

Radix Polygoni Multiflori

he shou

Rehmannia

Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae

shu di huang

fruit

wu

Conquitae Ligusticum

Radix Ligustici Chuanxiong

chuan xiong

Red peony

Radix Paeoniae Rubrae

chi shao

Ligustrum

Fructus Ligustri Lucidi

nu zhen

Cornus

Fructus Corni Officinalis

shan zhu yu

Gelatin

Gelatinum Corii Asini

e jiao

zi

118

Beauty Enhancement For

composed of two aspects natural and artificial. Natbeauty is reflected by the individual's physical and emotion-

Beauty ural

Women

is

:

al states. Artificial

beauty

is

which can

the individual's appeareance

be enhanced through cosmetics, apparel, or even plastic surgery.

Prescription Rationale

A woman's natural beauty such as her deportment, composure, and behavior

is

simply a manifestation of the

state of

her health.

Chinese herbs can enhance natural beauty by improving the

wom-

and emotional conditions. The following pre-

an's overall physical

scription emphasizes nourishing the blood, moistening the skin,

and harmonizing the functions of vital organs.

Recommended Herbs English

Name

Pharmaceutical

Aster root

Radix Asteris

Eclipta

Herba

Name

Tatarici

Ecliptae Prostratae

Herba cum Radice Violae

Viola

Chinese zi

wan

ban zi

Name

lian cao

hua

di ding

Yedoensitis

American ginseng

Radix Panacis Quinguefolii

xiyangshen

Lonicera flower

Flos Lonicerac Japonicae

jin yin

Jasmine flower

Flos Jasmini Officinale

sit

Rose flower

Flos Rosae Rugosae

met gui hua

Raw rehmannia

Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae

sheng

Ligustrum

Fructus Ligusri Lucidi

nu /ben

A bins

I

Bupleurum

Radix Bupleuri

chat

Semen

jue rrung zi

(

Cassia

seed

[erba Ahri Fruticulosis

(

^assiae

hua

xin hua

di

huang zi

jigu coo

hu

Peony

Radix Paeoniae Lactiflorae

hoi shoo

Licorice

Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis

gan

i

119

Bones

Brittle

With

aging, the

bones gradually lose their density. Weakened bones

usually lead to lack of strength in the back, arms, and legs.

bones are also prone to falling

fracture, thus care

The

should be taken to avoid

or over-exertion.

Prescription Rationale

The onset of

brittle

enhance the overall

bones can be delayed by taking herbs that

vitality of the

body. Such herbs compose the

following formula which nourishes the blood, strengthens the

bones and increases the collagen content, removes the harmful tors of

Wind and Dampness in the body, and harmonizes

fac-

the func-

tions of the organs.

Recommended Herbs English

Name

Pharmaceutical

Name

Chinese

Name

Tang-kuei

Radix Angelicae Sinensis

dang gui

Rehmannia

Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae

shu di huang

Conquitae Ligusticum

Radix Ligustici Chuanxiong

chuan xiong

Red peony

Radix Paeoniae Rubrae

chi shao

ma

Ardisia

Radix Ardisiae Gigantifoliae

zou

Tortoise plastron

Plastrum Testudinis

gui ban

Deer tendon

Tendo Cervi

lu jin

Tortoise plastron

Gelatinum

gui ban jiao

Plastri Testudinis

tai

gelatin

Chinese quince

Fructus Chaenomelis

mu gua

Millettia

Radix

ji

Evodia

Fructus Evodiae Rutaecarpae

wu zhu yu

Cinnamon twig

Ramulus Cinnamomi Cassiae

gui zhi

Codonopsis

Radix Codonopsitis Pilosulae

dang sben

Licorice

Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis

gan cao

et

Caulis Jixueteng

xue teng

120 Brittle

Bones, continued

Prevention Maintain a balanced diet Eat foods that have high calcium and gelatin contents Exercise regularly

For the

elderly,

avoid over-exertion and situations that

may

precipitate a

fall

121

Chemotherapy Side The adverse

Effects

side effects

from chemotherapy treatment include

nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss, and loss of hair,

among others.

Prescription Rationale

The strong chemicals used during chemotherapy can disturb the intricate balance of body functions. The following prescription is aimed

at

tonifying the organs and nourishing the blood, thus

enabling the patient to

feel better

and to cope with the undesir-

able side effects.

Recommended Herbs Name

Name

Chinese

Tang-kuei

Radix Angelica Sinensis

dang gui

Codonopsis

Radix Codonopsitis Pilosulae

dang shen

Cornus

Fructus Corni Officinalis

shan zhu yu

Raw rehmannia

Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae

sheng di huang

English

Pharmaceutical

Name

Peony root

Radix Paeoniae Lactiflorae

bai shao

Astragalus

Radix Astragali Membranacei

huang

Mulberry

Fructus Mori Albae

sang shen

Eucommia

qi

Cortex Eucommiae Ulmoidis

du zhong

Rhizoma Dioscoreae Oppositae

shan yao

Melia

Fructus Meliae Toosendan

chuan

Polygonatum

Rhizhoma Polygonati Odorati

yu zhu

Polygala

Radix Polygalae Tenuifoliae

yuan zhi

Eclipta

Herba

han

Chinese

yam

Ecliptae Prostratae

lian zi

lian cao

122

Children

s

Common Ailments

Children under ten years of age become

ill

often due to the fol-

lowing reasons a sudden weather change, food inappropriate for :

their sensitive digestive systems, atric illnesses

and exposure to

infections. Pedi-

include fever, cough, diarrhea, ear pain, sore throat,

phlegm, vomiting, indigestion, among others.

Prescription Rationale

When treating children with herbs,

the formula should be gentle

The goal of the following formula is to reduce fever body heat, cleanse the digestive system, moisten the lungs

yet effective.

or excess

and

clear the respiratory tract,

and resolve phlegm.

Recommended Herbs English

Name

Pharmaceutical

Name

Chinese

Forsythia fruit

Fructus Forsythiae Suspensae

lian qiao

Chrysanthemum

Flos Chrysanthemi Morifolii

ju hua

Peppermint

Herba Menthae Haplocalycis

bo he

Peucedanum

Radix Peucidani

qian

Eupatorium

Herba Eupatorii Fortunei

pei Ian

Medicated leaven

Massa Fermentata

she?!

Immature orange

Fructus Immaturus Aurantii Citri

zhi shi

Mulberry

Folium Mori Alhae

sang ye

Platycodon

Radix Platycodi Grandiflori

jic

Loquat

leaf

Name

hit

qu

geng

Folium Eriobotryae Japonicae

pi pa ye

Trichosanthes peel

Pericarpium Trichosanthis

gua lou pi

Fritillaria

Bulbus

/he be

Pinellia

Khizoma

leaf

Fritillariae

Thunbergii

Pinelliae Ternatae

ban

i

xi
mu

123

Children's

Common Ailments,

continued

Prevention Protect the child from sudden change in weather conditions

Do not overfeed Make

sure foods are clean and unspoiled before feeding

Know the child's

sensitivities to various

foods

Avoid exposing the child to environments where there contagious diseases

is

poor

sanitation or

124

Constipation Constipation

is

primarily caused

Foods

constipation.

that increase heat in the

constipation (see chapter profession.

Long

three factors.

Many jobs

4).

The second

first is diet

The

body can

factor has to

also cause

do with

one's

many hours a movement can bring about

confine people to chairs for

periods of sitting without

constipation.

third factor

is

due to fever

in the body. In this case, constipation illness.

The

A diet that lacks fiber and water will likely bring about

imbalance.

day.

by

When the fever is

is

that

consumes water

only a side

effect of the

cured, constipation will usually resolve

spontaneously.

Prescription Rationale Chinese medical treatment for constipation tion, eliminating excess

is

aimed

at aiding diges-

Heat, and regulating the water content in

the body.

Recommended Herbs English

Name

Pharmaceutical

Name

Chinese

Name

Microcos

Folium Microcos Paniculatae

po bu yc

Senna

Folium Sennae

fan xic yc

Primus seed

Semen Pruni

yu

Betel nut

Semen Arecae Catechu

bvng long

Lonicera flower

Flos Loniceraejaponicae

jin yin

Pueraria flower

Flos Puerariae

ge hua

leaf

li

rcn

hua

125

Constipation, continued

Prevention Maintain a balanced diet with enough fiber and water content

Consume more

fruits

Avoid overindulging Avoid

sitting for

and vegetables

in peppery, deep-fried,

and barbecued foods

long periods, exercise daily

Maintain a regular daily schedule for emptying the bowels

126

Diabetes Diabetes

or no

is

a disorder in

insulin.

which the pancreas produces

The symptoms

and high sugar content

insufficient

include thirst, fatigue, weight loss,

in the blood.

