Animal skins and bones, she says, are sometimes used in more severe cases.

"But these are more expensive because they are rare," Ma Li says.

And then, of course, with China being a tea-drinking country, there are purported to be teas for just about every medical problem: a tea to "eliminate food stagnation"; for hyperglycemia sufferers; an energy tonic to revitalize your spirit and create harmony in your sex life; for longevity; for the middle-aged and elderly "heart and brain health-keeping"; for hypertension; "to clear lungs damp heat and improve sleeping"; and a beauty tea that "dispels heat and detoxification"; and for slimming.

With acupuncture, special needles are inserted at specific points of the body to allow for increased blood circulation and adjustment of chi. The prick of the needle stimulates the release of endorphins and encephalin, the pain-killing chemicals of the body. It influences nourishing flows of the blood, waste, food, hormones and lubricating fluids. There are 1000 acupuncture points along the meridians of the body.

"And then the balance in the body is restored and pain goes away," says Xin Wei.

"Pain may register in one part of the body, but is a symptom of a problem elsewhere," adds Fushen.

"If your back pains it does not mean the disease is there. It could be the kidneys that control your bones, hair and water function. We will then treat the kidney."

The very popular Chinese massage, a precursor to acupuncture, also involves the stimulation of blood and chi flow. It is often used to relieve pain and heal soft tissue injuries, and to prevent illness caused by stress and muscle tension.

The China Grand Restaurant in Windhoek introduced a Chinese traditional massage centre a month ago. There they do not do massages mostly for relaxation. They anticipate bringing in six to eight more massage specialists.

Cupping involves placing a glass container on certain spots of the body, again to relieve pain, restore blood circulation and reduce muscle stress.

Acupuncture and cupping are also used to treat facial and other forms of paralysis. Acupuncture, says Fushen, is the best treatment for strokes, provided patients go for treatment within the first week or month after the stroke. Treatment is less effective - or not at all - after six months.

"But it is particularly effective to treat the paralysis of a face," he says.

Patients with chronic diseases also respond very well with these forms of treatment. It quells intense pain, and boosts the immune system.

It is thus not surprising that HIV/Aids patients seek the help of TCM practitioners.

"We cannot cure HIV/Aids," cautions Xin Wei, "but our treatment helps with diarrhoea and depression suffered by these patients."

"The HIV/Aids sector in China is a very important one and a lot of research is being done there," says Jun. "China has a 1million HIV/AIDS rate, but we would like to make our contribution to the world."

The more typical cases treated by the acupuncture department at the hospital and other private clinics are back and neck pain, strokes, functional problems such as headaches and impotency, and mental problems like insomnia, depression and anxiety. Asthma and other respiratory problems like chronic bronchitis are also treated.

What TCM cannot do, say the doctors, is heal fractures, tuberculosis, and high blood pressure.

"If there is an emergency, it is also best to go to a conventional hospital," advises Fushen. "It can get dangerous because we do not have the right equipment."

Of concern to Jun at the Chinese Embassy, is that TCM doctors are not allowed to dispense prescription drugs - or Western drugs.

"The Namibian ministry of health does not grant them prescription rights," he complains. "We would like to recommend that this changes."

Many of the Chinese doctors here have conventional medical qualifications, with parallel TCM training.