A bronze acupuncture statue, with every meridian and acupoint crystal clear as if guiding every practitioner, stands still in the corner of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine’s acupuncture room. Nearby, Liu Bao Oscar, a Hungarian international student, is practicing acupuncture with his classmates. Eyes focused and firm, he holds a slender acupuncture needle, and carefully inserts it into an acupoint of the “patient”, striving for the best effect.
“My father studied traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) at Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine years ago, and my being here to study TCM is an inheritance of my father’s career.” Liu Bao, 26, is now an international student majoring in TCM. Speaking of his study experience in Liaoning over the past five years, Liu Bao said, “My greatest feeling is that TCM is both miraculous and challenging.”
“I have had a weak spleen and stomach since childhood, but I have never paid much attention to my health. Studying TCM in Liaoning made me face my chronic illness for the first time.” Liu Bao said. With the help of his teacher, he used TCM prescriptions and acupuncture for body conditioning. “I feel much better now, and it really is a win-win situation to apply what I have learned and experience the wonder of traditional Chinese medicine in person!”
Recalling his experience of learning acupuncture, Liu Bao has a lot to talk about. He even repeatedly practiced acupuncture on himself to find the acupoint and to verify the effect. “When I first started practicing, I was so nervous that my hands were shaking. With professional guidance from the teacher, I can now accurately find the acupoints and master the acupuncture techniques.”
In many acupuncture practices, Liu Bao not only appreciates the unique medical value of Chinese acupuncture but is also deeply attracted by the profound TCM theory behind it. “Acupuncture is guided by the theory of meridians and acupoints that the invisible meridians run through the human body like rivers and lakes spreading across the earth, and acupoints are like hubs in the confluence of rivers.” Liu Bao explained simply, “Acupuncture is to dredge the meridians and regulate qi and blood by stimulating acupoints, thus preventing and treating illnesses.”
“Now I can also use acupuncture to help my family regulate their bodies.” Every time Liu Bao goes back home during holidays, he will show his learning to his family. “My aunt has a disorder that occurs in cold and damp environments. Whenever it was cloudy and rainy, all joints throughout her body would ache. I used acupuncture to help her dredge the meridians and to relieve her pain at home, and we were all very happy. This is the charm of acupuncture.” He said.
