Pills, thrills and Beijing Duck(690 views)

Release date:2009-08-25 15:52:17

Tourist trips to Beijing inevitable have certain, cast iron, “must-see” destinations pencilled in on the itinerary. The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, The Summer Palace, The Great Wall- all would certainly feature on most people's list of Beijing certainties. While in no way arguing with this non-exhaustive list, I have always felt that every destination has certain off-track sites and attractions that have the capacity to thrill and astound every bit as much as the more traditional sites (and sometimes more).

On my first trip to Beijing, some 10 years ago, I was taken to a most interesting place a little way from the centre of Beijing to learn about Traditional Chinese Medicine, a subject that has always fascinated me. We alighted at the entrance to Beijing Tongrentang Pharmacy-now a globally-renowned chain of pharmacies, but with a long history stretching back more than 300 years, being the designated branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine for the Qing court (1644-1911). We were given a tour of the museum, including viewing a wide selection a traditional herbs and plants used in Chinese medicine and an explanation of their uses. After this, we had the option of a consultation with one of the resident doctors. Due to my deep interest in the subject, I leapt at the chance to have my body condition assessed by an expert and also to ask questions related to Chinese medicine. The doctor invited me to sit down, and started off by examining my tongue and taking my pulse. One of the main points the doctor made was that I had a slightly fatty liver (apparently, a not uncommon diagnosis) and one of two other symptoms. The doctor recommended two specific types of herbal tablets for my general condition, and I took the opportunity to try them. They seemed to have a positive effect on my digestion and circulation over a period of time.

Later, we went into a separate room and were introduced to a Qigong master. Qigong, or 'breath energy exercise' is an art that has always fascinated me, so I was extremely eager to see the master's demonstration and again, ask some questions.

The demonstration was absolutely fascinating. The Qigong master started by demonstrating a series of basic exercises and breathing techniques. He then gave one of the most extraordinary displays I'd seen to date. After connecting a battery to the mains supply, the placed one of his fingers on the positive end of the battery and then asked us to stand up and link hands. He then linked his free hand with one of the other participants, forming a complete circle with everyone in the group. Everyone present felt the electricity tingling through their fingers! It was a masterful display of energy control and direction and fuelled my desire to learn more about the practice.

We ended the day with a delicious Beijing Duck dinner and had plenty to discuss over the meal. Certainly, anyone wishing to gain a deeper understanding of the richness of Chinese culture would gain much from a visit to the pharmacy. One could even go as far to say that the excitement was, at times, electric.

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