Nov 12, 2008

Miracle doctors of China: Are they for real?

I grew up in an environment where traditional Chinese medicine was prevalent, but have spent the past 50 years under the care of "modern" western medicine. I know that each of these medical disciplines has its advantages and neither is perfect, but the fact that they are based on totally different philosophy makes it difficult for a future that can see the combination of the good of both sides and the elimination of their shortcomings. In a previous posting I have briefly discussed the rationale behind Chinese medicine. I still don't quite understand it and I am still skeptical about it.

Recently I have the opportunity to see some unusual Chinese medical practice in action. In October, I helped arrange for two very reputable Chinese doctors from Shanghai and Beijing, who were in the States for private matters, to informally demonstrate their skills by treating people at a local college. One of the doctors, a sport medicine expert, treated about 20 people with complaints of neck, shoulder, back, knee and foot problems. Most of these problems were resolved with a few minutes of physical treatment using one of more of these five methods: acupuncture, acupressure, stretching of the muscles (la jin), bone setting, and skin scraping. Since I don't have any medical training of any kind, I may not be describing these treatments accurately. One very heavy-set woman came in on a cane, accompanied by her husband, was able to walk out without the cane after about half and hour of treatment. No equipment was used unless one counts the acupuncture needle as equipment, and no medication was required.

Last week, by chance I met another "miracle doctor" in New Jersey and read a book written by him detailing how he abandoned his Wall Street job and spent two years wandering around China visiting Tao and Buddhist temples seeking out some good traditional Chinese medicine doctors and learn their trade, sleeping at temples and farm houses, and at the same time practice what he learned by actually treating people in some of China's poorest areas. In Tibet he treated about a thousand people with all kinds of illnesses including diabetes, blindness and disabilities caused by strokes. He never charged anything of his patients. At a friend's house, I and several other people were treated by him for some rather minor discomfort. More importantly, I was able to learn about how the treatment works and some exercise that helps keep myself healthy. I am now still somewhat skeptical about these Chinese treatment, but less so than before. I want to know more.

According to this financier-turned-healer, the human body has an inherent ability to ward off all kinds of illnesses, including cancer, diabetes, heart diseases, etc. Only when some imbalances occur within the body or some blockage of the circulation of the vital "chi" occurs would these illnesses be able to rear their ugly head and cause all kind of troubles. So the way to keep oneself healthy is to keep everything in balance. Obviously I am oversimplifying things here and I apologize.

I am particularly interested in the "la jin" (stretching of the muscles) treatment that this doctor taught me. He put me lying on a bench against and perpendicular to a wall with my right leg stretched up against the wall and try to put my leg at a 90% angle to my torso. There is no way I can do that. My knee could not be straight and my bottom could not come close to the wall. He said that is because my tendons and muscles have contracted thereby obstructing the circulation of "chi" in my body. He then diagnosed that my kidneys are weak and told me that by practicing "la jin" I will be able to relief my kidney problem.

There are two way to practice "la jin": one is as described above by stretching both legs (one at a time) until they can be straightened. The other is by standing at a doorway with both arms holding either sides of the door frame, while both legs straddling the door way with the front leg bend and the rear leg straight. Stay that way for five minutes and then change position of the legs for another five minutes. Practice this twice a day.

I am going to try his "la jin" method and will report my progress, if any, on my blog in the months ahead. I may even be able to put a video in here. Stay tuned.