Chinese Herbs

Chinese Herbs

A stranger called on me for I am a Chinese. With his charming smile, he asked me if I want to buy a fresh  "gall bladder".

"What should I use a gall bladder for?" I was wondering about his offer.

"It is a very good material to use as Chinese medicine.” He said.

"No, I am sorry, I am a Chinese businessman but not a Chinese traditional herbalist," I said.

He insisted I have to take a look for it was "real good for health". I reminded him for most Chinese medicines were dried materials, even the gall bladder should not be used a fresh one. Sometimes people may swallow a fresh gall bladder of a snake with Chinese rice wine but to use a big gall bladder from animal was incredible. Although I was not interested, he still took out a fresh gall bladder from an ice-box, I saw the open of the gall bladder was fastened by a nylon string.

"Can you tell me how to use it?"

"Well,,,just cook the whole set of gall bladder!"

"What? Just cook it! As you have said it is good for health, how about I cook it and you drink it? If it is good for Chinese, so it does the same for Pinoy (Filipino)." My temper was getting hot.

"......" he was quiet.

"Do you know the bile of it is toxic?" (Actually, I don't know about the toxic exactly.)  In fact, he was selling something that he knew nothing about.
When I found my speaking was too strict to listen, I than calmed down and lower my tone to avoid scaring the man,” I don't want it; but can you tell me what kind of gall bladder is it?" I asked.

"Horse." he said.

"I have never heard about using a gall bladder of horse as Chinese medicine. Actually, Chinese use dried bile of bear's gall bladder and gallstone from ox to be medicine, but just a very little quantity per dose"

"So....." he was disappointed.

"I mean it is worthlessness to me!"

His smile was gone; but in seconds, his eyes were filled with hope again. "Oh, one more thing, I have brought you a Korean ginseng for your health." he opened his bag and pulled out a bottle, in which a Chinese white ginseng was soaked with liquid. Hundreds of different usages of ginseng were told by him easily and he emphasized that I should have already learned about the mystical power of ginseng, which is the most marvelous Chinese herb.

"Let me tell you something. Dried ginsengs are used as medicine, while fresh ginsengs are only used to cook Chinese soup, they were sold in most supermarkets in Hong Kong for about 35 HK dollars, they are just cheap and common, just like the one you are holding now."

This poor man was fooled by someone who sold him a cheap Chinese white ginseng as a Korean ginseng; furthermore, I was sorry for I have broken his dream twice.