.06

Chinese Medicine

Chinese medicine bottles behind a glass case
A small hand painted medicine mug behind a glass case.
A label reading, The remedies here are used to treat a variety of ailments, including intestinal hernia, indigestion, and stress. The page of instructions explains how to treat tonsilitis using the small, round bottle of powder. Several of these bottles came from the popular L.T. Sue Herb Company in Hanford, California, founded by Dr. Lok Ting Sue in 1907. Its reputation for “curative brews” was far-reaching for both Chinese and white patients, and Dr. Sue became one of the wealthiest Chinese in the region. His success, however, was met with multiple arrests in 1909 for practicing medicine without a license. Because he was only selling herbs, a jury found him innocent, and he persevered to stay in business for decades.
a postcard of a Chinese medicine shop
A label reading, Historical photos of Chinatown medicine shops, like the postcards nearby, inspired the artist to paint this scene. Here, a doctor takes his patient’s pulse and studies her condition, and an apothecary weighs medicinal herbs. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been used for thousands of years to prevent and treat illness and restore health and balance. Typical dried herbs and superfoods, often ground to brew tea, include panax ginseng, licorice root, goji berries, seaweed, and mushrooms. In addition to herbal remedies, approaches to healing include acupuncture, tai chi, and massage. The artist himself has successfully undergone TCM treatments, and through this painting wants to share the significance of the traditional practice.
An oil painting of a Chinese medicine shop

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