Online Chinese Culture Talk: traditional Chinese medicine

Today’s Online Chinese Culture Talk tells the story of Chinese medicine. This episode, “Spring Rain at Dusk”, introduces traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

Firstly, we hear from Doctor SONG Ping, a dermatologist who works at the Guang’anmen Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. She uses TCM to treat skin problems. Her talk provides a brief overview of the origins of TCM and gives insight into its continual development, mentioning a few common TCM treatments and their effects.

In the second part, Doctor Song discusses treating winter diseases in the summer. Is it popular in China? What is the reasoning behind it? And what does the treatment entail?

Further in the series, a well-known branch of TCM is introduced. Doctor Song reviews the history and the benefits of acupuncture. How did people in ancient China discover that tiny needles could treat diseases and how did they know where to insert the needles?

Another fundamental part of TCM is herbal medicine, which has been used for thousands of years. Doctor Song explains the origins and development of Chinese herbal medicine. The presentation also offers some practical uses and applications.

What do you think of when you hear beauty and skin care? Nowadays there is a strong association with a broad range of cosmetics and international brands. But in ancient China, beauty and skin care developed alongside TCM and continuously evolved. Doctor Song talks about some products that were widely used back then.

If you’d like to deepen your understanding of Chinese medicine, these videos are a must-watch! Watch the conclusion of this series below: