Surviving China: Xi'an part 1


Thanks for your patience regarding this recent blog post. As I previously mentioned, life has become the consistent repetition of day to day tasks and while some might enjoy my musings of watching 'My Little Pony' on Netflix for the hundredth time, I'm guessing most of you can live without that.




I thought I'd compile some important information about surviving China. Whether you plan to move here or just visit, these tips will really make a difference in your ability to enjoy your time in this interesting place.

#1- Bring your meds! 

While China does have pharmacies that dot every corner, it may be a bit tricky getting what you are used to AND in the dosage you want. Most medications are actually available over the counter in China but many of the things we Americans pump into our body on a regular basis may not be available in the dose you want.

A MUST HAVE is Dayquil/Theraflu/Mucinex etc. I honestly thought that my stellar immune system would destroy foreign germs and maintain my highly reinforced health security system. For anyone who knows me, I maybe get sick once a year, but living in China has shown me just how inferior my system is. While the pollution in Xi'an isn't as bad as in other cities, I was still surprised at just how big of an effect it has had on my respiratory health. I'm constantly fighting off sore throat after sore throat with coughing and headaches too.

Here is my list of must haves:
*1 bottle of acetaminophen (Tylenol).
*1 bottle of Ibuprofen.
*1 giant box of emergenC.
*2 boxes of Theraflu
*1- bottle of Midol *seriously, best pain med ever*.

-If you are into more natural products, peppermint and lavender essential oils are great. Breathe by DoTerra is one of my faves as well as On Guard by DoTerra.
-I was surprised that we haven't needed much for upset stomach problems but some Pepto, never hurts as well as anti-diareahha meds are good to have on hand.
*Icy Hot or my personal choice Deep Blue rub by DoTerra for muscle aches and pains has been a life saver for all the walking you will do or just normal stress and tension from life.
*An ace bandage or compression wrap. This is just good to have in general. Remember, you will do a lot of walking.
*Any prescription meds. Try to get a 3 month supply. If you have to take meds for diabetes these may be hard to get. Also meds for anxiety and depression are very hard to get, so do your research before hand and bring what you can.
*Anti-itch cream like cortisone etc. Insects aren't a huge problem in Xi'an but we do have a lot of mosquitos in the summer. Tea-tree or Melaleuca oil is also great for this.

So What CAN I get in China??
VITMAINS-If you take regular vitamins you can get all of the basics here. * I don't take vitamins but I have seen them in pharmacies. Most of them have some English writing too so you can be sure to get what you want.
COUGH SYRUP- There are a few types of cough syrup that are similar to Robitussin that you can get for really cheap.
KIDS MEDS- I've been lucky that my daughter hasn't been as sick as I have been. However, China has many products for kids and the boxes usually have little cartoon babies on them. With a basic translator app, you ought to be able to get simple meds that are safe and cheap.
ANTIBIOTICS- Like most of the world, you can get antibiotics over the counter in China. Do you research before hand and pay attention to dosing guidelines. Many antibiotics come in very small doses. This is a big difference from what you might take in the US.
ASPIRIN- you can get this anywhere and it is stupidly cheap. I think I paid around .25 cents US for a box.
ESSENTIAL BALM or Feng you jing 风油精- Whatever magical combination China puts in to this stuff it is awesome for those pesky mosquito bites, aches and pain, headaches and more. It comes in a tiny bottle and it costs around .50 cents US. Its basically a combination of menthol, eucalyptus and probably melaleuca or lemongrass but it was far more effective than when I used those essential oils independently or mixed together.

Be prepared
China has a unique and vast history but one assumption I made incorrectly was that they were advanced in medicine. Hundreds of years ago Chinese medicine was far superior than other forms of medicine at the time. Unfortunately, due to issues like government regulation or lack thereof, education, etc., medicine in China will NOT resemble the miraculous healing we may have seen in movies.
They do drink a lot of tea and teas are used for many internal issues but the most common remedy offered by people is to drink hot water.
If you speak Chinese and want to go to a traditional Chinese doctor you will find that they are skilled in assessing the body and will likely recommend herbal or diet plans to help you.
Most 'western' doctors tend to be more specialized in a specific area of the body. However, treatment of health problems in China is much different than in other places.

