From a headache to the sniffles, heartburn to the common cold, shopping for remedies the pharmacies in Shanghai can seem like an intimidating task.
Minor illnesses and pains can usually be treated with the medicine most expats have brought from home, but what if the supply suddenly runs out?
Pharmacies in Shanghai can be extremely daunting, given the unfamiliar language and abundance of medicine lining the shelves. To help navigate through the confusion and find the familiar remedies you need, here is a helpful list of over-the-counter equivalents to Western medicines.
白加黑 bái jiā hēiEquivalent of DayQuil and NyQuil, Bai Jia Hei treats cold and flu symptoms with two types of pills: white for non-drowsy daytime relief and black for nighttime to help you sleep.
泰諾 taì nuò
Not only popular in the West, Tylenol remains a favorite with the Chinese as well. It can be used as a pain reliever, fever reducer, and decongestant. It can also treat the common cold and the flu. Make sure you ask for the right kind, though - pain relief (止痛 zh tòng), sinus congestion (鼻塞 bí saī), or common cold (感冒 gn mào). (For those who prefer aspirin, 阿司匹林 A Sī P Lín is usually available too)
開瑞坦 kāi ruì tn
Claritin treats allergy symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, itchy nose, itchy eyes, as well as skin itches and other skin symptoms. This US-based product is known for its decongesting and non-drowsy effects, and is available in Chinese pharmacies.
Joint / Body / Muscle PainRed Flower Oil | 正紅花油 zhèng hóng huā yóu
Red Flower Oil stops back, joint, and muscle pain, as well as inflammatory swelling, bleeding, and numbness of the limbs. It also helps provide relief for sprains, bruises, cuts, burns, and mosquito bites.
惠菲寧 huì fēi níng
Robitussin’s Chinese brand, Hui Fei Ning, provides relief for those with persisting cough by alleviating inflammation. The honey-flavored syrup is a household necessity for all.
Rivanol Trauma Cream | 利凡諾創傷膏 lì fán nuò chuāngshāng gāo
Perhaps the closest thing you can find in China to Neosporin is Rivanol Trauma Cream, which sterilizes and disinfects skin wounds. (After thoroughly cleaning the wound, grab some Band-aids, or bāng dí 邦迪 or chuàng kě tiē 創可貼)
Ibuprofen Capsules | 布洛芬膠囊 bù luò fēn jiāonáng
Handy capsule Ibuprofen can relieve mild to moderate pain, such as headaches, joint pain, migraine, toothache, and muscle pain. It also can be used to treat fever caused by the common cold or the flu.
斯達舒 sī dá shū
The closest thing to Tums in Chinese pharmacies, and on the market since 1998, antacid Si Da Shu alleviates the discomfort associated with heartburn, stomachaches, and bloating. In 2005, it was even deemed China’s Trademark Stomach Medicine by the Chinese State Administration of Industries.
途爽暈車貼 tú shung yùnchē tiē
If you’re prone to motion sickness, then you』ve got to get the Clear Route Carsickness Patch. It prevents nausea or dizziness when you get carsick, airsick, or seasick.
蒙脫石散 méng tuō shí sàn
The closest equivalent to Pepto-Bismol, this powder provides relief to those with an upset stomach or diarrhea. It also helps ease abdominal pain for those with various stomach illnesses.
自然之寶 zìrán zhī bo
Nature’s Bounty produces a line of vitamins and supplements for all needs. Their products include a multivitamin, Vitamin B, and Vitamin C.
Want to take a step into the unknown and try a local medicine? Here are some that you can try:
Cough: 京都念慈庵川貝枇杷膏 jīngdū niàn cí ānchuān bèi pípá gāo
Indigestion: 嗎丁啉 madīnglín
Headaches: 天麻頭疼片tiānmá tóuténg piàn
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