Prescription Rationale In Chinese medicine, the treatment for diabetes emphasizes nourishing the spleen

and the kidneys, reducing blood

ulating the water content of the body.

known

There are no

to directly address insulin deficiency.

the herbs

work by

and reg-

sugar,

It is

specific herbs

probable that

indirectly stimulating insulin production.

Recommended Herbs English

Name

Peony Chinese

yam

Pharmaceutical

Name

Name

Chinese

Radix Paeoniae Lactiflorae

bai sbao

Rhizoma Dioscoreae Oppositae

shan yao

Alpinia

Fructus Alpiniae Oxyphyllae

yi zhi ren

Corn

Stylus Zeae

Mays

yu mi xii

silk

Raw rehmannia

Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae

sheng

Astragalus

Radix Astragali Membranacei

buang

Plantago

Herba

Plantaginis

cbe qian coo

Akebia

Caulis

Mutong

run tang

Polygonatum

Rhizoma Polygonati Odorati

yu

Coptis

Rhizoma Coptidis

buang

Scrophularia

Radix Scrophulariae Ningpoensis

xuan shen

di

buang

qi

/-hit

lion

127

Diarrhea Diarrhea is

is

the frequent discharge of watery stools.

If

the diarrhea

not stopped, dehydration and progressive weakening of the body

may

by contaminated or spoiled food, coarse or highly seasoned food, or by overindulgence of alcohol for some individuals. ensue. Diarrhea can be caused

Prescription Rationale

Herbal treatment of diarrhea consists of clearing the digestive sys-

tem of unwanted food, and reinvigorating the

digestive system.

Recommended Herbs English

Name

Hawthorn

Pharmaceutical

fruit

Ash bark Atractylodes

Name

Chinese

Fructus Crataegi

shan zha

Cortex Fraxini

qin pi

Rhizoma Atractylodis

bai zhu

Name

Macrocephalae

Peony

Radix Paeoniae Lactiflorae

bai shao

Rice sprout

Fructus Oryzae Sativae

guya

Germinatus

mu xiang

Saussurea

Radix Aucklandiae Lappae

Chinaberry

Fructus Meliae Toosendan

chuan

Chicken gizzard

Endothelium Corneum Gigeriae

ji

internal lining

Galli

Licorice

Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis

Prevention Ensure food

is

clean and unspoiled before

Avoid excessive alcohol consumption

consumption

lian zi

neijin

gan cao

128

Energy Enhancement

Low energy can be manifested by fatigue, apathy, difficulty in conand

centration, drowsiness,

feeling low-spirited.

Prescription Rationale

Lack of energy of the

body

is

a

common phenomenon when the Yin and Yang

are not in balance. This

means

that the organs are not

functioning harmoniously Blood circulation

sequently, the flow of

Qi throughout

the

herbs in the following formula are aimed to their

is

not

body

at its best. is

Con-

slowed. The

at restoring the

organs

normal functions.

Recommended Herbs English

Name

Pharmaceutical

Name

Chinese

Name

Peony

Radix Paeoniae Lactiflorae

Tang-kuei

Radix Angelicae Sinensis

dang gui

Raw rehmannia

Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae

sheng

Codonopsis

Radix Codonopsitis Pilosulae

dang shen

bai shao

di

huang

Cistanche

Herba Cistanchis Deserticolae

rou cong rong

Antler glue sediment

Cornu Cervi Degelatinatium

In jiao

Cornus

Fructus Corni Officinalis

sban zhu yu

Psoralea

Fructus Psoraleae Corylifoliae

bu gu zhi

Alisma

Rhizoma

ZC xic

Mulberry

Fructus Mori AJbae

sang shen

Rhizoma Atractylodis

hoi zhu

Atractylodes

Alismatis Orientalis

shuang

Macrocephalae Chinese vain

Rhizoma Dioscoreae Oppositae

sban yao

Poria

Sclerotium Poriae Cocos

fit

1

icorice

Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis

ling

pan coo

129 Fertility

Male

Enhancement For

infertility

Men

can be caused by various factors such as low sperm

count, impotence,

among

others.

Prescription Rationale

Chinese medical treatment emphasizes restoring the body to

normal balanced condition. According to Chinese medicine, tility in

men

is

its

infer-

the result of deficiency of vital energy in the kid-

neys, various deficiencies in the blood, and a

weak reproductive

organ.

Recommended Herbs English

Name

Rehmannia

Pharmaceutical

Name

Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae

Chinese

Name

shu di huang

Conquitae Kirin ginseng

Radix Ginseng

ji lin

Tang-kuei

Radix Angelicae Sinensis

dang gui

Astragalus

Radix Astragali Membranacei

huang

shen

qi

Cinnamon bark

Conex Cinnamomi

Cardamon

Fructus

Psoralea

Fructus Psoraleae Corylifoliae

bu gu zhi

Morinda

Radix Morindae Officinalis

ba ji

Eucommia

Cortex Eucommiae Ulmoidis

du zhong

Cistanche

Herba Cistanchis Deserticolae

rou cong rong

Cynomorium

Herba Cynomorii

suo yang

Antler glue sediment

Cornu Cervi Degelatinatium

Cassiae

Amomi

rou gui sha ren

Songarici

tian

lu jiao

shuang

130

Women

Fertility

Enhancement For

As

male counterpart, female

in the

ety of factors resulting

from the

infertility is also

loss of balance in

due to

body

a vari-

functions.

Prescription Rationale

Chinese medical treatment of female ing the

body

to

its

infertility

is

aimed

at restor-

normal balanced condition. According to Chi-

nese medicine, infertility in

women is often due to insufficient vital

energy in the kidneys, various deficiencies in the blood, and weak reproductive organs.

Recommended Herbs English

Name

Pharmaceutical

Name

Tang-kuei

Radix Angelicae Sinensis

Name

Chinese

dang gui pen

Chinese raspberry

Fructus Rubi Chingii

fii

Antler glue sediment

Cornu Cervi Degelatinatium

lu jiao

shuang

Rehmannia

Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae

shu

huang

di

zi

Conquitae Kirin ginseng

Radix Ginseng

ji lin

Evodia

Fructus Evodiae Rutaecarpae

wu

Zanthoxylum

Pericarpium Zanthoxyli Bungeani

chiton jiao

Poria spirit

Sclerotium Poriae Cocos

jh shcn

shcn

zhu yu

Pararadicis

Epimedium

Herba Epimedii

xuin ling pi

Ligusticum

Radix Ligustici Chuanxiong

chuan xiong

Eucommia

Cortex Eucommiae Ulmoidis

du zhong

Morinda

Radix Morindae Officinalis

ba

Ligustrum

Fructus Ligustri Lucidi

nu zhen

Cynomorium

1

[erba

Cynomorii Songarici

ji

turn

suoyang

zi

131

Fibroid Fibroid

and

is

is

tumor

a benign

made up

that occurs in the walls of the uterus,

of connective tissue and

smooth muscle bundles.

Prescription Rationale In Chinese medicine, fibroids are considered to be caused stasis.

by blood

Treatment involves reinvigorating the blood circulation,

removing blood stagnancy, and promoting the

vital

energy of the

body.

Recommended Herbs Name

Chinese

Tang-kuei

Radix Angelica Sinensis

dang gui

Anteater scales

Squama Manitis Pentadactylae

chuan shan jia

Peach seed

Semen

Raw rehmannia

Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae

sheng di huang

Notoginseng

Radix Notoginseng

san qi

Moutan

Cortex Moutan Radicis

mu dan pi

Radix

ban Ian gen

English

Isatis

Name

root

Ligustrum

Pharmaceutical

Persicae

Isatidis

seu Baphicacanthi

Name

tao ren

Fructus Ligustri Lucidi

nu zhen

zi

Ligusticum

Radix Ligustici Chuanxiong

chuan xiong

Red Peony

Radix Paeoniae Rubrae

chi shao

Cinnamon twig

Ramulus Cinnamomi Cassiae

gui zhi

Cyperus

Rhizoma Cyperi Rotundi

xiangfu

Clematis

Radix Clematidis

wei

Lycopium

Herba Lycopi Lucidi

zelan

ling xian

132

Hemorrhoids Hemorrhoids

A vari-

are distended veins in the lining of the anus.

ety of causes lead to the development of hemorrhoids, including

pregnancy, constipation, straining during bowel movements, anal infection, excess

Heat and Dampness

in the body.

