Yep, fair enough. I imagine if either of us had been really ill the treatment would be similar to what we’d receive in a western hospital, i.e. heavy analgesics. Fortunately haven’t had to see that side of a Chinese hospital.

Anecdotally, I have also seen a TCM doctor since returning from China since I was curious, and it was absolute quackery afaic. Outside of the hospital system it’s an unregulated untested crapshoot.

I liked the accupuncture like, I think that did help (at the very basic level lying down in a dark room listening to soothing music would do on its own) but the 配方 pellets were useless at best.