A hard day's work

It's Friday, so we got to have a little fun at the hospital today. While I've been in Oncology all week, Prajna and Lisa have been in Dermatology. One of the treatments in Dermatology is a mini-facial with steam, facial massage and an herbal mask. Since it was slow in the dermatology clinic, Lisa declared a "spa day" and the three of us, plus Jenny and May, got to practice the mini-facial on each other and experience its benefits first hand. I do acupuncture and herbal facials on many of my patients back home, so it was a treat to be on the receiving end (and to all of my facial patients - I'm bringing home some new tricks for you).

So that was the good part of my day. The not-so-good part happened later in my room, when I slipped while carrying a kettle full of nearly-boiling water, and it splashed up...into my face. Yeah, not good. Fortunately I'm in China! I called Prajna, and after a five-minute walk, we were in an herbal pharmacy, where I purchased burn ointment and promptly slathered it all over my face. If you're wondering what's in the ointment, it's the "Three Huangs" (Huang = yellow) - Huang Lian, Huang Qin, and Huang Bai, herbs that clear heat, dry dampness and relieve toxicity. The ointment is indeed yellow in color, and it smells strangely like Thai peanut sauce. I feel (and look) much better now, and I'll always remember "shao shang," the Chinese word for "burn."