Inflamed hem-

orrhoidal tissues usually result in pain, itching and bleeding.

Prescription Rationale

Hemorrhoids can be controlled by Chinese herbs although plete cure requires sists

a

com-

longterm treatment. Treatment strategy con-

of nourishing and cleansing the blood, alleviating Heat and

Dampness

in the body, reducing

inflammation of the hemorrhoidal

and stopping the bleeding.

tissues,

Recommended Herbs English

Name

Pharmaceutical

Name

Chinese

Name

Peony

Radix Paeoniae Lactiflorae

Tang-kuei

Radix Angelicae Sinensis

dang gui

Raw rehmannia

Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae

sheng di buang

Fraxinus

Cortex Fraxini

qin pi

Phellodendron

Cortex Phellodendri

buang bai

Lonicera flower

Flos Lonicerae Japonicae

jin

Sophora flower

Flos Sophorae Japonicae Immaturus

hudi hua

Drosera

Herba Droserae Burmanni

jin

Sanguisorba

Radix Sanguisorbae

di

Pulsatilla

Radix Pulsatillac Chinensis

officinalis

bai shao

yin hua

diluo yu

bai ton

weng

133

Hemorrhoids, continued

Prevention Practise

good hygiene

to prevent tissue infection

Avoid or moderate intake of peppery, deep-fried, and barbecued foods order to reduce heat in the

Follow

in

body

a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits

and vegetables to prevent

irregularity

Avoid seafood such as crab and certain Dampness and Heat in the body

shellfish

which may cause build-up of

134

High Blood

Pressure

Hypertension

is

may be due

abnormally high blood pressure and

to obesity, stress, older age, excess alcohol intake,

orders of the kidney,

among

others.

and various

dis-

Western medical treatment

usually produces side effects such as dizziness, palpitation, and fatigue.

Furthermore, patients often develop a dependency on the

prescribed drugs.

Prescription Rationale

Chinese medical theory considers high blood pressure ence of excess Heat in the liver and the blood. causes hyperactivity of the heart. are used to reduce

few

side effects.

The herbs

Heat and calm the

When the patient's

heart.

as the pres-

The Heat

in the

rises

and

formula below

These herbs produce

condition improves, the pre-

scription can be terminated.

Recommended Herbs English

Name

Pharmaceutical

Name

Raw rehmannia

Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae

Chinese

Name

sheng

huang

di

ma mn l\w

Gastrodia

Rhizoma Gastrodiae

Motherwort

Herba Leonuri Heterophylli

yi

Achyranthes

Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae

niu xi

Eucommia

Cortex Eucommiae Ulmoidis

du zhong

Gentian

Radix Gentianae Longdancao

long ddU COO

Loranthus

Ramulus Sangjisheng

sang

Silcr

Radix Ledebouriellae Divaricatae

fangfeng

Uncaria

Ramulus Uncariae cum Unas

gou teng

Fleeceflower root

Radix Polygoui Muhitlori

he shou

Poria spirit

Sclerotium Poriae Cocos

fu shen

Pararadicis

Elatae

tian

sheng

ji

wu

135

High Blood

Pressure,

continued

Prevention Maintain a balanced diet

Avoid foods with high Avoid

fat

or cholesterol content

stress

Exercise regularly

Maintain a balance between

work and

relaxation

136

Influenza Influenza (or flu) has the following symptoms: fever, headache, joint pain, coughing, nasal congestion,

alternating heat

and

chills,

among

phlegm,

fatigue, feeling of

others.

Prescription Rationale Traditional Chinese treatment for influenza consists of relieving the

symptoms such

as fever

and cough. In addition, herbs

to regulate water metabolism

combat the

able to

and strengthen the body so

are

used

that

it is

illness.

Recommended Herbs English

Name

Pharmaceutical

Name

Chinese

Name

Ephedra

Herba Ephedrae

ma huang

Gypsum

Gypsum

shi

Eupatorium

Herba Eupatorii Haplocalycis

pei Ian

Forsythia fruit

Fructus Forsythiae Suspensae

lian qiao

Apricot seed

Semen Armeniacae Pruni

xing ren

Fritillaria

Bulbus

Peucedanum

Radix Peucedani

qian

Ginger skin

Cortex Zingiberis Officinalis

jiang pi

Fritillariae

Thunbergii

gao

zhe bet

mu

hit

Recens Scrophularia

Radix Scrophulariae Ningpoensis

xuan then

Licorice

Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis

gan coo

Prevention Protect the (

ret

body

plenty oi

rest

against hot

and cold w

cat

he

137

Insomnia Insomnia can be any one or ing a long time to

fall

a

combination of the following: tak-

asleep, easy

awakening during

sleep,

disturbed sleep, and not feeling rested after a night s sleep.

causes of insomina are anxiety, stress in the

work

dream-

Common

place,

worry

about a problem, or fear about the occurrence of something undesirable.

Prescription Rationale

Herbal treatment involves sedating the body, nourishing the blood

and clearing excess Heat, balancing the body functions, and stimulating the appetite.

Recommended Herbs English

Name

Pharmaceutical

Name

Chinese

Name

Biota seed

Semen Biotae

Albizzia

Cortex Albizziae Julibrissin

he huan pi

Polygala

Radix Polygalae Tenuifoliae

yuan

Dragon bone

Os

long gu

Salvia

Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae

dan shen

Poria

Sclerotium Poriae Cocos

fu

Tang-kuei

Radix Angelicae Sinensis

dang gui

Gelatin

Gelatinum Corii Asini

e jiao

Peony

Radix Paeoniae Lactiflorae

hai shao

Raw rehmannia

Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae

sheng di huang

Codonopsis

Radix Codonopsitis Pilosulae

dang shen

Astragalus

Radix Astragali Membranacei

huang

Light wheat

Semen

fu xiao mai

Anemarrhena

Rhizoma Anemarrhenae

Orientalis

Draconis

Tritici Aestivi

Levis

hai zi ren

zhi

ling

zhi

qi

mu

Asphodeloidis Atractylodes

Rhizoma

Atractylodis

hai zhu

Macrocephalae Licorice

Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis

gan cao

138

Insomnia, continued

Prevention Avoid

stress

and learn relaxation techniques

Enjoy the simple things of

life

such

as eating, exercise,

Maintain a regular schedule of work and relaxation Maintain a balanced diet

and hobbies

139

Longevity Chinese folklore

Some

is

full

of stories about the quest for longevity.

herbs are thought to produce longevity but their effects are

difficult to prove. tive for the

On the other hand, many herbs are quite effec-

maintenance of good health during old age

if

taken on

What is important is not how long one wants to but how much happiness or satisfaction one can derive from

a regular basis. live, life.

To be

able to fully enjoy

The following formula

one needs to have good

life,

health.

enables persons over age 50 to overcome

general physical weakness, and to carry

on

activities

they former-

ly participated in.

Prescription Rationale

As an en,

individual ages, the vital parts of the

blood circulation slows, and the

disharmony. a

entire

body

system

gradually weak-

is

toward

inclined

A delicate balance of herbs taken regularly can help

person regain

vitality

and delay the occurrence of the physical

conditions due to old age.

Prescription Rationale English

Name

Pharmaceutical

Name

Chinese

Name

Radix Angelicae Sinensis

dang gui

Fleeceflower root

Radix Polygoni Multiflori

he shou

Chinese raspberry

Fructus Rubi Chingii

fu pen zi

Kirin ginseng

Radix Ginseng

ji lin

Rehmannia

Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae Conquitae

shu di huang

Lycium

Fructus Lycii

gou

Eucommia

Cortex Eucommiae Ulmoidis

du zhong

Antler glue sediment

Cornu Cervi Degelatinatium

lu jiao

Euryale

Semen Euryales

qian shi

Tang-kuei

fruit

Ferocis

wu

shen

qi zi

shuang

140

Longevity, continued English

Name

Pharmaceutical

Name

Chinese

Morinda

Radix Morindae Officinalis

ba ji

Rose

Fructus Rosae Laevigatae

jin

fruit

Name

tian

ying zi

Cuscuta

Semen Cuscutae Chinensis

tu

Psoralea

Fructus Psoraleae Corylifoliae

bu gu zhi

Cornus

Fructus Corni Officinalis

shan zhu yu

si

zi

Lotus seed

Semen Nelumbinis Nuciferae

lian zi

Fennel

Fructus Foeniculi Vulgaris

xiao hui xiang

Ganoderma

Ganoderma Lucidum

ling zhi

141

Menopause Menopause

the cessation of menstruation

is

between the ages of 45 and

55.

