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EARLY CHINESE MEDICINES

After graduation from early secondary, I worked as an employee for the People’s Government, raising pigs in my village. Even though I had my job, my interest in herbal medicine increased instead of declining. I spent a portion of my first salary to buy an illustrated book on herbal medicine, and began to learn about the art of dispensing medicine. From a number of medicinal herbs I selected those that could reduce bodily illness, cut them into small bits, put them separately into glass bottles, then mixed them together. After my pig –raising work I would go back to my two-room house and diligently make Chinese medicines on my own without regard for the criticism of my parents and brothers.

On the other hand, I did not know how effective the medicines I mixed would be. I wondered whether the medicines I boiled out could actually reduce illness or cure disease as the books claimed. I always asked myself these questions, but there were no other methods to follow. At the time, there were some old men in the village who were suffering from bronchitis. I made a Chinese prescription for bronchitis and made some medicine for them. The results were unexpectedly good. I was astonished, pleased, and proud of myself all at the same time. When diarrhea became widespread in our village, I treated afflicted villagers in the same way. After I had cured almost everyone in the village with my concoctions, my pride turned into intense hope. I felt that now was my best chance to realize my childhood dreams.

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