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Portrait of Li Shizhen (A.D. 1518–1593) collecting medicinal herbs. He was also known as Li Dong Bi and was the author of “Compendium of Materia Medica.” (Courtesy of Zhang Cuiying)
“Nowadays, medicine is integrative—not quite Western and not quite Eastern,” says traditional Chinese medical doctor Mr. Yu Hong Chao, who believes that the Chinese regime is forcing the development of Western medicine upon the Chinese medical system.
“Half of the teachings are Chinese medicine, and the other half are Western medicine,” he says, adding that this will eventually eradicate traditional Chinese medicine.
“We will have quasi-Chinese medicine,” Mr. Yu says. “It [the current practice] is only about teaching others how to prepare the herbs or how to study the books, but without real clinical experience. Those who really understand diseases and are capable of treating them are few and far between.”
The ordinance that is quickly changing the face of traditional Chinese medicine became effective in 1999. Like Mr. Yu, many practitioners possess great knowledge and skills but fail to meet the requirements of the regulations. This is why the disciples of great masters are often registered medical practitioners, but their master is only listed as a medical practitioner.
According to the Chinese medical regulatory system, “a listed Chinese medical practitioner” cannot provide a document for sick leave or write a prescription. His status is like an LPN in the nursing industry. Mr. Yu is very concerned that traditional Chinese medicine will soon disappear for good. Unfortunately, many Chinese are not even aware of what has been happening to their own culture.
Mr. Yu describes what he regards as real medicine: “One has genuine skills in Chinese medicine. There is a sincere intent to treat patients, and there is the sincerity to recommend patients to other medical practitioners when one’s ability is limited.”
“If a practitioner can cure 6 out of 10 patients, he is a first-class medical practitioner,” Mr. Yu said. “If he cures none or only one, he does not know how to cure diseases. If a doctor cannot cure illnesses, what good is he?’’
According to statistics, in 2010, Hong Kong ranked second in the world for average life expectancy. Mr. Yu thinks that is because Hong Kong had true Chinese medicine practitioners.
“For example, I sent 10 patients to a practitioner, and he cured them all. That is a first-class Chinese medical practitioner,” he said. “A condition like ankylosing spondylitis is not treatable with Western medicine, but true Chinese medicine can help to improve the condition by more than 80 percent.”
“There are many good Chinese medical practitioners, but unfortunately, they have no certificates and thus cannot practice.” It is sad for Mr. Yu to see many patients looking everywhere to find a real Chinese medicine practitioner but failing and having to suffer adverse consequences.
Genuine medical practitioners have the goal of saving people instead of making money. On the wall of Mr. Yu’s clinic, his master’s teachings are clearly written: “Discount or free for the poor.”
Mr. Yu said that he must follow his master’s teachings, but he also lamented the moral decline of people nowadays such that some people do not even make a phone call to express their gratitude when their illness is cured.
Serving the Community
According to statistics, in 2010, Hong Kong ranked second in the world for average life expectancy. Mr. Yu thinks that is because Hong Kong had true Chinese medicine practitioners.
“Many other countries have better environments, food, and air, but they cannot compare with Hong Kong. When Chinese medicine practitioners disappear, the life expectancy of Hong Kong will also decrease,” he said.
In order to continue his ancestors’ legacy of ancient Chinese medicine, Mr. Yu founded “Preserving Ancient Chinese Medicine Association,” a nonprofit, charitable organization. He hopes to preserve and pass on the torch of 5,000 years of traditional Chinese medicine.
When the association was first set up, Mr. Yu had black hair. Now, only a few years later, his hair has turned gray. It is hard work for an elderly physician to go to meetings and protest in the streets. But an elderly Chinese medical practitioner cannot stay at home and enjoy life, for he needs to spread the news and serve the community.
For the last 10 years, Mr. Yu has stood up to clarify distorted reports on Chinese medicine. He hopes that the residents of Hong Kong will appreciate the true value of Chinese medicine. “Some diseases cannot be cured by Western medicine, and life is definitely better with more options,” he said.
Source: Kan Zhong Guo
