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Three Contributions Of Chinese Immigrants

Three Contributions Of Chinese Immigrants


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 developed in Chine, tea
became a popular beverage. Tea was introduced into England in about 1660. It
was a gift from the British East India Tea Company. The Company...