Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Journey Through Yunnan and Beyond

[Music]

Introduction

• Setting: Journey to Yunnan province, China
• Objective: Exploring ancient Chinese healing arts and the concept of Qi (life energy)
• Location: Jinghong (City of Dawn)

Dr. Yuen's Practice

• Background: 68-year-old, 7th generation traditional Chinese medicine practitioner
• Mao's Rule: Worked in state-run hospital
• Economic Reform: Able to open a private practice
• *Pulse Diagnosis:
  • Left hand: heart, liver, kidneys
  • Right hand: lungs, spleen, triple burner meridians
  • Diagnosis on three levels: superficial, middle, deep

Patient Interaction

• Complaints: Abdominal pain, itching
• Prescription: Both the patient and her husband need to take the medicine

Pharmacist and Medicinal Ingredients

• Gathers most ingredients himself
• Traditional family practice, son to take over
• Growing rare herbs to prevent extinction

Journey to Mountain Region

• Location: Near Burmese border
• Ethnic Minorities: Home of the Akha tribe
• Practitioner: Jian Kang
  • Medicinal Knowledge: Treats with tea and herbs
  • *Examples of Plants:
    • Moose tree: coughs, pneumonia, heart ailments, hemostatic
    • Dragon climbing the tree: sprains, broken bones
    • Various twigs and barks: potency issues in men

Local Healer Yen Nunchu

• Specialty: Healing broken bones with herbs and shamanistic incantations
• Process: Diagnose via X-ray, set bone, compress with medicinal herbs
• Learning: Knowledge passed down from grandfather and Dai scriptures

Guang Un Men Hospital in Beijing

• Focus: Systematic research and development of traditional Chinese medicine
• Storage: Over 10,000 herbs and natural agents
• Acupuncture Department: Run by Dr. Huang

Patient Interaction

• Complaints: Nervous headaches
• Treatment: Acupuncture with focus on Qi to relieve pain

National Qigong Institute

• Practitioner: Dr. Soon
  • Abilities: Gather, transform, and release Qi
  • Patient Diagnosis: Assess via Qi, treat spinal and heart issues
  • Personal Story: Cured himself through intensive Qigong practice

Taoist Convent in Wudang Mountains

• Spiritual Practice: Taoist hermitage for body and spirit harmony
• Nuns' Lifestyle: Meditation, exercise, and religious ceremonies
• Nun Sao: Discusses daily practices and meditation techniques

Tai Chi in Wudang Mountains

• Philosophy: Softness conquers hardness, calmness overcomes movement
• Personal Story: Student sent to Wudang for strength and health
• Practice: Tai Chi for Chi enhancement and martial arts for health

Chinese Cultural Insights

• Tea Drinking: A metaphor for life
• Traditional Sayings: Health maintenance through Taoist teachings
• Beijing's Change: Modernisation of old capital

Conclusion

• Farewell Meal: Eating as medicine, reflects cultural practices
• Proverb: Life compared to tea

[Applause]