This

is

going through menopause

is

in

women

a natural process as a result

hormones by the

of reduced production of estrogen

woman

which occurs

ovaries.

A

subject to various kinds of

physical and emotional stresses.

Prescription Rationale

Menopause Treatment

is

is

not an

aimed

and emotional

at

illness

but a natural physical phenomenon.

helping the

stresses

woman overcome

through a delicate balance of herbs that

nourish the blood, regulate the body iety,

the physical

and strengthen the

liver

fluids, relieve stress

and anx-

and kidneys.

Recommended Herbs English

Name

Tang-kuei

Curcuma

Pharmaceutical

Name

Chinese

Radix Angelicae Sinensis

dang gui

Name

Tuber Curcumae

yu jin

Fleeceflower root

Radix Polygoni Multiflori

he shou

American ginseng

Radix Panacis Quinguefolii

xi yang shen

Rhubarb

Radix

Biota seed

Semen Biotae

Polygala

Radix Polygalae Tenuifoliae

yuan zhi

Poria

Sclerotium Poriae Cocos

fu shen

root

spirit

et

Rhizoma Rhei Orientalis

wu

da huang bai zi ren

Pararadicis

Swallowwort

Radix Cynanchi Baiwei

bai wei

Wolfberry bark

Cortex Lycii Radicis

di

Gentian

Radix Gentianae Longdancao

long dan cao

Peony

Radix Paeoniae Lactiflorae

bai shao

Raw rehmannia

Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae

sheng di huang

Cornus

Fructus Corni Officinalis

shan zhu yu

gu pi

142

Menstrual Discomfort The common problems during menstruation and

sion, excessive bleeding, anxiety,

tion

is

also a source of stress for

are pain, muscle ten-

fatigue. Irregular

menstrua-

many women.

Prescription Rationale

To

relieve

mula

menstrual discomfort, the herbs in the following for-

are used to stop the pain, regulate the menstrual flow,

relax the muscles.

The herbs can

also nourish the

blood

after

and

men-

struation ends.

Recommended Herbs English

Name

Pharmaceutical

Name

Chinese

Name

Raw rehmannia

Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae

sheng di huang

Tang-kuei

Radix Angelicae Sinensis

dang gui

Moutan

Cortex Moutan Radicis

mu

Red peony

Radix Paeoniae Rubrae

chi shao

Lycopium

Herba Lycopi Lucidi

ze Ian

Ligusticum

Radix Ligustici Chuanxiong

chuan xiong

Nutgrass

Rhizoma Cyperi Rotundi

xiang

Motherwort

Herba Leonuri Heterophylli

yi

Frankincense

Gummi Olibanum

ru xiang

Myrrh

Myrrha

mo

Scutellaria

Radix Scutellariae Baicalensis

huang qin

Dipacus

Radix Dipsaci Asperi

xu duan

dan pi

mu

fit

coo

ran

143

Migraine Migraine

is

a severe headache often, but not always, located at one

or both temples, often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Pre-

symptoms occur, which include loss of vision, defective speech or body movements, and illusions of flashing lights. There is no single cause, although there appears to ceding the headache, transient

be a familial tendency.

Prescription Rationale

Chinese medical theory attributes the cause of headache to the harmful factor of Wind affecting the head and harbored within the blood. Herbal treatment involves dispelling the

Wind and nour-

ishing the blood. In addition, herbs are used to calm the nerves

and consolidate the

vital

energy of the body.

Recommended Herbs English

Name

Pharmaceutical

Name

Chinese

Tang-kuei

Radix Angelicae Sinensis

dang gui

Name

Ligusticum

Radix Ligustici Chuanxiong

chuan xiong

Hornet nest

Nidus Vespae

lufengfang

Dahurica

Radix Angelicae Dahuricae

bai zhi

Fresh ginger

Rhizoma

sheng jiang

Zingiberis Officinalis

Recens

Notopterygium

Rhizoma

Astragalus

Radix Astragali Membranacei

huang

Poria

Sclerotium Poriae Cocos

fu shen

spirit

et

Radix Notopterygii

qiang huo qi

Pararadicis

Codonopsis

Radix Codonopsitis Pilosulae

dang shen

Licorice

Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis

gan cao

144

Skin

Irritations

Skin irritations are usually signs of developing skin ailments.

If left

untreated or not treated properly, the irritation can spread and/or

develop into a more serious condition. Irritations are characterized

by

itching, swelling,

dryness of the skin, as well as other symp-

toms. Scratching of the affected area only worsens the conditions.

Prescription Rationale Skin irritations usually result from a changed nature of the blood

which then

affects the skin.

The herbs

in the following

are used to cleanse the blood, strengthen the

and nourish the

liver,

formula

reduce itching,

skin.

Recommended Herbs English

Name

Name

Pharmaceutical

Chinese

Name

hua

Lonicera flower

Flos Lonicerae Japonicae

jin yin

Pueraria

Radix Puerariae Japonicae

ge gen

Scutellaria

Radix Scutellariae Baicalensis

bhang qin

Herba cum Radice Violae

zi

Viola

hua

di ding

Yedoensitis

Gentian

Radix Gentianae Longdancao

long dan coo

Smilax

Rhizoma

tii fit

Smilacis Glabrae

ling

Peony

Radix Paeoniae Lactiflorae

baishao

Curcuma

Tuber Curcumae

yit

Abrus

I

lerba Abri Fruticulosis

Prevention Keep

the skin clean

Avoid spicy foods mm\ alcohol Be aware

ol

which foods cause skin hypersensitivity

jm

jigu coo

45

Stress Relief

Everyone

is

subject to the stresses of daily

life

to a certain degree.

The human body is able to handle various kinds of stress, but in some cases, the stress may reach an unbearable level that forces an individual to seek medical help.

Prescription Rationale Because of their broad tive for stress relief.

effects

on

The herbs

the body, Chinese herbs are effec-

in the

formula below help to calm

the nerves, relax the muscles, balance the functions of the vital organs, regulate the blood flow, and consolidate the vital energy

of the body.

Recommended Herbs English

Name

Pharmaceutical

Name

Chinese

dang gui

Tang-kuei

Radix Angelicae Sinensis

Peony root bark

Cortex Moutan Radicis

mu

Polygala

Radix Polygalae Tenuifoliae

yuan zhi

Rhizoma

bai zhu

Atractylodes

Atractylodis

Name

dan pi

Macrocephalae Biota seed

Semen Biotae

Ganoderma

Ganoderma Lucidum

ling zhi

Dragon bone

Os

long gu

Astragalus

Radix Astragali Membranacei

huang

Gardenia

Fructus Gardeniae Jasminoidis

zhi zi

fruit

Orientalis

Draconis

bai zi ren

qi

Peony

Radix Paeoniae Lactiflorae

bai shao

Raw rehmannia

Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae

sheng di huang

146

Weight Control

How a person views his/her body weight But,

from

sive,

it

a subjective matter.

when body weight becomes

a health viewpoint,

may

is

exces-

cause heart problems and other related ailments.

Prescription Rationale

Body weight depends on

the

amount of food

essence (including

remains in the body. In general, increasing the metabo-

fat) that

lism of the

body will lower the weight. Weight

by using herbs

control can be done

to stimulate the digestive system,

and invigorate

the vital energy of the body.

Recommended Herbs English

Name

Pharmaceutical

Name

Chinese

Name

Betel nut

Semen Arecae Catechu

bing lang

Magnolia bark

Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis

boupo

Rhubarb

Radix

Areca peel

Pericarpium Arecae Catechu

da

fit

Microcos

Folium Microcos Paniculatae

po

bit

Star anise

Fructus

bd

jiao bin

et

Rhizoma Rhei

Illicii

da buang pi

ye

xiang Saussurea

Radix Aucklandiae Lappae

mu

Chinaberry

Fructus Meliae Toosendan

chuan

Shield fern

Rhizoma Guanzhong

guan zhong

Prevention do not overeat

Maintain

a

Maintain

a regular exercise

Engage

in

balanced

diet;

more outdoor

schedule

activities

xiang lion zi

147

Yin-Type Weakness Yin-type weakness

a physical discomfort mainly

is

of weather to a cooler and

such discomforts

may

damper

When

climate.

due to change a

person ages,

worsen.

Prescription Rationale

Yin-type weakness

is

a result of an imbalance

and the external environment. In inside

this case,

between the body

Yin

is

dominant both

and outside the body. Chinese herbs that promote the Yang

can be used to help restore the body to equilibrium. The following prescription

is

a general "tune

up" formula to improve blood and dispel the

circulation, raise the

energy

ness within the body.

