Although going to the doctor is not my favorite program – I only go as a last resort –, when it comes to a natural and millenary medicine, outside allopathic Western standards, the story changes.Ever since I saw a Chinese pharmacy for the first time, I was curious to try the products.Here, on every corner, we can find this type of store that sells all herbs, but most establishments don't work for foreigners – they don't speak English, nor do they make a point of helping you.The only thing I knew and could try was ginseng, which serves, among other things, to give energy.More on the subjectBeautiful JourneyBe impeccable with your words.Using them well can build dreamsBeautiful journeyMeet Hanoi and Halong Bay, must-see destinations in VietnamBeautiful journeyIn summer, we allow ourselves to live intensely and shine brighterI didn't give up.Every day, as I walked, I kept an eye out, until I saw a sign written in English: “Therapeutic Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)”.Bingo!TCM emerged in ancient China and its main treatments are the use of herbs and acupuncture, and it basically consists of the following principles:Balance between Yin and Yang: It is a symbol known to us and represents one of the fundamental principles of Chinese medicine.They believe that everything in the universe is a balance between opposites.The circular shape represents the perfection of the universe, and the two colors show the harmony between dualities – night and day, man and woman, winter and summer.The Five Elements: Chinese astrology teaches us that the universe is made up of five elements – water, earth, metal, fire and wood.These elements line up in a circle, forming a star that defines the relationships between them, of affinity or repudiation.Each of these five elements also has characteristics such as color, season of the year, among others.Qi, or Chi, and Xue: energy and blood.And here, read not only the “red blood”, but all the liquid fluid that flows through our body.Xue (blood) is the fluid that nourishes and hydrates the body.Qi (vital energy), or Chi, is the source of the body's activities, protecting us from illness and keeping us warm.When there is no harmony between these forces, there is deficiency, stagnation or heating of the blood.Jing Luo Meridian System (Channels): It was discovered 7,000 years ago and has the function of charging and distributing Xue and Qi (blood and energy).Jing – works like a vertical line, from head to toe.Luo – works on the body meridian, horizontally.According to this principle, if we stimulate certain points on the meridian, it is possible to rebalance the energies of the body and organs.When I was in Vietnam, I ate something that made me sick.My stomach was sensitive for days and since then my energy has been a little low.That would be the reason for my visit.When I arrived, I was greeted by a girl who organized the queue and served the patients, while her parents helped at the pharmacy, preparing the prescriptions.I waited for a few minutes, until she called me, indicating a small room with a gurney and a table, computer and papers.She sympathetically asked if I knew about TCM, I explained that I knew a little about the principles and was curious to try the treatment.The girl smiled and asked what I was feeling.After that, she filled me with questions: sleep quality, last period, bowel function, what my routine was like, among others.As I answered, the clerk filled out a form that would be my prescription.The second step was to feel my pulse.She said that indeed my Qi, or Chi, was low, so she examined my tongue and my eyeballs.She said her tongue was ok, but her eye was very dry.And she then taught me how to massage around the eyeball to activate the energy and flow the blood.The recipe form was getting bigger as we talked.Between one explanation and another, she told me to eat only hot foods, as the low temperature could make my stomach worse.She also pointed to spots on my face and said that if I pressed and massaged them every day, enough, they would go away.Obviously I wouldn't miss the opportunity to order something that would take away my hunger.The girl smiled and said that MTC could help me in this mission.This information alone would be worth the visit.In the end, she taught me how to activate the energy of the meridians, pressing points on my fingers and toes until I felt a little pain.And she gave me the recipe with 15 different herbs, separated in bags, to take for three days, after breakfast.She said I should mix them all in a glass of water and drink.The consultation and medication cost me HKD 330, the equivalent of R$ 150.00.After much searching, a poster had written, in English: “Therapeutic Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)”Personal archiveUpon arrival, I was greeted by a girl who organized the queue and served patients, while her parents helped at the pharmacy, preparing the prescriptions.The attendant smiled and asked how I was feeling.After that, she filled me with questions: sleep quality, last period, bowel function, what my routine was like, among othersPersonal fileThe second step was to feel my pulsePersonal fileShe gave me the recipe with 15 different herbs, separated in bags, to take for three days, after breakfastPersonal fileThe consultation and medication cost me HKD 330, the equivalent of R$150.00Personal fileI couldn't wait for the next day to start the treatment.I did a quick Google search and saw what the herbs were for: Radix Codonopsis, for stomach upset and bad digestion;Finger Citron, known as Buddha's hand, for the liver;Liquorice Root, also for the stomach;Largehead Atractylodes Rhizome, for immunity and swelling;Nutgrass Galingale Rhizome, to reactivate Qi and relieve pain;Officinal Magnolia Bark, which serves as an antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, prevents cancer, as well as being used to treat Alzheimer's, diabetes, depression and menopause;Common Aucklandia Root, to regulate the flow of Qi;Suberect Spatholobus Stem, for blood circulation;Villous Amomum Fruit and Germinated Barley, for stomach and liver;Scrub Chaste Tree Fruit, for premenstrual symptoms;Orange Fruit and Immature Orange Fruit, for the immune system;and Szechwan Lovege Rhizome, for swelling.I opened the 15 bags and put them in a glass, wondering how I was going to swallow it all.I stirred it with a spoon and swallowed what I could, just the liquid.The pieces of herbs were left behind.It tasted really bad, tree trunk with mud, and I wondered how I would do it the next time.During the day, I felt more energy and hungrier, but, I don't know if for other reasons, I slept much later than usual.On the second and third days, I decided to make and strain an infusion, to see if it improved.I waited for it to cool down and took it without breathing.I didn't feel anything in particular during the day, I had a great time.In the end, I loved it and would repeat the experience.I would just ask to be in capsules, as the taste is really strong.The couple would have enjoyed the event on the electronic stage and ended the night together with an exchange of kisses.Minister of the Economy defends the exemption of the payroll for the health sector as a way to compensate the category and companiesEurope's largest nuclear power plant is occupied by Russian troops on Ukrainian territory.The site is a frequent target of bombings.With the death of the queen, Celtic, Rangers and Liverpool recall that rivalry and historic heartaches mix beyond the four linesThe course is aimed at people of any profession and starts on the 22nd