ChinaSnap! Chrysanthemum Tea

 

This is a picture of... a mug of Chrysanthemum tea (Zhuhua Cha, 菊花茶).

At the time I took this ChinaSnap! I was... reading at Home Cafe on Nanluoguxiang Street (南锣鼓巷), a revitalized district of hutongs (衚衕, traditional Chinese houses) in Beijing. 

I remember that... usually, Chrysanthemum tea is served with rock sugar to balance out the sometimes bitter undertones. 

This qualifies as a ChinaSnap! because... tea is quintessentially Chinese, and Chrysanthemum tea is that much more authentic. The floating flower bulbs are whimsical, and the tea has a delicious yet mild flavor. Plus, it is a staple of Chinese medicine, curing all kinds of illness from the common cold to liver issues.

Submit a ChinaSnap! of your own to Chinaful by emailing chinafulblog@gmail.com and we'll post it with your answers to the bolded sentence-starters. Anything from your favorite Chinese food dish to you in the Forbidden City, we want to see what's Chinaful to you.

A Guide to Expat Healthcare in China

As a former Beijing expat, there were more occasions than I anticipated where I was in need of good healthcare.  In those times of crisis, I appreciated having the insurance I needed.  If you are an expat or even just a traveler in China, I strongly recommend obtaining health insurance to cover your trip. Today's post is sponsored by NOW Health International, and provides great insights into Chinese healthcare and insurance.

--Courtney Gould Miller 

 

 [Beijing: photograph by Cobble CC]

What to expect if you require medical treatment in China

Undoubtedly, expat life is full of thrills. Being able to live and work in a foreign country is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to grow and develop, both personally and professionally.

And there are few better places to sample life in the expat community than in China. Millions of expats now live and work in this exciting country and have played a major part in turning the nation into a global economic power. 

However, being an expat also presents challenges, especially when it comes to staying healthy. If you and your family are considering relocating to China, reading this article should give you a good basic idea of the Chinese healthcare system.

An overstretched public healthcare system

The most populous country in the world has just 12,600 hospitals – not a lot when you consider the population is over 1.3 billion. Even though only 80 per cent of the population is covered by the national healthcare system, it is easy to understand why Chinese healthcare services and facilities are under enormous pressure. 

Regional variations

Standards and quality are subject to huge variation, depending on the area. The major Chinese metropolis, like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou offer services and treatments similar in quality to those in Western countries. The principal Chinese cities now boast the so-called ‘gaogan bingfang’, which are dedicated VIP wards equipped with state-of-the-art medical technology.

However, it must be noted that these come at a price, and treatments at these hospitals can cost up to ten times more than in Western countries. Moreover, you could experience problems finding the right medical assistance in rural China or outside the major cities.

Language barriers and vaccinations

The language barrier is another consideration that must be taken into account. There are many English-speaking doctors in China, however, it could be difficult to find one should you need urgent medical attention in an emergency. In other cases, the facilities are extremely basic, and some clinics even refuse to treat foreigners. The same applies to dental care.

Diseases like hepatitis B are endemic in China, so it is crucial that you are given a full course of vaccinations before arrival. Communicable diseases like SARS, hand, foot and mouth disease, tuberculosis, avian flu, and other pandemic outbreaks are common in China. 

Also bear in mind that natural disasters such as earthquakes, landslides and flooding can be common in East China.

The advantage of an international healthcare plan

Under the current public healthcare system, foreigners can access public hospitals and receive treatment upon payment of one-off fees. However, not all public hospitals accept foreign medical insurance.

It therefore makes sense that expats do not to rely on the public healthcare system and purchase private health insurance instead. Even if you plan to access medical care on a ‘pay-as-you-need’ basis, health insurance pays off, as the costs of evacuation could rise well above $98,700 USD (£64,000 GBP).

While buying private insurance in China is possible, it is recommended that expats purchase an international healthcare insurance plan prior to departure. This will eliminate potential problems such as language barriers and other misunderstandings.

What to look for when choosing medical insurance

The best insurance providers will offer flexible and comprehensive cover plans, as well as a dedicated support team that is readily available when needed.

And since relocating to another country is a stressful situation, knowing that you and your family are covered can make the transition easier, adding to your peace of mind.

Guest Post: Understanding Chinese Medicine

My blog roll fits into a few categories - about half China-related, a quarter about fashion and design, and a quarter all about food, food, food.  And then there's The Hot & Healthy - the only health blog I read religiously, I'm mostly addicted to the unreal pictures of yoga poses by Mackenzie and Maryisia. The blog also touches on holistic health, featuring superfood ingredients and traditional Chinese medicine. I'm honored to have Marysia, a student at Yo San University practicing acupuncture and herbology, here to share with Chinaful readers about the mysteries of Chinese medicine. And be sure to check out the end of this post - Marysia's offering Chinaful readers a generous 60% off her services.

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A major difference between eastern and western medical treatment is their focus. In Western Medicine a diagnosis is essentially the name of a symptom. Traditional Chinese Medicine focuses on the individual not just the outstanding symptom.

A simple example we can all relate to is the western doctor’s “common cold.” In Chinese medicine the treatment for a cold is not generalized. It varies. The presentation of an illness differs from person to person and so the treatment varies as well.  With a “cold” some people get chills others a fever, still others both chills and fever. Many present with constipation or diarrhea, thirst, no thirst, sore throat, scratchy throat, cough, sinus pressure, chest tightness, profuse sputum, spontaneous sweating, night sweats, sweaty palms, red cheeks and so on. Additionally underlying chronic or constitutional issues such as fatigue, insomnia, poor diet and even irritability are taken into account. 

Marysia at a Chinese Medicinal store

Together all these factor reveal a Chinese Medical pattern. The pattern links the source of physical disharmony to its current manifestation. A diagnosis is the roadmap for treatment. Chinese medicine is a more holistic approach to health. It is not based strictly on trial and error; it is based on an intrinsic logic system that emerged 5000 years ago. This logic system is built upon the play of opposites: yin and yang, interactions between the five elements: earth, fire, wood, metal and water, and other such philosophies. 

The Ancient Chinese saw nature as reflection of the body. Think of the body like a mini planet Earth. If there is pollution in China the air quality in America will be affected. Clearing the air locally will not produce sustainable results. The entire mind, body and spirit must be harmonized to produce lasting results. 

Chinese Acupuncture

Looking outside yourself, to a doctor, to “fix” your problem will only yield temporary solutions.  Acupuncture and herbs are used to realign the body so that it may repair itself. It is not a band aid, but a tool that promotes healing. Accountability is implicit. Ultimately it is up to the individual to develop another level of self-awareness and make the necessary lifestyle shifts to sustain health.  

Marysia Weiss graduated from USC in 2007.  Currently she is finishing her fourth year at Yo San University and practices acupuncture and herbology at the Yo San University Clinic.  She successfully treats a large variety aliments. To book an appointment call 310 577 3006.  (Mention this blog post to Marysia and you will receive 60% off you first visit.)