The prescription can be taken

cially

level,

chill

and damp-

regularly espe-

during the cold or rainy season.

Recommended Herbs English

Name

Pharmaceutical

Name

Chinese

Kirin ginseng

Radix Ginseng

ji lin

Name

shen

Schisandra

Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis

wu wei zi

Tang-kuei

Radix Angelicae Sinensis

dang gui

Polygala

Radix Polygalae Tenuifoliae

yuan zhi

Ophiopogon

Radix Ophiopogonis Japonici

mai men dong

Raw rehmannia

Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae

sheng di huang

Anemarrhena

Rhizoma Anemarrhenae

zhi

mu

Asphodeloidis Poria

Sclerotium Poriae Cocos

fu

Atractylodes

Rhizoma Atractylodis

bai zhu

ling

Macrocephalae Licorice

Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis

gan cao

148

Yin-Type Weakness, continued

Prevention Avoid or decrease intake of ice-cold foods

Lead

a

more

active

life

Chapter 8

Prevention

And Self-Help

The Wisdom Of Prevention Prevention Advances

as a survival

method

is

old as the

as

in medical science tend to eclipse the

human

race.

importance of

prevention; but such advances can never take the place of prevention as a cost-effective great deal to

do with

means of health

lifestyle rather

care, for

prevention has a

than medicine. Thus,

not neglect the value of prevention especially in ing medical costs. Practicing prevention

is

toward achieving a healthier and happier

this era

just a

way

we must

of increas-

of self-help

life.

Prevention requires the realization that humans are but part of nature,

and are not created

a machine.

We

things of nature, as they

nature

is

extensive

just to

are here to enrich

do

perform certain functions all

like

other living and non-living

for us. Hence, to live in

We

harmony with

what the

life

damage

when we pollute the environment. suffer when we disrupt the balance of nature.

process

is all

to our health

We are the ones to

149

about.

can easily see the

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

150

Prevention means that there must be a balance between work, eating, relaxation, exercise,

and

Moderation

rest.

the key for

is

achieving a balance, because moderation prevents excesses. Practicing prevention raises

our consciousness about our physical and

emotional conditions, and helps us understand more about our external environment such as the weather, changes of affect

we

our health. Through prevention,

which can

can learn more about

the relationships between ourselves and the things that surround us.

Prevention requires a conscious effort and discipline, but the

payoff will be great in terms of good health and happiness.

Over the past decades, Western medical technology has enabled the administration of collective prevention for the masses. Vaccines against smallpox

to prevention. diseases.

and measles have contributed

But vaccines can only prevent

significantly

number of

a limited

Furthermore, with Western medicine, more resources are

directed toward treatment than toward prevention, and the benefits

to the

consumer

are restricted because of the high cost of

med-

ical services.

In Chinese medicine, prevention has always been equally

important as treatment, or even more important. Various meth-

ods of prevention have been developed and refined through the centuries,

and

their

nese culture and

wide acceptance has made them part of Chi-

folklore.

Many

Westerners are already familiar

with Tai Chi and Qi Gong. Apart from physical exercise, Chinese herbs have preventive pensive, they can be used

on

ation, the herbs are gentle

non-existent. ate

effects.

Because such herbs are inex-

a daily basis.

and

When

used

in

moder-

mild, so that side effects are

Another advantage of herbs

that they

is

dependency, and can be discontinued any time

achieved the intended

many

effects. Finally,

many

do not

after they

cre-

have

herbs can be incor-

porated as ingredients into daily cooking to enhance the taste, nutrition,

and medicinal value ot foods.

In the remainder ot this chapter, like

some Chinese

health foods

soup, rice porridge, and sweet soup are introduced Such foods

1

Prevention

And Self- J I dp

1

5

constitute an important part of the Chinese diet. Besides their nutritional

and medicinal

values, they are inexpensive

and easy to

prepare.

The Qoodness Of Soup Soup

is

nutritious

and easy to make. Just gather the ingredients,

combine them in the right proportions, and boil them in water. The relative quantities of water and ingredients will determine the thickness of the soup. Westerners as

seem to prefer thick soups, where-

Chinese prefer to drink the broth and consume the ingredients

separately.

Soup normally comes before the

principal dish in a Western

meal. In the Chinese tradition, especially in the south, soup stands

on

its

own.

It

can be served

at

mealtimes with a meal, in between

meals, or as a snack before bedtime. Since soup part of the diet, the Chinese have developed a recipes.

is

an important

wide range of soup

The Cantonese in particular are well known for their enthu-

siasm for soup, and for the great variety of their soup menus.

With the addition of some

special herbs,

soup can be eaten

in

order to prevent ailments or address certain physical conditions.

The soups described below are selected recipes used by our family through the years. Most of the ingredients can be purchased from Asian supermarkets, and the special herbs from any herb store.

When the

soup

is

done, the essence of the ingredients will

have been dissolved in the broth. Therefore, the broth should be

consumed. The boiled ingredients exception of less after

may

be eaten

some herbs which will be rendered

as well,

with the

coarse and taste-

cooking. Specific instructions in each of the following

recipes describe

which herbs

to discard.

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

152

General weakness.

may be eaten to promote energy,

This soup

tration; the following recipe ly,

is

and concen-

appetite,

suitable for children

and the elder-

too.

Ingredients: V2

chicken, without skin, separate the wing, leg and breast (8 oz. lean beef,

ground or

sliced,

may be

substituted for chicken)

4 oz

longan

4 oz

Chinese yam, dried (Radix Dioscoreae Oppositae, shan yao)

4 oz

lycium

3 cups

fruit,

dried (Arillus Euphoria Longanae, long

fruit,

yan rou)

dried (Fructus Lycii, gou qi zi)

water

After the soup boils,

let it

simmer

for 3 to 4 hours.

water to compensate for evaporation. Skim the of the broth. Salt or soy sauce

Add

fat floating

boiling

on top

may be added to enhance the taste.

Drink the broth, and consume

all

the other ingredients.

Nourishment and strength. This soup

may be eaten to expedite recovery after an illness, surgery,

or chemotherapy. Ingredients: !/2

3

chicken, without skin, separate the wing, leg and breast

stomach

4 oz

fish

6 oz

sea cucumber, sliced

4 oz

caterpillar

cups

water

fungus (Cordyceps Sinensis, dong cbong

After the soup boils,

let it

simmer

for 3 to 4 hours.

water to compensate for evaporation. Skim the of the broth. Salt or soy sauce

may be added

Drink the broth, and consume

all

to

xu

coo)

Add

fat floating

boiling

on top

enhance the

the other ingredients.

taste.

Prevention

And Self- 1 felp

1

53

Ache and pain of the joints. may be

This soup onset of

eaten to prevent fatigue, over-exertion, and the

arthritis.

Ingredients: 1

5

oz

whole or

Vi

carp

coix seed (Semen Coicis Lachryma-jobi, yiyi ten)

4 oz

mulberry branch (Ramulus Mori Alba, sang zhi)

4 oz

pueraria root (Radix Puerariae, ge gen)

3 cups

water

After the soup boils,

let it

simmer

for

water to compensate for evaporation.

added to enhance the

and the coix

taste.

1

to 2 hours.

Salt or

Add

soy sauce

boiling

may

Drink the broth, and consume the

be

fish

seed.

Blood nourishment

may be

This soup

for lactating

eaten to prevent anemia, and to replenish milk

women.

Ingredients: 1

5

oz

3 cups

whole or

Vi catfish

black beans, dried

water

After the soup boils,

let it

simmer

for

water to compensate for evaporation.

added to enhance the other ingredients.

taste.

1

to 2 hours.

Salt

Add

or soy sauce

boiling

may

Drink the broth, and consume

all

be the

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

154

Strengthen the heart

may

This soup

and lungs.

be eaten to prevent aging weakness

in adults

and

the elderly. Ingredients: 1

5

oz

whole pigeon, separate the

American ginseng,

legs,

wings, and breast

sliced (Radix Panacis Quinquefolii, xi

yang

shen) 3

cups

water

After the soup boils,

let it

simmer

for 2 to 3 hours.

water to compensate for evaporation. Skim the of the broth. Salt or soy sauce

may be added to

Drink the broth, and consume

Strengthen the

all

Add

fat floating

boiling

on top

enhance the

taste.

the other ingredients.

liver.

