This morning was spent looking around some inpatient departments and discussing western and Traditional protocols. There are some ideas which are really traditional, like the benefit of treating seasonally, so for example in the asthma clinic they are treated with herbs taped on to acupuncture points to warm the qi, this is especially beneficial in the summer because it is already warm, so warmth plus more warmth is considered particularly beneficial. The patients who have been in this hospital for asthma will come in for season treatments, this can take a few years, but the patients often get a lot better long term by being treated this way. All departments give healthy lifestyle advice, so alongside the obvious stuff for a stroke patient like don't smoke and drink will be dietary stuff that will improve the blood, so recipes that can be done at home. Same in oncology and other departments. This is the type of stuff we are missing in our advice at home so it is good to hear it being practised so seriously. 

This week is clinical week, spending time like an intern with different consultants. I was down to do massage with manipulation, but this i decided was a bad idea. Firstly I don't want any more walking on, my back although looser was agony for days. Secondly I don't want to practice any of this myself so really it was a bad idea. Thankfully I am now with the most interesting consultant, Professor Flying needles. This morning we watched hi treat 30 plus patients in two hours, ranging from a child with cerebral palsy, a baby that was premature and isn't thriving to stroke patients and people with facial paralysis. Very interesting and totally unique forms of treatment, so i feel like I am learning a lot. What I hadn't expected was each consultant seems to have their own unique way of treating, I thought it would be more standardised. 

Cleanliness remains an issue, but more of that when I get home. Suffice to say that we all seem to be going down with the hospital cold......

Our consultant also took us for a Qi Gong lesson, very entertaining.

We are all ready to drop with general knackeredness and will ready to come home by the end of the week. We have a Hospital banquet to go to with presentations at the weekend, we just need to hold out till then. I would like to do some shopping, so put  your orders in.

Another action packed day starting in Zumiao which is an area in the middle of a city with a Taoist temple.  Beautiful old artifacts and a feel of the taoist tradition which forms the root of acupuncture, it felt like coming home and I could have spent days there, despite the slightly disney tat that has gone up around it.  It was also Hazel's birthday and I forgot....Then we went to look at an old kiln which is a giant version of my mates, Catherine's. A long mud and stone construction which was fired by wood and stoked day and night until complete.  Took loads of photos's for Catherine as I know she will be fascinated.

Then on to Seven Star Crags which is in a mountainous region, but surrounded by sprawling city and development, very beautiful all the same. Travelling along the motorways you really get a sense of growth and change of the country. You don't just see one new bridge under construction, you see several, and this was just within an hour or so of driving. 

It's a bit late, but happy birthday Hazel....x