Global rise of TCM

Khiev Ken, 21, from Cambodia, is one of them. Always fascinated by ancient Chinese culture and dreaming of studying in China one day, she started learning Chinese in the fourth grade of primary school. In 2020, her dream came true as she was enrolled at the same university in Jilin as Phan.

As a foreign student, Khiev finds the TCM basic theory course to be the most challenging one in the curriculum. "We need to memorize all the meridians and collaterals and more than 200 acupuncture points in the human body," she said. "Being extensive and profound, TCM is deeply connected with Chinese philosophy. It requires years of learning and practice to truly understand the concepts of yin and yang, harmony between human and nature, and the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water." Sometimes she even translates the vocabulary and scripts into Khmer so she can remember and comprehend them better.

However, Khiev finds the efficacy of TCM much more immediate and straightforward. After practicing acupuncture on small pillows and medical human models, she and her classmates applied the treatment to themselves and on each other. When she accidentally broke her leg months ago, her teacher used acupuncture as a conditioning therapy and helped her recover "sound and rapid".

"TCM has been winning hearts because of its efficacy," said Ma Huifang, a professor at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. "Whether at home or abroad, it is the actual effect that can dispel doubts and concerns over TCM."

Ma has extensive experience teaching TCM to international students overseas. In 2007, for example, she taught at the Department of Medicine at the University of Florence in Italy. "All my students were experienced doctors, and they highly recognized TCM, especially its use in pain treatment and flatulence expulsion."

According to Ma, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine had projects that sent professors overseas to Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, the University of Florence, and other academic institutions to teach TCM. It has also established the International School on campus, providing short programs for overseas students, and opened courses of professional English in TCM for Chinese students.

Many other Chinese medicine universities have adopted similar strategic initiatives to promote the globalization of TCM, including those in Shanghai, Nanjing, and Guangzhou.

"The younger generation's interest in TCM is rising. When I'm on duty at the clinic, many young patients consult me not only about their health but also about the application of TCM majors," said Ma. "Many people of my generation signed up for universities following our parents' or teachers' orders, but students nowadays choose to study TCM mostly out of their own passion and curiosity."