Ingredients: 3 oz

pig

7 oz

lean pork, sliced

5

oz

3 cups

liver, sliced

abrus (Herba Abri Fruticulosis, ji gu cao)

water

After the soup boils,

let it

simmer

for 2 to 3 hours.

water to compensate for evaporation. Skim the of the broth. Salt or soy sauce

Drink the broth, and consume herb.

may be added all

Add

fat floating

boiling

on top

to enhance the taste.

the other ingredients except the

Prevention

And Self- 1 lelp

1

Strengthen the kidneys

55

and lungs.

Ingredients: Vi

5

oz

3 cups

duck, without skin, separate the wing, caterpillar

fungus (Cordyceps

Sinensis,

leg,

and breast

dong chong xia

cao)

water

After the soup boils,

let it

simmer

for 2 to 3 hours.

water to compensate for evaporation. Skim the of the broth. Salt or soy sauce

may be added

Drink the broth, and consume

Strengthen the lungs

all

Add

fat floating

on top

to enhance the taste.

the other ingredients.

and the respiratory

tract.

may be eaten to prevent and relieve coughing,

This soup

boiling

phlegm,

and asthma. Ingredients: 7 oz 8 pieces

lean pork, sliced figs, dried,

cut into halves

4 oz

almond, south type (Semen Pruni Armeniacae, tian xing ren)

4 oz

almond, north type (Semen Pruni Armeniacae, ku xing ren)

2

momordica

fruits,

cut into halves (Fructus

Momordicae

Grosvenori, luo han guo) 3 cups

water

After the soup boils,

let it

simmer for 2

to 3 hours.

water to compensate for evaporation. Skim the of the broth. Salt or soy sauce

boiling

on top

may be added to enhance the taste.

Drink the broth, and consume almonds and momordica

Add

fat floating

fruit.

all

the other ingredients except the

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

156

Excess heat in the body.

may be

This soup

eaten to prevent and relieve fever and other flu

symptoms. Ingredients: 8

oz

bok

8

oz

carrots, sliced

10 pieces 5 pieces 3 cups

choi, sliced

water chestnut, cut into halves figs, dried,

cut into halves

water

After the soup boils,

let it

simmer

for 2 to 3 hours.

water to compensate for evaporation.

added to enhance the

taste.

Salt

Add

or soy sauce

boiling

may

Drink the broth, and consume

all

be the

other ingredients.

Yin-type weakness.

may

This soup

and

appetite,

be eaten to prevent colds, anemia, lack of energy

and

is

most

suitable for the elderly.

Ingredients:

1

8

oz

lamb, sliced (8 oz lean beef,

3

oz

ginger, sliced

pieces 5

3

oz

sliced,

may

be substituted)

red dates

sugar cane, available in can

4 oz

Tang-kuei (Radix Angelica Sinensis, dang gui)

4 oz

astragalus (Radix Astragali

cups

water

After the soup boils,

let

it

Membranacei, huang

simmer

for 2 to 3 hours.

water to compensate for evaporation. Skim the of the broth. Salt or soy sauce

qi)

may be added

to

Add

fat floating

boiling

on top

enhance the

Drink the broth, and consume the meat and the dates only.

taste.

Prevention

And Self- 1 hip

1

57

Anxiety and nervousness.

may be

This soup

eaten to calm the

body and mind, and prevent

insomnia. Ingredients:

6 oz 1

5 pieces 3 cups

lean pork, sliced

red dates

water

After the soup boils,

let it

simmer

for 2 to 3 hours.

water to compensate for evaporation. of the broth. Salt or soy sauce

This soup

Add

boiling

the fat floating

on top

may be added to enhance the taste.

Drink the broth, and consume

Indigestion

Skim

all

the other ingredients.

and lack of appetite.

may

be eaten to promote digestion and restore the

appetite. Ingredients: 6 oz

pig stomach, sliced

4 oz

octopus, dried

3

oz

3 cups

black pepper grains

water

After the soup boils,

let it

simmer

for 3 to 4 hours.

water to compensate for evaporation. Skim the of the broth. Salt or soy sauce

fat floating

boiling

on top

may be added to enhance the taste.

Drink the broth, and consume pepper.

Add

all

other ingredients except the

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

158

Irregular menstruation or hemorrhoid bleeding.

This soup

may

be eaten to regulate blood flow and prevent the

loss of blood. Ingredients: 1

pieces

5 oz 5

oz

3 cups

red dates

Black Tremella

mushroom (mu

er)

Tang-kuei (Radix Angelicae Sinensis, dang gui) water

After the soup boils,

let it

simmer for

water to compensate for evaporation.

added to enhance the

taste.

3 to 4 hours. Salt or

Add

soy sauce

Drink the broth, and consume

boiling

may all

be

other

ingredients except the herb.

Health maintenance.

may be

This soup

eaten to replenish vigor and energy.

Ingredients: Vi

4 oz

chicken, without skin, separate the

leg,

wings and breast

abalone, sliced

4 oz

Korean ginseng (Radix Ginseng, gao

4 oz

achyranthes (Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae, rim

4 oz

eucommia (Cortex Eucommiae Ulmoidis, du zhong)

3 cups

li

shen)

water

After the soup boils,

let it

simmer

for 3 to 4 hours.

water to compensate for evaporation. Skim the of the broth. Salt or soy sauce

may

Drink the broth, and consume herbs.

xi)

all

Add

fat floating

boiling

on top

be added to enhance the

taste.

other ingredients except the

Prevention

And Self- Help

1

59

Postnatal care.

may be

This soup

eaten to recover after giving birth.

Ingredients: chicken, without skin, separate the wing,

!/2

4 oz

4 oz

mushroom Black Tremella mushroom (mu

3 oz

lilyflower, dried

5

leg,

and breast

ginger, sliced

oz

black

3 cups

rice

er)

wine

This special soup the soup boils,

made with

is

let it

rice

simmer for 2

wine rather than water. After

to 3 hours.

Add

boiling water

or rice wine to adjust the alcohol content of the soup. Skim the floating

on top of the

to enhance the taste.

Drink the broth.

broth.

Consume

The Convenience Of Rice Rice porridge Porridge

is

is

soft

viduals with

a

may be added

the other ingredients.

all

Porridge

popular meal in China, especially in the south.

and

poor

Salt

fat

light,

and consequently

digestions,

who

is

easily digested. Indi-

are overweight, or

who

are

ill

or convalescing, find porridge a soothing, light meal. For healthy people, rice porridge

is

a delightful

lunch or as a bedtime snack. a

heavy feeling

in

its

after

It is

consumption, since

it

requires

no

oil

one

nor

fat

preparation.

Porridge

is

made by simmering rice in water. To

one cup of rice to three cups of water. the heat and allow the content to occasionally to prevent the rice pot.

meal suitable for breakfast,

nutritious but does not give

The longer the simmering,

for about an hour. Stir

sticking to the

bottom of the

the softer the porridge.

ness of the porridge can be adjusted

add

When the water boils, lower

simmer

from

start out,

The

thick-

by adding water or allowing

water to evaporate.

The light

resultant porridge

is

a base

from which

a great variety of

meals can be created by adding different combinations of

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

160

meat and vegetables. This porridge base can be stored erator for use during the next several days. ridge meal, slice the desired

in the refrig-

To prepare

for the por-

meat and vegetables, the raw meat may

be marinated with soy sauce. Then spoon out a portion of the porridge base into a pot, and heat until boiling,

water

if

stir

necessary to adjust the thickness of the porridge.

the porridge begins to boil, add the

Add When

occasionally.

raw meat and vegetables and

stir.

When is

the meat and vegetables are cooked, the porridge meal

ready. Salt or other seasoning

may be added to

enhance the

A small quantity of chopped scallions can also be added. ferred, the

taste.

If

pre-

meat and vegetables can be taken out of the porridge

and eaten with soy sauce and sesame

The following popular especially

are

oil

on the

side.

meat and vegetable combinations that are

among

the Cantonese.

Any

combination can

be made by selecting one's favorite ingredients.

No-meat porridge. Cleanses the digestive system after a heavy meal eaten the previ-

ous day, resulting in fullness or indigestion. Ingredients: 1

serving

rice

porridge base

dried beancurd* stick (beancurd skin), cut into small pieces after

4 oz

soaking

in

water

ginko nuts, cut into halves

7 pieces

After boiling, simmer for 2 to 3 hours, add boiling water to adjust the thickness of the porridge. Salt taste.

tofu skin

(l

;

u V\\u)

may

be added to enhance the

1

Prevention

And Self- Help

1

6

Clear-heat porridge.

Combats

heat discomforts such as persistent thirst, insomnia, and

irritability.

