Chinese Medicine Quandaries

Today Andrea took me along to see my favorite accupuncturist Dr. Gu. He did his usual treatment for my back but gave me some special treatments for my sprained ankle.


Here are Dr. Gu's steps for treating a sprained ankle.
1. Treat with accupuncture needle.
Quite painful initially for patient as injured area was poked with needle but after about 10 minutes began to feel better.


2. Massage sprained ankle
Prefaced this step of treatment by saying, "I'm not going to break it." Definitely knew this would hurt.



3. Burn some Chinese herbs and pack on entire sprained area.
No feeling other than heat from intial placement.



4. Perscribe Chinese medicine to help with the circuluation since my ankle's swollen.
Here's where my Western and American upbringing and Portuguese language learning collide.



Dr. Gu's assistant gave me the directions for taking this medication while Andrea's treatment was being completed so I was on my own. I figured if I didn't understand something I could ask them to repeat it to her but I want to work on my Portuguese and this was a prime opportunity to do it.
I understood her saying, "Take this side of the package at lunch (left side).
I also understood, "Take this side (right) of the package, along with one of the little round red ones from the middle at dinner."

So far, so good. Feeling pretty good about my Portuguese understanding at this point.

This is where my cognitive dissonance began though. Then I heard her say, "When you take these at lunch and also at dinner, take them with a glass of wine."

I thought, "Did she just say take it with a glass of wine? No way."

My face must have revealed my thinking as she repeated the same wine drinking directions. She also told me that the directions for the medication were in English. At this point, Andrea had come out of her appointment and asked if I understood the directions. I was completely embarassed thinking my Portuguese sucks. I thought she said take this with wine. Crazy! Being embarassed, I told Andrea I did understand and I thought, "Just check them when you get home."

So I did. I read through the directions and here's what they say:
'For patients suffering from stagnated blood, swelling and pain and no bleeding wounded take the capsules with wine.' My Portuguese was right on! I had translated it correctly. I thought you've got to be joking as my American and Western medicine schema are the complete opposite of that thinking. Usually doctors and labels warn us from doing that.

I took the first dose about an hour ago. I'll keep you updated on how Dr. Gu's treatment's help my ankle. If it's anything like how they help my back though, I know it's gonna be good.

Before I end this post though, there are a few other directions on the information sheet that I think you will enjoy.

• Directions for others who would benefit from this medication: 'As to wounds by knife, bullet or traumatic injury, no mater (spelling on paper) how severe they have been, the capsules are administered with warm boiled water.'
• Precautions: 'Avoid broad beans, fish and sour, cold food within one day of administration.' Guess no kimchi for me!