In Vietnam, there are two types of traditional medicine that date back thousands of years to the villages of Vietnam. They are called Thuốc Nam and Thuốc Bắc. The two types of medicines developed independently over the years although they are similar in many ways. Both Thuốc Nam and Thuốc Bắc are herbal medicines using fresh and dried herbs, and plants. The main difference is in their preparation. Thuốc Nam uses different herbs that are simply chopped or ground before using. Thuốc Bắc, however, has a more complicated preparation, and often involves brewing and boiling the herbs to create a new medicine. The two traditional medicines are similar in some of their beliefs. Each believes in the idea of Khí or energy that flows through our bodies. One popular traditional medicine is from a plant called lá lốt whose leaves help treat arthritis and backache. Herbs, like mint, help treat a cold and the flu. While Vietnamese bitter melon known as mướp đắng or khổ qua helps in the treatment of diabetes, lá vông can help people sleep better. Today, both traditional medicines are very popular in Vietnam. There are many herbal remedy shops where people can find treatments for almost any medical problem. Students can study traditional medicine at a medical university and the government operates institutes where patients can receive traditional treatments.