Ingredients: 1

serving

4 oz 1

3

oz

rice

porridge base

lean pork, sliced

preserved egg (one-thousand-year egg), sliced into small pieces dried oyster

After boiling, simmer for 2 to 3 hours, add boiling water to adjust the thickness of the porridge. Salt

may

be added to enhance the

taste.

Various combinations.

The following porridges

are popular primarily for their

good

taste.

They have no intended medicinal value. Beef: sliced into thin pieces

Some 1

Cook in

raw

sliced lettuce

egg,

whipped

a boiling rice porridge base until the

meat

is

done.

Pork: sliced into thin pieces (or use ground meat and form into small meat balls)

Liver and kidney, cut into thin

Some

Cook in

slices

sliced lettuce

a boiling rice porridge base until the

Chicken and abalone:

Some

meat

is

done.

Slice into thin pieces

sliced lettuce

Simmer for about an hour

in a boiling rice porridge base.

Fish: Slice into thin pieces (any kind of fish will do) Slices of beef

Some

Cook in

may

be added

if

desired

sliced lettuce

a boiling rice porridge base until the

meat

is

done.

1

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

62

Other seafood: Prepare some shrimp, and some

slices

of fish or

squid

Some

Cook in

sliced lettuce

a boiling rice porridge base until the seafood

is

done.

The Qentleness Of Sweet Soup Sweet soup

a category of

is

Chinese culinary delights largely

unknown to the West. Some Chinese restaurants a sweet

soup

as dessert after a full dinner.

more than only

a dessert, for

during the day. Like

it

in

America serve

However, sweet soup

is

can be a snack enjoyed any time

rice porridge,

sweet soup

is

more popular

in

southern China, especially in Canton.

Sweet soup

without meat.

is

made

It is

in the

same manner as ordinary soup except

intended to promote health or relieve certain

conditions, and has a gentle and long-term effect it is

suitable for

consumption on

a regular basis.

on the body, so

As

a snack before

bedtime, sweet soup can help one sleep better while the digested ingredients slowly

work

their effects

through the night.

Health maintenance. Helps body adjust to sudden weather changes, and prevents conditions such as colds, cough, phlegm, persistent thirst,

and the

like.

Ingredients: 5

oz

coix seed (Semen Coicis Lachryma-jobi, yi yi

longan

4 oz

Chinese yam, dried (Rhizoma Dioscoreae oppositae, shan yao)

4 oz

polygonatum (Rhizoma Polygonati Odorati, yu

4 oz

euryale seed (Semen Euryales Feroces, qian sbi)

4 oz

glehnia (Radix Axlenophorae sou Glehniae, sha shen)

4 oz

lotus seed

2

fruit,

(Semen Nelumbinis Nuciterae,

momordica

fruits, cut into

halves (Fructus

Grosvenori, luo ban guo) 3

reri)

dried (Arillus Euphoriae Longanae, long yon rou)

4 oz

cups

water rock sugar, dcsucd amount to

suit taste

lion

/.bit)

y.i)

Momordicae

Prevention

And Self- Help

1

After the soup boils, simmer for 2 to 3 hours. if

more broth

is

desired.

dients with broth

if

Drink

the broth.

Add

63

boiling water

Consume the other ingre-

desired.

Clear heat Relieves discomforts associated with excess heat in the body, includ-

ing canker sores, constipation, hemorrhoid itching, sleeplessness,

and the

like.

Ingredients: 7 oz

green beans, dried

4 oz

kelp, sliced

3

oz

3 cups

laminaria (Thallus Algae,

kun bu)

water

rock sugar, desired amount to

suit taste

After the soup boils, simmer for 3 to 4 hours. if

more broth

refrigerate to

is

desired.

make

Consume

a cold snack

if

all

Add

boiling water

the ingredients.

Add

ice

or

desired.

Nourishment. Promotes health and nourishes the

skin.

Ingredients:

4 oz

beancurd

stick

(beancurd skin), cut into small pieces after

soaking in water 10 1

red dates, cut into halves egg,

whipped

4 oz

Chinese yam, dried (Radix Dioscoreae Oppositae, shan yao)

4 oz

polygonatum (Rhizoma Polygonati Odorati, yu zhu)

4 oz 3 cups

lotus seed

(Semen Nelumbinis Nuciferae,

lian zi)

water

rock sugar, desired amount to

suit taste

After the soup boils, simmer for 3 to 4 hours. if

more broth

is

desired.

Consume

all

Add

boiling water

the ingredients.

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

164

Strengthen the lungs

and liver.

Relieves or prevents coughing. Ingredients: 8

oz

cups

3

abrus (Herba Abri Fruticulosis, ji gu cao)

water

brown

sugar, desired

amount

After the soup boils, simmer for if

more broth

is

desired.

to suit taste

Add

to 2 hours.

1

Drink the broth

boiling water

only.

Strengthen the digestive system. Relieves indigestion and heat. Ingredients: 10 pieces

4 oz

water chestnut, cut into small pieces

beancurd

stick

(beancurd skin), cut into small pieces after

soaking in water 3 cups

water rock sugar, desired amount to

After the soup boils, simmer for if

more broth

is

desired.

suit taste

to 2 hours.

1

Consume

all

Add

boiling water

the ingredients.

Promote sleep. Ingredients: 3

oz

2 cups 1

cup

White Tremella mushroom

(bai rnu er)

water milk rock sugar, desired amount to

After the soup boils, simmer for

when

the soup

is

1

suit taste

to 2 hours.

ready to be served.

Consume

Add all

the milk only

the ingredients.

Prevention

And Self- I felp

Relieve coughing

1

65

and phlegm.

Ingredients: 5

oz

almonds

Adenophorae seu Glehniae, sha shen)

4 oz

glehnia (Radix

4 oz

polygonatum (Rhizoma Polygonati Odorati, yu zhu)

2

momordica

fruits,

cut into halves (Fructus

Momordicae

Grosvenori, luo han guo) 4 oz

pyrola (Herba Pyrolae, lu xian cao)

4 oz

fritillaria

3 cups

(Bulbus

Fritillariae

Cirrhosae, chuan bei

rock sugar, desired amount to

suit taste

After the soup boils, simmer for 2 to 3 hours. if

mu)

water

more broth

is

desired.

Drink the broth

Add

boiling water

only.

Regulate water metabolism. Relieves discomfort due to dampness, also relieves urinary difficulty. Ingredients: 5

oz

4 oz

coix seed (Semen Coicis Lachryma-jobi, yiyi ren)

beancurd

stick

(beancurd skin), cut into small pieces after

soaking in water 10 pieces 3 cups

ginko nuts, cut into halves water

rock sugar, desired amount to

suit taste

After the soup boils, simmer for 2 to 3 hours. if

more broth

is

desired.

Consume

all

Add

boiling water

the ingredients.

Chapter 9

Simple Solutions To

And

Health A

Happiness

long time ago, there was a wealthy merchant

who

lived in a big

He could not understand why with the great wealth he possessed, his family had all deserted him. He was leading a lonely and unhapcity.

py

life.

When

he needed company, he would invite his friends over.

After the meat

and wine were consumed, they

would seldom hear from them

again.

wise hermit living on top of a mountain.

"What can I do

to live

a happier

all

departed and he

The merchant learned about a

life?"

He went there to seek help.

The hermit invited the mer-

chant to stay in his small hut. The merchant had a chance to taste the simple

work

life

to

which he had never known

chop

wood to make

the fire

before.

and

to

Although

it

was hard

gather the wild mush-

rooms and fruits for meals, the merchant slowly appreciated the message that the hermit

wanted

a newfound view of life. tion to his problem.

He

to convey.

He returned to

the city with

did not have to look further for a solu-

The answer lay within

ply needed to show more love

himself.

The merchant sim-

and care for the people around him.

when many things are accomplished by just pressing a button, we tend to forget who we are and where we came from. We face many fundamental problems, the recurIn

this technological

age

167

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

168

ring

one being

how

to live a healthier

and happier

tions can be as fundamental as the problems.

new technology within reach,

if

The human of history. the

dawn

we

appreciate

its

solu-

We may not need a

for a solution. Often, the answer

only

The

life.

is

simple and

value.

race has been fighting diseases since the beginning

Our ancestors

relied

of medical science.

on herbs

against infection before

The medical

value of natural herbs

have not changed, although our perception of them

may have

by the advancement of modern science. Medical technology has largely eclipsed the ancient wisdom that changed

as influenced

we we continue to explore the benefits that modern science brings, we should not neglect the valuable knowledge of herbs passed down from previous generations, for gave birth to the methods of herbal cure and prevention which

have inherited today. While

doing so would be discarding our past wisdoms and rejecting our roots.

