Tongrentang Traditional Chinese Medicine Shop, Beijing

Oct. 5/04 We went to the pharmacy with a tour guide and were taken to a room where the history of the pharmacy and some explanation of the kinds of raw materials used in the preparations were given by a gentleman with excellent Oxford-accented English. Next we were each seen by a doctor, called a professor by the translator, who felt the pulse in both wrists, looked at our tongue and eyes, and proceeded to tell us of the problems that were utmost in our minds. He was looking for evidence of yin/yang balance or imbalance. We were very impressed, to say the least, at the accuracy of his diagnosis and bought the preparations he recommended. We have great hopes for these preparations, as other forms of conventional Western and naturopathic medicines have not been effective. Be prepared: the preparations are expensive.