Unveil mysterious Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Source: Global Times
- [00:59 August 03 2010]
- Comments
By Chen Chenchen
When you mention Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to most foreigners they probably think of ob-scure herbs, uncanny diagnosis and the centuries-old Chinese philosophy behind it.
It's not surprising that China's TCM industry, which started to go global in the 1990s, has witnessed slow growth overseas. In 2009, for the first time, China saw a trade deficit in Chinese patent medicines.
Recently, however, Australia's approval of a national registry of TCM doctors, acupuncturists and pharmacists beginning in 2012 is a pleasant development. In the wake of Australia's decision, the House of Commons in Canada is also pondering a similar practice.
There are many obstacles to overcome, though. Despite being considered a national treasure in China, to many Westerners TCM still appears unprofessional, ineffective and even ludicrous. Even though a few foreign governments have begun to implement a handful of TCM methods into their healthcare systems, the vast majority of Westerners still find TCM practices unacceptable.
They don't understand how the angelica root, cassia seed and jar cupping work perfectly fine on their bodies. Rigid translations of TCM's rationale, like "clearing heat and expelling toxins," intensify those misunderstandings.
The situation that TCM faces abroad is a microcosm of the embarrassment confronting the entire Chinese culture around the globe.
China is putting greater emphasis on culturally "going abroad." And while the number of non-Chinese who can speak Putonghua is expanding, the presentation, introduction and transmission of the essence of China's rich culture is still limited.
In other words, although people across the globe are beginning to recognize China's ascent, few are really able to touch the heart of the nation's culture.
This attitude not only explains the stunted TCM industrial growth abroad but also the cold shoulder suf-fered by Chinese films, music and literature in overseas markets.
Without promoting its best culture and arts, and letting foreign audiences truly see the nation's history and personality, the world will not fully appreciate Chinese culture.
A much tougher task is the nation unveiling its mysterious culture in a proper and acceptable way.
TCM has its roots in the profound theories of Chinese philosophy, especially Taoism. TCM terms, like yin, yang and qi, stress the equilibrium and harmony of the human body, as well as peace of mind. People within Chinese cultural circles can easily understand its rationale, and TCM has nourished numerous Asians from ancient to modern times.
It may seem magical and mysterious, but is in fact reasonable and explainable within macro Chinese culture. It is worthwhile to teach foreigners about the rich Chinese culture, not only in terms of TCM but the entire Chinese society.