As treated

a practitioner of

Chinese medicine for sixty years,

and cured countless patients

Chinese herbs.

My patients and

I

are

in

I

have

Asia and America using

among

the millions of wit-

on not more

nesses to the effectiveness of Chinese herbs, their gentleness the body, and their preventive value. That the herbs are

widely accepted

is

perhaps due to the cultural barrier between East

and West. Another reason explains

how

herbs

work

is

the scant scientific evidence that

in the

body. But even while

we

await

further scientific proof, the empirical evidence through the ages

regarding the healing and preventive effects of herbs

is

over-

whelming, enough to show that they do work. This book, then, is

a testament to this fact.

Bibliography Beijing Medical College. Dictionary of Traditional Chinese

U.S. edition. San Francisco: China

icine. cals,

Books

Med-

6c Periodi-

1985.

Beinfield, Harriet,

Earth.

and Efrem Korngold. Between Heaven and

New York:

Bensky, Dan, and

Ballantine Books, 1991.

Andrew Gamble. Chinese Herbal Medicine:

Materia Medica.

Seattle:

Bloomfield, Frena. Chinese

Eastland Press, 1986.

Beliefs.

London: Arrow Books, 1983.

Cheng, Xinnong. Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion.

Beijing:

Foreign Language Press, 1987. Garvey, Jack. The Five Phases of Food. Newtonville,

MA:

Well-

being Books, 1985. Hyatt, Richard. Chinese Herbal Medicine.

New York: Schocken

Books, 1978. Leslie, Charles.

Asian Medical Systems. Berkeley: University of

California Press, 1976.

Lu, Henry. Chinese System of Food Cures.

New York:

Sterling,

1986.

Matsumoto, Kikko, and Stephen Birch. Five Elements and Ten Stems. Brookline,

MA:

Paradigm Publications, 1983.

Porkert, Manfred. Essentials of Chinese Diagnostics. Zurich: Chi-

nese Medicine Publications, Ltd., 1983. Reid, Daniel. Chinese Herbal Medicine. Boston: Shambhala Publications, Inc., 1987.

Veith, Ilza.

The Yellow Emperor's

Classic of Internal Medicine.

Berkeley: University of California Press, 1972.

Anna Von Rottauscher. Chinese New York: Crown Books, 1972.

Wallnofer, Henrich, and Medicine.

169

Folk

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

170

Wiseman, Nigel, and Andrew icine.

Brookline,

MA:

Ellis.

Fundamentals of Chinese Med-

Paradigm Publications, 1985.

Yeung, Him-che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. 2 vols. Los Angeles: Institute of Chinese Medicine, 1985. Yin, Huihe, et

al.

Fundamentals of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Languages Press, 1992.

Beijing: Foreign

Resources For obtaining Dr. Fung's herbal formulas books about Chinese Medicine, or

in tablets, additional

a referral to a licensed practi-

tioner using herbs, contact:

Health Concerns 8001 Capwell Drive

Oakland,

CA 94621

(510) 639-0280

Herbal training for health practitioners and lay persons:

Get Well Foundation 7172 Regional Dublin, {Note:

most of these

Those

interested in

Street,

#116

CA 94568-2324

classes are held in the

San Francisco Bay Area.)

becoming informed about health freedom

contact:

Citizens for Health

P.O.

Box 1195

Tacoma,

WA 98401

(206) 922-2456

issues

8

1

Index 9-10

Acupuncture

AIDS

Fever

88-90,110

relief

Alcohol poisoning

Appendicitis

26-28,

2 1 -22

Generating sequence

3-6,114-115

Asthma

1

3-1

21-22, 31-32, 71-75

Great Britain

110

45^17

Heat

Hemorrhoid

117

Baldness

Beauty enhancement Brittle

13-18

21-22,63-65

France

113

Apprenticeship Arthritis

76-77,131

Five Phases

1 1

112

Allergy to pollen

42-45

Fibroids

Herbology

119-120

bones

32-33,132-133

Herb combination

79-8 1,118

105-109

9-10

High blood pressure Canton

Hong Kong

21-30

134-135

71-75

49-51

Cataract

Chemotherapy Children's

87-88, 121

common

ailments

41-42,

Influenza

42-45, 136

Insomnia

137-138

122 49-51, 71-75

China

Japan

Chinese medical practice

21-30,59-61

21-30

Chinese medical school

21-30

Leprosy

Chinese medical theory

9-19

Longevity

Chinese

settlers in

Cold

Menopause

53-66

Migraine

Orthopedics

Diabetes

3-6, 114-115

Diarrhea

Prevention

101-109

149-165

24-26, 101-105

Qi

41-42, 127

Energy enhancement

81-82,128

Equilibrium of body functions

18-19

Restraining sequence

enhancement

33-34

48-49 Superstition

Fertility

9-10

159-162

Prescription writing

78-79, 126

Diagnosis

(traditional)

14-18 Porridge

Dampness

77-78, 142

143

124-125

Correspondence to Five Phases

78, 141

Menstrual discomforts

48-49, 147-148

Constipation

92-95, 139-140

Southeast

37-41

Asia

Cholon

51-53

91-92,

Saigon

129-130

33-34

53-66

Skin irritations

173

90, 144

SIXTY YEARS IN SEARCH OF CURES

174 Soup

151-159

U.S. involvement in Vietnam

Sources of disease Stress relief

145

Vietcong

63-68

Sweet soup

162-165

Vietnam

63-69

Taiwan

Tuberculosis

Typhoid

"Wind-damp"

71-74

Tet Offensive

58-69

19

illness

3-6,

1

14-1 15

66-68 50

51-53

Yin-type weakness

Yin Yang

12-13

48^9,147-148

About The Authors Fung Fung practiced Dr.sixty also a permanent consultant for Health years. Dr. Fung

Chinese herbal medicine for almost

is

Concerns, where he shares his valuable experience and helps the herbs used in Health Concerns' products.

the College of Chinese Medicine in Canton,

select

He graduated from China, in 1934. He

practiced medicine in the College Hospital for three years until

Hong Kong, Dr. Fung continued his medical practice in the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals for the next the Japanese occupation. In

two years. In

1939, he

left

for

Vietnam to join the Cantonese Hos-

Cholon where he served as a resident physician for six years. In 1945, Dr. Fung started his private practice in Cholon, where he was known as Phung Phong (the Vietnamese translation pital in

of his Chinese name).

He was married and had four children.

medical career in Cholon spanned thirty years until

it

was

His

inter-

rupted by the worsening war situation. Dr. Fung and his family returned to

Hong Kong

in 1969

where he continued

his private

Fung and

his family

Fung continued

his private

practice for another ten years. In 1979, Dr.

immigrated to the United practice in

States. Dr.

San Francisco and Oakland

until his retirement in 1993.

The co-author of this book is Dr. Fung's son. John Fung graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 1971 with a B.A. in Economics,

from the University of Chicago

in 1978

with

an M.A. in Social Sciences, and from Stanford University in 1989

with an M.S. in Engineering. John has worked

and computer engineer for the

last

as

an economist

twenty years. In

his spare time,

he has done extensive research on Chinese medicine under the guidance of his

father. Presently,

in Saratoga, California.

John operates

a consulting firm

Books Available From Get Well Foundation Chinese Herbs in the Western Clinic by Andrew Gaeddert

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At

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Chinese herbal medicine should not be ignored. Richard Fong,

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He

What

MD

embodies the essence of

shines forth in this

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a

compas-

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life.

Efrem Korngold,

OMD, LAc

Co-author of Between Heaven and Earth This book

is

not only about healing with Chinese herbs, but also about the practice

of a prominent herbalist being impacted by

war and technology during an

period of the twentieth century. Apart from

and cure,

this

book

will greatly

its

eventful

medical value regarding prevention

enhance our knowledge about peoples and cultures. Allen

J.

Chun,

PhD

Anthropology and Chinese Studies Australian National University Dr.

Fung has healed

patients

from every walk of

in

life

Asia and America. His book

is

fascinating and enjoyable to read.

Andrew Gaeddert,

Herbalist

Author of Chinese Herbs Studying

this

book

gives

one the opportunity to

sit

next to the master.

Evon Karanoff, PhD, Chinese herbs continue to earn the respect and reliance of world's population.

I

find this

book enlightening

Western Clinic

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OMD, LAc

a great

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advocacy of

a traditional

alternative for health care.

Gerard C. Wong,

PhD

California State Department ot

1

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ISBN D-^b3fiEfi5-l-7

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51

FOUNDATION NORTH ATLANTIC BOOKS 9

780963"828514

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