Chemists:

There are chemists everywhere but be warned, most of the white-coated employees will sell you far too many antibiotics for simple things like colds. A combined dose of several different brands of lethal drugs are happily prescribed. AlthoughChinahas embraced Western medicine, it seems there is little appreciation of how harmful they can be if not taken in moderation. While the Western approach is usually to build up the immune system with medicine helping out, the Chinese way is to blitz the body with medicine until better. That said, the availability of traditional medicines inChinais widespread, very well organised and reputable traditional chemists can be easily found. There was a recent case of a doctor who insisted he be treated with plant extracts rather than surgery or Western medicine, after a snakebite severed his finger. In a few months, through continuous herbal usage and applying traditional remedies, his finger almost completely grew back making a miraculous recovery. Quite a remarkable story but this shows the belief the Chinese place in their ancient medicinal methods. Chinese hospitals are busy, chaotic places with a lobby of several dozen cashiers who collect the various charges from patients, for seeing a doctor, paying for medicines, using a drip (they love the drip), and on and on. It is advisable to get a Chinese friend to help you out if you need to visit the hospital as they can be very confusing places. There are however, young pretty nurse students who lurk around the main hall giving assistance to anyone lost in the myriad of corridors, long queues or cashier points.