The Chinese started immigrating to the United States in 1849. They left
China in search of a better life. Life in China in the 1800's was very hard. There
wasn't enough food, money and the cities were overpopulated. They heard about
the United States and believed there was an opportunity to start over again. They
hoped to find jobs on the railroad or to strike gold. When they arrived in the United
States, life was difficult. Laws were made which discriminated against them.
However, eventually they became a respected part of our society. They are
responsible for many contributions which are part of American life today. This essay
will describe three of these contributions: two products, ginseng and tea, and one
method of medicine, acupuncture.
Ginseng is a perennial herb grown in China and other Asian countries. It is
also grown in North American, but the Asian variety is thought to be more valuable.
There are many legends and superstitions surrounding ginseng. The Chinese have
long believed that the ginseng is a cure for many aliments and can even make one live
longer. However, Western researchers are have been unable to prove this. Today,
many manufacturers add ginseng to such products as hair tonics, shampoos, skin
creams and even soft drinks. Also ginseng can be bought over the counter in drug
stores under such names as "Ginkoba" and "Ginsana". "Ginkoba" is supposed to
increase mental alertness. "Ginsana" is supposed to increase physical energy.
Tea was first used during the reign of Emperor Shen Nung in about 2737 B.C.
This was a very long time ago. It is thought that tea was first cultivated in China.
Then the China tea plant was taken to Japan in about 800A.D. In Japan, tea was used
for medical purposes. When green tea was...