On 29th January, Shanghai Expat Association (SEA) in cooperation with Double Dragon Alliance took a party of SEA members on a guided tour? around one of Shanghai’s oldest working pharmacies, the Tong Han Chun Tang TCM pharmacy, in Shanghai’s Yu Gardens. (童涵春堂药店)
Led by the manager, Ms Ye Lan Fen,?the tour started inside the pharmacy’s private TCM museum, which includes the history of Chinese medicine, as well as the background and history of the pharmacy itself, plus exhibits of different specimens of TCM herbs, plants, animals and ancient remedies, now no longer in use, like rhino horn and tiger bone.
With translation by Professor Luo Ji Feng,?one of DDA’s disciples and DDA president Rose Oliver, the guests had many questions about the type of medicines used and their efficacy, as well as their preparation.
From there the tour moved onto the dispensary, where we saw how herbal medicines are stored, prepared and dispensed.
Ms. Ye showed the guests the components of one very popular TCM concoction, a potion to restore vitality and promote kidney energy; explaining the yin-yang relationship, and boosting and dispelling qualities of the 6 different ingredients.
She explained how different medicines are used to rebalance and detoxify the body, expelling harmful toxins which cause disease, thus promoting healing.
Following the talk, DDA’s Master Wang Ming Bo with Rose acting as interpreter, explained how medicines are used in conjunction with tuina massage and traditional Chinese exercise systems like Qigong and Taiji, to re-energize the body, unblock the meridians, boost energy flow and renew health and vigour.
After which the guests experienced some hands-on treatment and tips for maintaining good health and mobility, while Master Wang led the international guests through a series of gentle exercises and movements to maintain flexibility and promote energy flow and good circulation.
After the workshop ended, several guests also had a consultation with the pharmacy’s resident doctors.
The second such event, which DDA has organized in conjunction with SEA, was a great success and very much enjoyed by the 25 international guests, who hailed from a variety of different countries.
Thank you again to SEA for their continued support and cooperation and to Ms. Ye and the Tong Han Chun Tang Pharmacy for another wonderful tour.
To call on the pharmacy or purchase TCM medicines, visit them at 41 Jiu Xiao Chang Rd, Yu Gardens, near the junction of Chen Xiang Ge Rd. 10 minutes walk from Yu Gardens Line 10 Metro Station。童涵春堂，黄浦区，豫园，旧校场路41号，靠近沉香阁路旧校场路路口。