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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 21 of 21. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Larry Hoover on May 22, 2006, at 13:59:37
.....belonged on Social, because it's really a cultural observation.
Toronto has a vibrant, huge Chinatown. Really, there are three of them. And it's not just Chinese. Very interesting, wandering Spadina Ave., and shopping in the Oriental District. I just decided, that's a better name for it, Oriental District. Everything from "100 year old duck eggs" (only five for a buck!), to roasted things that beggar description. T-shirts as cheap as 7 for $10 (and I really couldn't find the flaws, if there were any).
Anyway, I recognized one Chinese apothecary/herbalist/traditional medicine place from my Internet wanderings. Very solid reputation. So, I went in there one time when I had some 'alone time'. Just following my muse. And the DCM (doctor of chinese medicine) was just standing there, and says I can get a full checkup/consult for $10. Ten bucks! I have this horrible neuropathic pain, and I live on opiates and such. Western medicine really hasn't done much for me, ya know? So, I take him up on it, and he asks me a lot of questions about my urine, and spends a long time studying my pulse. And he asks me if I "want tea", i.e. prescription of traditional herbs/roots/berries/?? I said, okay. Following the muse, ya know? And what I ended up with filled a plastic shopping bag! One day's tea is a good two cups of dried stuff. For less money that I pay for my regular meds, I might add. A *lot* less. Schizzandra, I saw, and ginseng. I really must remember to ask what all those things are.
I am going to go brew this stuff now.
I go back next week for "acupuncture, make the herbs draw heat from liver". Sounds good to me.
Lar
Posted by ClearSkies on May 22, 2006, at 14:21:11
In reply to This whole thing is different enough, I thought it, posted by Larry Hoover on May 22, 2006, at 13:59:37
Fantastic, Larry! When I worked in Toronto my physician practised a blend of traditional modern medicine and accupuncture. It gave me the mistaken impression that combining Eastern and Western medical knowledge was a common occurrence.
(My doctor was on Queen Street, west of Yonge.)
Posted by NikkiT2 on May 22, 2006, at 16:31:11
In reply to This whole thing is different enough, I thought it, posted by Larry Hoover on May 22, 2006, at 13:59:37
Accupuncture is wonderful.. I love it an dhave it weekly. I've used it for my pain for the last 10 years, and it definately had benefits until this acute flare up. I also find it chills me out wonderfully, and I often fall asleep during it :)
Did you get my email re; mindfulness for pain? I'm really finding it more and more helpful at the moment.
Unfortunately, its not working on the dihydracodeine induced constipation.. *hmmmphs*
Nikki xx
Posted by Larry Hoover on May 22, 2006, at 16:53:25
In reply to Re: This whole thing is different enough, I thought it » Larry Hoover, posted by NikkiT2 on May 22, 2006, at 16:31:11
> Did you get my email re; mindfulness for pain? I'm really finding it more and more helpful at the moment.
> Nikki xxYes, thank you. I'm feeling a little bit overwhelmed. I'm not going to be online for a little while. I'll catch up, soon.
Lar
Posted by wildcardII on May 22, 2006, at 16:53:58
In reply to This whole thing is different enough, I thought it, posted by Larry Hoover on May 22, 2006, at 13:59:37
i have always heard great things about Chinese medicine. i once considered acupuncture for my PTSD...let me know how it works...XOXOXO
Posted by Larry Hoover on May 22, 2006, at 17:11:27
In reply to Re: This whole thing is different enough, I thought it » Larry Hoover, posted by ClearSkies on May 22, 2006, at 14:21:11
> Fantastic, Larry! When I worked in Toronto my physician practised a blend of traditional modern medicine and accupuncture. It gave me the mistaken impression that combining Eastern and Western medical knowledge was a common occurrence.
>
> (My doctor was on Queen Street, west of Yonge.)The whole oriental market migrated west onto Spadina after they built a rapid-transit streetcar line right up the middle of the street. It's changed a lot, even in the last five years.
My guy is on Spadina, 1 block north of Dundas. Also has a store on Dundas, east of Spadina.
I can't believe how cheap his knowledge and his treatments are.....he had five years of med school, just like North American doctors get, only the material studied was from a very different perspective.
I got some acupuncture from my physiotherapist, as part of my post-surgical treatment, but when I described it to him, he had to stifle a laugh. "That not acupuncture!", said he. "That poke you with sharp things."
The fact is, I didn't do any of this on a whim. My (Western) pain doctor is named Leung, and this guy is Chan. There is a certain irony, as both speak English with a Hong Kong accent. I gave my Western doctor a fair chance at helping me, and what did I get? Dopamax? I trust these herbs and roots more.
Thanks for the vote of confidence. It really feels like a spirit quest, as much as a medical one.
Lar
Posted by Phillipa on May 22, 2006, at 22:23:42
In reply to Re: This whole thing is different enough, I thought it » ClearSkies, posted by Larry Hoover on May 22, 2006, at 17:11:27
Lar get some sleep!!!!Love Phillipa
Posted by Declan on May 23, 2006, at 3:41:59
In reply to This whole thing is different enough, I thought it, posted by Larry Hoover on May 22, 2006, at 13:59:37
You can't keep me out of such shops. I just love them (the smell) and wish I could understand the Chinese names. It hasn't worked brilliantly for me, but nothing else has either. I make myself bilberry and schizandra tea. Schizandra's a herb that's hard to go wrong with. Would love to have met some of you all.
