In a massage room of antique beauty, the warm afternoon sun is shining on the wooden floor, and the aroma of herbal medicine permeates the air. Chatchawat, a Thai international student, is practicing Chinese massage therapy (Tui Na) with the teacher’s guidance. A “patient” is lying on the massage couch, and Chatchawat is practicing pressing, rubbing, pinching, grasping, and other techniques on the “patient’s” body. Each of Chatchawat’s movements is just right to relax the “patient” physically and mentally.

Chatchawat, born in 1996, studied traditional Chinese medicine in Thailand. After graduation, he went to Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine to continue his studies and is about to pursue a PhD. He traveled from afar to devote himself to his studies because of both his fascination for TCM and the deep influence of his father.

Chatchawat’s father is a senior TCM practitioner in Thailand, so Chatchawat has often seen his father perform traditional Chinese medical massage and other treatments since childhood and witnessed the health and hope brought by TCM to countless Thai patients, which developed Chatchawat’s interest in TCM in his early years.

“The true mastery of TCM’s essence needs in-depth study and repeated practice. After coming to Liaoning to study TCM, I have updated my understanding of massage from ‘knowing a little’ at the start to having ‘comprehensive knowledge’ now, from which I gained a lot.” To master the diagnosis and treatments of traditional Chinese medical massage, Chatchawat read relevant ancient Chinese medicine books thoroughly, and applied flexibly the treatment based on syndrome differentiation, a concept in the book, into massage. “Before the massage begins, I will ask the patient about his or her syndrome, and according to different conditions, use different massage strengths, such as gentle, strong, even, etc., to position accurately and ‘prescribe the right medicine’ for better results.”

Apart from the profundity of traditional Chinese medical massage, Chatchawat was also attracted by the traditional Chinese medical massage robots. “The robot can imitate human palms and thumbs, and even perform TCM physical therapy locating ‘acupoints’ accurately.” Chatchawat cannot help admiring, “This is really a perfect combination between modern technology and ancient medicine, and TCM will have infinite possibilities.”

After finishing PhD, Chatchawat plans to return to Thailand for TCM diagnosis and treatment with his father. “The charm of traditional Chinese medical massage is that it can achieve therapeutic purposes by natural therapy. I hope to bring TCM’s wonderous efficacy to Thailand to let more Thai people benefit from it.” Chatchawat said with full expectation.