From The Peopling of New York City
Traditional Medicine
The Chinese view of etiology, or the cause of disease, was very different from the American view. Causes of most diseases were viewed as failure of maintaining the "seven emotion" (or happiness, anger, sorrow, joy, love, hatred and lust), of diet, physical activity, and so on. The healing process began with exerting counter forces by specific diet that lead to a balanced state, such as eating certain types of "cold" food to counter the "hot" problem.
More recently, in Chinese medicine, diseases that Americans tend to recognize quickly are not recognized as often or as quickly. For instance, a heart attack is rarely recognized and treated in the early stage, but rather it is often diagnosed as a stomachache. In Chinatown, knowledge about diabetes and allergies is not common among residents. But they more often (than Americans) recognize cough, stomachache, and chicken pox.[1]
Today
When the Chinese immigrants arrived, their views on medicine were traditional but still evolving, just as Western views were evolving. American culture is mixing in more and more, however, and now with the immigrants there is more often a belief in a hybrid of traditional medicine and modern Western medicine.
In general, Western doctors are more recommended by family and friends than traditional practitioners. They are seen to be more reliable and accessible. Traditional practitioners, on the other hand, are seen to be cheaper, and appointments involve less waiting time and less painful procedures.
References
- ↑ Wan, Enoch Yee Nock. The Dynamics of Ethnicity: A Case Study on the Immigrant Community of New York Chinatown. State University of New York at Stony Brook: 1978.