I walked into a Chinese pharmacy with a headache. I walked out with 4 boxes of medicine I didn't understand.

ChinaTravelMemo

My friend from Spain had a headache. A normal headache. She went to a pharmacy in Shanghai.

She asked: "Do you have ibuprofen?"

The pharmacist looked at her. Then disappeared into the back.

She returned with 4 boxes of different medicines.

Box 1: 布洛芬缓释胶囊 (Ibuprofen Sustained Release Capsules)
"This is what you asked for. But it hurts your stomach. Take with food."

Box 2: 复方氨酚烷胺片 (Compound Paracetamol and Amantadine Tablets)
"This is better for headaches with cold symptoms. Do you have a cold?"

Box 3: 正天丸 (Zheng Tian Wan)
"Chinese medicine. No side effects. Good for chronic headaches."

Box 4: 风油精 (Feng You Jing)
"Rub this on your temples. Instant relief. Very cheap."

Total cost for all 4: ¥68 ($9.50).

She bought them all. Because she didn't know how to say no in Chinese.

Buying medicine in China:

Pharmacies (药店):
• Every neighborhood has several
• Marked with a green cross sign
• Most medicines don't require a prescription
• Pharmacists are knowledgeable but rarely speak English

What you can buy without prescription:
• Pain relievers (ibuprofen, paracetamol/acetaminophen)
• Cold medicine
• Antacids
• Antihistamines
• Some antibiotics (technically prescription-only but often available)
• Traditional Chinese medicine

What requires prescription:
• Strong painkillers
• Most psychiatric medications
• Some imported Western drugs

Common medicines and their Chinese names:

• Ibuprofen: 布洛芬 (Bùluòfēn)
• Paracetamol/Acetaminophen: 对乙酰氨基酚 (Duìyǐxiān'ānjīfēn) or 扑热息痛 (Pūrèxìtòng)
• Aspirin: 阿司匹林 (Āsīpǐlín)
• Antihistamine (Cetirizine): 西替利嗪 (Xītìlìqín)
• Antacid: 铝碳酸镁 (Lǚtànsuānměi) — brand name: 达喜 (Dáxǐ)
• Diarrhea medicine: 蒙脱石散 (Méngtuōshí sǎn) — brand name: 思密达 (Sīmìdá)

Tips:

• Bring a photo of the medicine you want. Show it to the pharmacist.
• Use Google Translate camera to read labels.
• Many international pharmacies exist in major cities (Watsons, Mannings) with English-speaking staff.
• For serious conditions, go to a hospital. Self-medicating is risky.
• Keep your home country's common medicines in your travel kit.

My Spanish friend's medicine cabinet now contains 4 boxes for one headache. She uses the ibuprofen. The TCM pills are "for emergencies." The Feng You Jing is her new favorite thing — she rubs it on everything now.

"I asked for ibuprofen. I got a pharmacy degree. Chinese pharmacists don't just sell medicine. They sell solutions. Multiple solutions. For the same problem."

Anyone else overwhelmed by a Chinese pharmacy?