Acupuncture seen as alternative to antibiotics

VALLETTA, Malta — Acupuncture has done a world of good to Sophie Biro, an 8-year-old girl who has been struggling with acute digestive problems.

"I felt a little painful during the treatment, but afterwards I did not feel a thing, and then I felt better," she told Xinhua News Agency after her second treatment last week at the Mediterranean Regional Centre for Traditional Chinese Medicine in Malta.

"I can eat more after acupuncture," she said, chatting away happily about the joy of eating some toast, porridge and rice without experiencing nausea.

Sophie and her family moved from London to Malta in May 2021. This is when Sophie started to develop symptoms such as recurrent diarrhea, stomach pain, vomiting and fever. These problems have left her weakened physically, much to the concern of her mother, Anita Tompai.

Tompai, 42, said none of Sophie's hospital treatments had so far had long-lasting effects, and she was reluctant to let her daughter continue with antibiotics.

When she came across some information about the center on social media a few weeks ago, she decided to try traditional Chinese medicine as a "last resort".

The fact that acupuncture has no side effects weighed heavily in her decision.

"My daughter felt much better right after the first acupuncture treatment," she said. "I am very happy and grateful for the results."

Sophie is one of the youngest patients the center has treated, said Feng Hua, head of the Chinese medical team in Malta and Sophie's attending physician.

Feng described her as both brave and cooperative. Sophie's digestive symptoms quickly subsided after the first treatment, Feng said, and by the second treatment her complexion had greatly improved.

Seeing her daughter's condition steadily improving, Tompai breathed a sigh of relief but regretted not bringing Sophie to the center sooner. She was ready to continue with acupuncture treatments for Sophie to prevent a recurrence of the digestive problems, she said.

Since 1993, the Chinese government has sent 19 medical teams to Malta, treating about 250,000 patients. In 1994, China and Malta signed an agreement to collaborate on TCM and established the Mediterranean Regional Centre for Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Over the past 30 years, TCM has become deeply rooted in Malta, Feng said. The center also receives patients from all over Europe and provides professional training in TCM, he said.

Xinhua