Govt names top 30 TCM masters

By Shan Juan (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-06-20 08:04

Poisonous bugs including scorpions and centipedes not only kill but also heal at the hand of 92-year-old Zhu Liangchun, who was named a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) master on Friday.

Along with the Nantong-based veteran TCM doctor, who still treats patients, some 29 others, most of whom are older than 80, were also granted the honorary title by the Chinese government.

"I've been with the TCM for almost 70 years and feel glad to be part of the awards today, the first ever in China to honor TCM doctors at state level," he said on Friday at the awards ceremony in Beijing.

TCM, a health care system with a history of 5,000 years, treats patients with natural plant, animal, and mineral remedies. Approximately 1,000 plant and 36 animal species are used.

Currently, China has nearly 500,000 TCM practitioners who receive 300 million patients every year in China alone, according to Cao Hongxin, president of China Academy of Chinese Medicine Sciences, and part of the master selecting team.

"The 30 masters are honored for their distinguished medical skills, but also, and more importantly, for their strong sense of responsibility and morality," said Wang Guoqiang, director of the State Administration of TCM, in his remarks at the ceremony.

(China Daily 06/20/2009 page3)