While China does have nationalized health care, the way care is delivered is very unusual. Nurses in China only take your vitals and dispose medication. If you have to stay in a hospital for any reason you must have your family or friends prepare your meals, change your linens, bedpan or bandages, and provide your general care.
China takes a more holistic approach to health care. Many people pay very close attention to what they eat and most people get some form of physical exercise daily. There are public workout machines in most apartment communities for people to do sit-ups, stretches etc. You will often see people dancing in the mornings or evenings as well as playing badminton or other games.
Even with public transportation, people still walk everywhere.

Unfortunately for all of this, China has some misinformation that has been perpetuated throughout its history and also has some significant gaps about ways for treating disease in general.
Women still treat their menstral cycle in ways that basically require them to stay home for a week or avoid regular activities.
People really believe drinking cold things is bad for your health and hot water is offered at every restaurant. Most beverages are served at room temperature and unless you go to a western restaurant you will not likely see ice. Chinese people are VERY hydrated. They drink water constantly and it is usually hot.
Mental illness is simply not treated here. There aren't many specialists in mainland China that even study psychology or know how to treat things like depression and anxiety.
Breaks and sprains are often treated with reudamentary bandages and casts. Not like the common plaster casts we see in the US.
Going to the doctor is very inexpensive and medicines are very cheap or free if you have insurance. If you use insurance it is different than in the US because it is more like a membership card at a specific location. You cannot go to any pharmacy and use your insurance to pay for your meds. Typically it will cover you at certain hospitals and in order to get your meds free, you must use your insurance at that hospital. Records are also nearly non-existent. At least for foreigners. If you take a medication regularly you must see a doctor every month and get a new prescription each time. Prescriptions are not refillable like they are in the US. They also don't keep a file with your passport information and insurance information like we would in the US. You have to bring it every time.

People have very little knowledge about basic anatomy especially bruises, abrasions and sprains. Muscle and joint issues are also generally unknown or at least ways to treat problems associated with them.
Basically if you have a mediocre knowledge of basic health you will probably be just as well to avoid hospitals and doctors altogether in China. Treat yourself at home with good old fashioned rest and soup.

Massage Therapy and other alternative therapies.
Massage is another thing that you might want to be aware of. There are may massage places in China but they differ from western massage. In more touristy spots be aware that many massage shops are places of prostitution. Surprisingly if a business advertises child massage, this is likely a legitimate health massage. Swedish style massage with oils is typically only offered at high end spas or in hotels. The cost of these can be quite high. Typically Chinese massage is done fully clothed and you can pay by the amount of time or more commonly the area of the body that you want massaged. It is not as easy to find full body relaxation massage as I had hoped.
China follows the 'no pain, no gain' method. This type of massage is typically deep with a lot of pressure. If you are a tender client I suggest avoiding this type of massage. Bruising is a common side affect of Chinese massage and most people report soreness from the massage up to a week after the session.
Cupping is another common practice here. It involves placing glass cups on the skin of the client and heating them. This causes the air pressure inside the cup to change and creates suction. This too results in 'suction bruises' that can last up to a week.
Acupuncture is also a common practice here. Rarely are visible side affects common. This is one therapy that I really want to try but have not done so yet. Communication makes it a little tricky and there isn't an acupuncturist near my apartment community.

What about breathing masks??
Pollution in China is something you should be aware of and using a mask that filters the air you breath is one way that many people avoid illness. I have conflicting ideas about masks so I will leave it up to you to decide. Carbon filter masks can be very advantageous in filtering out Particle matter that is 10 microns or larger. You can get these on Amazon before you come to China or in various places once you arrive. However, I feel masks may not do as much as the placebo effect we get from wearing one. In order to really filter the air you breath you need a fully sealed military grade respirator.  otherwise the unfiltered air just comes in from around the edges. Medical style masks are available everywhere for very cheap and cloth masks are easy to find as well. Cloth masks don't do much beyond keeping your face warm but on chilly mornings it is a nice addition to your outerwear. Masks are useful at eliminating the spread of illness, however. Many people will wear thin medical masks if they have a cold or any type of infectious disease to ensure they don't "share" their germs.

**NOTE- nothing in this blog post is designed to treat, diagnose, or otherwise provide medical advice in a formal fashion. Always seek the advice from your healthcare professional. Don't be an idiot and do things simply because they are on the internet***


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