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Chinese Medicine
This back specialist I saw has his office in a night market near Taipei. My shoulder had been bothering me, so I didn't hesitate to see someone for it. He did some massage, some acupressure, some work on my neck and applied some mystery herbs. He refused to name these herbs, saying in Chinese, "They are Chinese Herbs," and nothing more. I could smell mint and feel aloe and arnica. The session ended with him applying a wrapping treated with the Chinese Herbs to my neck and shoulder which restricted movement. In the uncomfortable picture of me on the subway, I cannot move my head to the left or the right. It sucked.
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I am still waiting for a light load to finish in the dryer downstairs. I think they imported the lame laundry machines from my old apartment in Seattle to make me feel at home in Taiwan. One day my clothes won't be wrinkley (mom: I know you've heard that one before, but I will make the effort. Honest). The "Bars That Carry Guinness" Talley is up to 3, so no one has to panic or get arrested trying to ship me a keg. I thank you for your support during this potentially devastating situation. Me without Guinness is like Taipei without pollution or Tainan without temples -- categorically wrong. -July 27, 2002 |
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How long did you think it would take for me to seek out some ancient Chinese back treatments? I don't know how effective this session was compared to the back-guy I go to in Seattle, but it undid the damage the &©@®! massage chair machine in Tainan did to my shoulder.
Though I am not 100% healed, my shoulder feels much better and I can turn my head again. I recommend massage therapy to everyone who will listen (and I don't mean the kind of massage you get at a barber shop in Hong Kong, Speight. . .).
I had to include the picture I took of a blind musician in the Taipei Main Station Subway (MRT) stop. He may not have the endearing sillyness of the guy playing the two-string guitar and gazoo in Georgetown (DC, not Seattle) or of Nirvana's former rhythm guitarist who sings on University Ave near the University of Washington, but the soothing music from his traditional instrument is a nice touch in this incredibly busy subway stop.