Chinese hospital

When you call in sick at work, even with something simple like the flu, or bowel issues (luckily I've so far managed to avoid that!), the school sends someone to your house to take you to the hospital!  The Chinese appear to be very quick to go to the hospital, even if it's something as simple as 'needing rest, over the counter medicine and fluids'.

People's # 1 Hostpital

When we first arrived here we needed to do a medical for visa purposes and we were taken to a brand new, very modern hospital.  Since then, they've used an older, more popular hospital.  At first I was a bit thrown off by this as you don't get private consulting rooms with the doctor and everthing looks so old.  However, once you get used to that, they are meticulous about cleanliness and their system seems to work. 

ambulance bay

While waiting to be seen (or to pay) I've been watching other patients.  I've obseved people walking around carrying their drip attached to a stick to keep it high, I've observed Traditional Chinese Medicine being practiced and have partaken in some acupuncture sessions. 

Here they don't just give you acupuncture, they also use 'cupping' to draw out the bad energy and burn moxa herbs to aid the treatment.  Sometimes the hospital is extremely busy as it's an auspicious day where they burn moxa herbs on ginger directly onto your body.  This is supposed to aid circulation. 

cupping leaved marks that last about a week

I've also seen treatment on the ears (to help weightloss) and on the face to clear sinuses.  It's interesting to see what the locals believe in.  One girl got an injection with vitamins (I think) which is supposed to help thicken her hair.

I'm generally the only western person there and it's been a real draw for doctors and nurses to come by and practice some English (for the courageous ones) or just to 'see a foreigner'.  I'm used to this by now as in Nanning you get stared at a lot and often people just say 'hello' when they pass you.  There are relatively few white foreigners here so we're still a novelty.