Holistic treatment turns a Bulgarian patient into a firm believer of TCM

SOFIA－Every day, 52-year-old Mitko Stankov starts his day with baduanjin, a qigong exercise consisting of a sequence of slow, relaxing movements. This traditional, low-intensity mind-and-body exercise has been practiced for centuries by millions of Chinese people.

"I get started with qigong every day, and I do it again before going to bed," Stankov says. "I combine standard qigong with baduanjin. This is a 'secret course' my doctor advised me to follow."

Stankov got acquainted with traditional Chinese medicine 30 years ago. One of his friends, who was a judo athlete, got injured one day and had difficulty walking.

"Our doctors were trying to treat him, but he still couldn't kneel for a long time," he says. "There was a Chinese doctor in the neighborhood who offered acupuncture, and my friend went to his clinic."

After two rounds of treatment, things got better and Stankov's friend recovered.

"That was the first time I heard about TCM," says Stankov, admitting that he had doubts about its therapeutic effects back then.

A decade later, Stankov's stiff joints and sore muscles forced him to seek medical help.

Acupuncture combined with herbs eased his pain, and this experience converted Stankov to be a believer in TCM. He then began reading Chinese medicine books, which acquainted him with all kinds of herbal remedies.

Stankov has now become completely captivated by the holistic approach of TCM.

"With this treatment, not just the specific ailments but everything connected to it can be fixed. The body parts form a connected system," Stankov says.

In Bulgaria, the locals have been using herbal medicines for ages, so it is no surprise that they have an affinity for TCM.

Though several herbs such as mulberries, ginger and daisies used in TCM are available in Bulgaria, Stankov realized that the locals are not necessarily aware of their medicinal uses. To help educate his compatriots, Stankov has launched a website where he introduces Chinese herbal medicines and their effects to his readers.

"Traditional Chinese medicine has a long history," he says. "Practitioners have been treating many ailments before modern medicine appeared."

Xinhua