Watching, experiencing, and practicing the basic techniques of tuina...more than 40 international students from 23 countries and regions including the United States, Russia, France, and the United Kingdom are taking a summer school program at Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Many of these students have a medical background, and for most of them, this is their first experience with TCM.
THIGAL from the UK said,"It's very interesting. I mean, in my whole life, I've always just learned about western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine is a completely different perspective. So it’s very eye opening. It's a new strategy, you know, the way they diagnose is very new."
"I think it's really nice, insightful, definitely some information that I'll take in myself for my own practices. I would definitely love to dive more into the acupuncture, more about the cupping therapy and just learning how different herbs can interact together to heal the human body," said ANGEL FRANCIS from the US.
FATIMA from Lebanon said,"Everything in this course was very interesting because it was very comprehensive. In a very short time, we learned about everything from the traditional medicine to the diagnosis to the herbal medicine to the tuina. So it's very interesting for me to learn about how can I incorporate it more in my practice and how to bring old practices back to the current western medicine practices."
In addition to the theoretical learning on campus, the students also visited local hospitals known for their TCM therapies. At Shanghai Seventh People's Hospital, students were able to experience acupuncture firsthand to relieve some of their ailments.
"Very nice. Very interesting how some needles in opposite side of the body can treat. And I feel very good in just a couple of minutes. I study Chinese medicine in Spain. I find acupuncture and also herbs are much better than just taking pills. And that's because they go to the very deep cause of the disease," said ALEJANDRA from Spain.
Students also learned more commonly used diagnostic and therapeutic methods like pulse diagnosis, cupping therapy, medicinal mud moxibustion and more. "What I like is the holistic approach of the patients. Because in western medicine, too much time, you just see one part of the body. In traditional medicine, they see everything, the way of life, the history of family, the pain. So that's what I'm interested in, the holistic part."
"Western medicine can't explain everything. And when you combine Chinese and western medicine, it helps you to understand the world, the person better," said DIANA from Russia.
RASHEL from Bolivia said,"I think the part that have an impact in my life is about herbal medicine. Because in Bolivia, we also have this kind of medicine, traditional medicine. And I can complement Chinese medicine with traditional Bolivian medicine."
The program lasted four weeks. In addition to learning clinical practices of Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, and tuina, the students also studied Mandarin, practiced traditional Chinese exercises, and experienced local festivals.
ShanghaiEye Reporter: Tang Xiaofan
