Diogenez - Perhaps so, but it does add fuel to the fire regarding the benefits of a vegan lifestyle. Wouldn't you agree?

Coco,
I used to get tcm treatments a number of years ago. I found them effective. But they were just too expensive to continue. My partner got treatments but he didn't feel much difference. Great points however, I think many medical systems in the world have that potential. I was taking an introductory class in TCM at the time, so I often could actually anticipate what was going to happen to some degree.

However, I don't know if I would get treatments anymore. I have really changed what I think about medicine in general. I think alternative practioners can potentially be more sensitive to subltly but it depends on the person.

Sometimes I do find it kind of confusing how particular herbs appear in various contexts, surprising ones at times. I remember buying and eating goji berries by the handful, and my TCM instructor just looked at me kind of oddly and then wanted to read the bag. I let her do that, but she really didn't comment. I think she was wondering how it was marketed and promoted, and if it fit into her understanding of the herb. In a chinese market I bought some, and the shopkeeper was much more open, telling me not to eat them like that. But use only like 6-9 berries in a soup or something. Something indicating her understanding was very different.

I had also encountered something similiar with Tulsi. I discovered bagged version like tea and loved it. Then I noticed it in a dish in a very progressive resturant in SF, CA. I ordered it, and noticed that my teeth felt really weird. I learned sometime later that one can use tulsi in tea and other preparations which don't involve the whole leaf. Eating the leaves can damage the teeth! At least thats what a webpage on indian medicine claimed. I believe it.

I will have to think more about understanding and visualizing healing and personal responsibility. I think its wisdom to be really involved in understanding as much as you can when it comes to healthcare in any form.