Chinese Herbal Medicine Stores
Chinese Herbal medicine in Chinatown, Manhattan?
I was walking through the Chinatown in Manhattan, and went into one of the numerous herbal stores. There they offered me to see a Chinese doctor for $15. The doctor spend 10 minutes listening to my pulse, said that my kidneys are weak, and that I have some stomach problems (which is true) and wrote a prescription consisting of about 15 herbal ingredients. The herbs should be boiled for 1 hour 15 minutes, and then I should drink the “tea”.
Before buying these herbs, and using them I wanted to ask whether it is safe to to do this? Are these doctors any good, and know what they do/prescribe? Should I buy and consume this stuff?
I’m a medical professional and I know for a fact that you cannot diagnose kidney problems just by listening to the pulse. Probable signs of kidney problems include swelling of the feet or legs and even the whole body, poor urine or no urine output, and even dark colored or bloody urine. Did the Chinese “doctor” listen to the pulse or did he take your blood pressure? I can understand why he would say you have weak kidneys if you have high blood pressure but I wouldn’t use the term “weak.” Rather, I would say, you are at risk for future kidney problems if we don’t control your blood pressure.
As for stomach problems, I don’t believe this is some kind of correct diagnosis. Everyone has stomach problems.
These practitioners of Chinese traditional medicine do not have the education, training, and clinical experience of modern physicians. I would take with a grain of salt any medical advice one would give me unless it was advice to eat a healthy diet, exercise, and reduce vices.
As for the herbs, remember that they most probably have not undergone approval from the FDA and thus it is quite unknown whether they really work or even if they are safe.
Be careful. Good luck!