I went to a TCM clinic for back pain. The doctor felt my pulse and knew I wasn't sleeping well.

ChinaTravelMemo

My friend from Australia had lower back pain from sitting too much. A Chinese colleague suggested TCM — Traditional Chinese Medicine.

She was skeptical but curious.

The clinic:

A small TCM clinic in Shanghai. No white coats. No fluorescent lights. Just wooden furniture, the smell of herbs, and a doctor in his 60s with kind eyes.

The diagnosis:

The doctor didn't ask about her back.

He took her wrist and pressed three fingers on her pulse.

He closed his eyes.

30 seconds passed.

"You're not sleeping well," he said.

She stared at him. It was true. She had insomnia for 2 weeks.

"Your liver qi is stagnant," he continued. "And your spleen is weak. This causes the back pain."

The treatment:

Acupuncture:
• 8 needles in her back, legs, and wrists
• She lay on a bed for 30 minutes
• The needles didn't hurt — just a dull ache when inserted
• She felt a warm sensation spreading through her back

Cupping:
• Glass cups heated and placed on her back
• Suction pulled her skin up
• Left round purple marks for a week
• Felt like a deep tissue massage

Herbal medicine:
• A bag of dried herbs and roots
• Boil in water for 30 minutes, drink twice daily
• Tasted like dirt mixed with bark
• Cost: ¥80 for a week's supply

The result:

After 3 sessions over 2 weeks:
• Back pain: 70% better
• Sleep: significantly improved
• Energy levels: higher

Total cost: ¥600 ($85) for 3 sessions + herbs.

The reality of TCM for foreigners:

Where to go:
• Major hospitals have TCM departments (正规医院中医科)
• Private TCM clinics (more expensive, often better English)
• Community health centers (cheap, basic)

Costs:
• Public hospital TCM: ¥50-200 per session
• Private clinic: ¥300-800 per session
• Herbs: ¥50-200 per week

What to expect:
• Diagnosis through pulse, tongue examination, and questions
• Treatment: acupuncture, cupping, herbs, or tuina massage
• Usually 4-8 sessions for chronic issues

Cautions:
• Herbs can interact with Western medications. Tell your doctor everything you take.
• Quality varies wildly. Stick to licensed practitioners.
• Some conditions (fractures, infections) need Western medicine, not TCM.

My Australian friend:

"I don't understand how feeling my pulse told him I had insomnia. I don't understand why drinking boiled bark helped my back. But it did. Science can't explain everything yet."

Anyone else tried TCM in China? What was your experience?