(Source: China Daily)

A tonic for TCM

By Huang Zhiling | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2017-12-22 09:45
A woman receives a traditional ironing treatment at a traditional Chinese medicine hospital, named Shao Lin Tang, in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality. Ironing can treat conditions including dizziness, migraine and insomnia. [Liu Song/For China Daily]

Traditional medicine now has legal protection as well as increasing worldwide enthusiasm for its techniques

Traditional Chinese medicine is a treasure of Chinese civilization. Through thousands of years of inheritance and development, the four traditional diagnosis methods－inspection, auscultation and olfaction, inquiry, and palpation－have been followed by practitioners for countless generations. A report at the 19th CPC National Congress emphasized that China will carry out a comprehensive Healthy China initiative and "we will support both traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine, and ensure the preservation and development of traditional Chinese medicine."

Traditional Chinese medicine has played a major role in the prevention and treatment of common, frequently occurring, difficult and complicated diseases, as well as major epidemic outbreaks.

A patient receives electrical acupuncture therapy at Chongqing Cancer Hospital in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality. On the wall are images and instructions from famed ancient Chinese doctors, including Hua Tuo, Zhang Zhongjing, Li Shizhen and Sun Simiao. [Liu Song/For China Daily]

Through various forms of treatment, including herbal medicine, acupuncture, manipulation, massage, cupping, qigong and dietary therapy, traditional Chinese medicine balances yin and yang in patients' bodies to help them recover.

On July 1, China's first Law on Traditional Chinese Medicine was enacted. This is the first time that China has highlighted the important status of traditional Chinese medicine and put forward development plans and supportive measures from a legal aspect. The development of traditional Chinese medicine now has legal safeguards.

Diarra Boubacar, from Mali, takes the pulse of a patient at the traditional Chinese medicine hospital in the Xindu district of Chengdu in Southwest China's Sichuan province. Boubacar has been a TCM doctor for more than three decades. [Liu Song/For China Daily]

Traditional Chinese medicine, which involves preventive treatment and has strengths and characteristics in preventing and treating modern diseases, is increasingly acknowledged and accepted by countries and medical communities worldwide.

With rapid economic development and the Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese people now enjoy better living standards and are much more aware of their health. All these factors provide new opportunities for the globalization and prosperity of traditional Chinese medicine.

A patient receives acupuncture to treat facial numbness at a clinic of traditional Chinese medicine in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality. Chinese acupuncture was added to the United Nations World Intangible Heritage list in 2010. [Liu Song/For China Daily]
Locals purchase healthy foods at a traditional Chinese medicine market in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality. [Liu Song/For China Daily]
A patient receives moxibustion therapy at a traditional Chinese medicine hospital in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality. [Liu Song/For China Daily]
Two women experience facial masks made of herbal medicines at Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality. [Liu Song/For China Daily]
An elderly woman receives acupuncture to treat his eye disease at a traditional Chinese medicine research institute in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality. [Liu Song/For China Daily]