ISLAMABAD: A lecture on traditional Chinese medicine was delivered at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) by Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Associate Professor Cai Xianghong on Wednesday.

The PNCA’s China Cultural Centre organised the lecture, titled ‘Face to Face with Traditional Chinese Medicines’, in collaboration with the Chinese embassy’s cultural office and the Network of International Culturalink Entities (Nice).

During the lecture, the professor traced the history and philosophy of traditional Chinese medicine, which dates back to the birth of ancient Chinese civilisation and evolved over 2,000 years, rooted in the ancient philosophy of Taoism.

She spoke in detail, with the help of a presentation and translator, about traditional Chinese medicine, a broad range of practices including various forms of acupuncture, moxibustion (burning a herb above the skin to apply heat to acupuncture points), herbal medicine, massage, specific movements or postures, coordinated breathing, mental focus, exercise and dietary therapy.

She said traditional Chinese medicine is based on a model similar to that used in the West, with the addition of acupuncture channels and treatment points used to describe the interconnection of various functional systems of the body.

She demonstrated the methods practitioners use for herbal medicines and mind and body practices – such as acupuncture and tai chi – to treat or prevent health problems.

Traditional systems of medicine, an essential part of healthcare systems in most Asian countries, rely on natural products and have played an important role in the protection of health and disease control for thousands of years.

They also exist in other eastern and South Asian countries, including Japan and Korea. Some systems have been influenced by traditional Chinese medicine and are similar in some ways, but each has its own distinctive features.

The event, which featured a Q&A session on the effective use of traditional medicine and the treatment of diseases, was attended by Pan Yuqi – the first secretary of the Chinese embassy’s cultural office, PNCA Director General Jamal Shah, All-China Pakistan Friendship Association Vice President Farah Rani, China Study Centre Director Tanvir Abbas Jaferi, Pakistan Museum of Natural History Assistant Director Dr Malik Mohammad Afzal and Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences gastroenterologist Dr Waseem Khawaja.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2018