Declan
Posted by Larry Hoover on May 23, 2006, at 7:58:38
In reply to Apothecaries » Larry Hoover, posted by Declan on May 23, 2006, at 3:41:59
> You can't keep me out of such shops. I just love them (the smell) and wish I could understand the Chinese names. It hasn't worked brilliantly for me, but nothing else has either. I make myself bilberry and schizandra tea. Schizandra's a herb that's hard to go wrong with. Would love to have met some of you all.
> DeclanI hear you. I could just browze one for hours. They had all these pre-packaged teas. The take out form of what was in the glass jars. They all had interesting names. Poet and I had a laugh just reading out names at random. I was looking for "women with bump on left arm and pimple on nose" tea, but they must have been sold out.
Declan, the medicine is in the plants, but you need the DCM to wisely guide you. Doctor of Chinese (Traditional) Medicine. You need to ask for a consult.
Their medicine looks for clues in the condition of the skin, which is visible right away, the quality of the pulse, which is far more than just counting the rate as in Western medicine, and urine characteristics.
I'm not sure you gave yourself a chance to really try what they had. You almost never take an herb alone, in TCM. Everything must be balanced, so if you need e.g. Schizandra, you simultaneously need the herbs to balance it. You don't just go chop up a Reishi mushroom. You need the Reishi companions, too.
Lar
Posted by Kath on May 23, 2006, at 20:50:39
In reply to Re: This whole thing is different enough, I thought it » Larry Hoover, posted by NikkiT2 on May 22, 2006, at 16:31:11
Hi Nikki - what's 'mindfulness for pain'?
Once I read a suggestions for dealing with pain...it was to ask oneself:
what colour is the pain? then
what shape is the pain?
what consistency is the pain?
what taste is the pain?
what smell is the pain?I don't know if the order mattered; I don't think so.
Then you were to do it again.
Then again.I noticed that as I was paying attention to all those things; actually trying to get in touch with the pain & the answers to those questions, the pain changed. The answers changed.
I am very afraid of pain. Fortunately for me, I don't have pain very much. Maybe sore shoulders or something, but I can deal with that.
I get bad sinus pain sometimes. I find it hard to "get past" because it's right in my head, where I think!! Luckily, pills usually get rid of it. I don't know how I'd handle pain that pills couldn't get rid of. I hate to feel trapped & I think I would feel so trapped.
hugs Nikki ----luv, Kath
Posted by Kath on May 23, 2006, at 20:55:06
In reply to Re: Apothecaries » Declan, posted by Larry Hoover on May 23, 2006, at 7:58:38
Hi Lar,
I live an hour N of TO.
I'll be really interested to hear how this tea helps you. Please let us know. Especially for ongoing pain.
Best of luck, Kath
Posted by Phillipa on May 23, 2006, at 20:58:02
In reply to Re: Apothecaries » Larry Hoover, posted by Kath on May 23, 2006, at 20:55:06
Lar is there nothing you don't know? Love Phillipa
Posted by Larry Hoover on May 23, 2006, at 21:30:58
In reply to Re: Apothecaries, posted by Phillipa on May 23, 2006, at 20:58:02
> Lar is there nothing you don't know? Love Phillipa
If there is, I don't know about it. ;-)
Lar
Posted by Phillipa on May 23, 2006, at 21:50:22
In reply to Re: Apothecaries » Phillipa, posted by Larry Hoover on May 23, 2006, at 21:30:58
A bit conceited aren't we? Can you make me all better? Love Phillipa
Posted by Larry Hoover on May 23, 2006, at 21:50:30
In reply to Re: Apothecaries, posted by Phillipa on May 23, 2006, at 20:58:02
> Lar is there nothing you don't know? Love Phillipa
Seriously, I have a weird brain. It just organizes things. It's a relational database. But, I am absent-minded beyond exaggeration. I have walked out of the house without my pants on.
Weird old Lar.
Lar
Posted by Phillipa on May 23, 2006, at 21:53:48
In reply to Re: Apothecaries » Phillipa, posted by Larry Hoover on May 23, 2006, at 21:50:30
Ohhh I want to see!!!! Can you take a pic? Love Phillipa
Posted by Larry Hoover on May 23, 2006, at 22:07:21
In reply to Re: Larry » Larry Hoover, posted by Phillipa on May 23, 2006, at 21:50:22
> A bit conceited aren't we? Can you make me all better? Love Phillipa
We cross-posted. I just thought your set-up line was too good to pass up.
Lar
Posted by Phillipa on May 23, 2006, at 22:09:59
In reply to Re: Larry » Phillipa, posted by Larry Hoover on May 23, 2006, at 22:07:21
Thought you said you would be offline? Glad you're not though. Love Phillipa
Posted by Deneb on May 24, 2006, at 15:37:08
In reply to This whole thing is different enough, I thought it, posted by Larry Hoover on May 22, 2006, at 13:59:37
How is the Chinese medicine thing going? One trick I have for drinking the yucky stuff is to eat a piece of candy afterwards.
Deneb*
Posted by Larry Hoover on May 24, 2006, at 17:36:33
In reply to Re: This whole thing is different enough, I thought it » Larry Hoover, posted by Deneb on May 24, 2006, at 15:37:08
> How is the Chinese medicine thing going?
No comment. Too soon to form any opinions.
Lar
Posted by 10derHeart on May 24, 2006, at 18:20:43
In reply to Re: Apothecaries » Larry Hoover, posted by Phillipa on May 23, 2006, at 21:53:48
Nope, he can't, left his camera in his pants.....
<grin>
This is the end of the thread.
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