A group of eight students and faculty from Calvin University in the United States visited Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from Jan 6 to 8.

During the three-day tour, participants studied the fundamentals of TCM, such as holistic views, syndrome differentiation, and the theories of yin and yang and the five elements (wu xing). They also gained a grasp of traditional therapies like acupuncture, moxibustion, and cupping.

The group toured Longhua Hospital's herbal medicine dispensary and acupuncture department. At the dispensary, they witnessed the traditional method of weighing herbs using a balance scale, observed the process of prescription compounding by pharmacists, and learned about the operation of modern herbal decoction machines. In the acupuncture department, under the guidance of supervising doctors, they tried their hands at acupuncture and warm needle therapy.

Additionally, the group visited Gu Sheng Tang, a TCM clinic affiliated with Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, where they observed the entire process of TCM diagnosis and treatment and personally experienced cupping therapy.

They also sampled herbal teas and learned the art of making herbal sachets, gaining insight into how TCM is applied in everyday life. Moreover, they had the opportunity to practice the traditional Chinese exercise of Eight Section Brocade (ba duan jin), experiencing the essence of Chinese health preservation culture.

Source: Official WeChat account of SHUTCM International Education College at "SHUTCMIEC"