Getting the point with traditional cure

Trying acupuncture for the first time opened my eyes to the world of China's natural remedies

Isat facing an open door into a room at the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine where one of my colleagues, a journalist from Tunisia, was receiving a course of acupuncture.

It was his turn, and after he was finished I was to go next. I had been designated the fifth person to try out the treatment, and although I was determined to go through with it, by this point my anxiety was at a feverish level.

When we were offered the chance to try acupuncture during a tour, and most of the people in my group were excited. For me, it was a case of "let's wait and see".

I had never had it before, so I was curious, but at the same time not too excited.

We'd been visiting the university, when we heard a wonderful lecture on traditional Chinese medicine, learning about its efficacy and long history. The lecture gave us an insight into the origins of TCM.

Before arriving, we'd also learned that several foreign students are at the university, and we were eager to speak with them.

The environment inside the treatment room was serene, with various displays showing the different types of TCM, revealing its rich cultural history. We were able to inspect some specimens and saw items that were familiar to us as Africans.

It was at this point we were offered the chance to undergo acupuncture, which many of us considered a rare opportunity to experience firsthand what we had heard so much about. I think we all had different expectations.

When it got near to each person's turn, they were asked to remove their shirt, lay face down on a treatment table and await further instructions. Then the needles were inserted.

As I waited my turn, I saw a lot of gadgets, and needles of all shapes and sizes. As a child I had always been scared of needles, and I still am. I hate getting injections. But this was different, I could feel my confidence building.

From my vantage point I could see the doctor inserting the needles in a most professional manner. I wanted to know how my colleague was feeling, so I could prepare myself. When I asked if it was painful, he answered with a smile: "Not really."

My confidence grew further, and I was convinced that I, too, needed to give it a try, at least to say I that had experienced it during my time in China.

When my turn finally came, the team of TCM doctors gave me a brief introduction to the procedure. I felt encouraged, and I went on to have almost 20 needles placed in different acupuncture points on my back. It was a wonderful experience, as I was completely relaxed.

That was the first time, and since then I have had acupuncture five more times in China. Each experience has been beautiful.

Chen Zen, the doctor who conducted that initial treatment, told me during the pep talk that the exercise is not usually painful, provided it is done by an expert who hits the right points - otherwise it could be disastrous.

He says acupuncture has a history stretching back hundreds of years and is fully enshrined in TCM. With traditional Chinese medicine, he tells me, you must follow the procedure from the diagnosis to the treatment to guarantee a full recovery.

Wang Tianfang, a professor at the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, who spoke about the use of TCM, says a correct diagnosis is important in guaranteeing effective treatment through acupuncture. She says there is unity between man and nature that is linked to any ailment, which acupuncture can resolve.

"There is a need to understand the close connection between man and his immediate environment, also to know that the environment has a role to play in mental activities," the professor says. "For instance, violent conduct like anger can damage the liver."

In traditional Chinese medicine, she says, one has the choice of herbs or acupuncture after a full diagnosis, which should be determined after looking for signs, listening and smelling, and asking questions to find out a person's history of ailments.

Wang warns that treatment should never be started until the completion of full diagnosis.

"In TCM, each herbal remedy is put together for a specific ailment for an individual, not predetermined," she explains.

During acupuncture, focus should be on the body, not the illness, she says, adding: "Attention should be on preventive healthcare."

What is also important, she says, is food intake, which determines the state of your health.

My experience with Chinese food is that the focus is on rich vegetables and fruit, which ensure a balanced diet. Wang says, in China, a lot of emphasis is placed on the correct diet - a lot of fruit and vegetables, as well as a healthy dose of exercise.

Yin Din, a Chinese dietician, says most of the ingredients used in TCM can actually be eaten as food: "Traditional Chinese medicine has a direct link with several items in the daily diet of an average Chinese person. It's important that people know what to eat at all times."

The author is head of foreign operations for the News Agency of Nigeria. He is on a 10-month scholarship with the China-Africa Press Center in Beijing. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 09/05/2015 page14)