Miao medical practitioners mull over how to keep tradition alive

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By CGTN's Meng Qingsheng, Li Yang

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a history of more than 2,500 years, with an expanding influence all around the world. Earlier this month, China's first law on protecting TCM came into force, giving TCM equal status to western medicine.

As an integral part of China's intangible cultural heritage, this ancient medical system comprises of a number of ethnic minority medicine variations, as the country has 56 different ethnic groups.

In southwest China's Guizhou Province, members of the Miao minority are exploring possible ways to boost their medicinal traditions in modern times.

Wang Zengshi, 60, applies traditional Miao medicine practices on visiting patients everyday. This medical tradition has passed on for nine generations in his family, from his ancestors to his son.

Miao medicine involves over 1,500 types of natural plants that can cure and treat ailments like bone fractures and snake bites. /CGTN Photo

Wang said that one needs to be humble to work as a qualified Miao doctor. He started to learn all the knowledge from his family and experienced doctors at the age of eight. Each time he works out a new remedy, he first tries it out on himself, to avoid potential harm on his patients. His job has zero-tolerance for mistakes, he added.

Miao doctors believe human health is subject to six types of harm, including toxins and injuries. However, most of the treatments cannot be explained using modern standards.

Wang Sifan, the son of Wang Zengshi, spent three years at school learning Western medicine. The 25-year old said that Western medicine involves advanced technology to facilitate treatment. He would like to try and find the common ground between the two medical systems, which he believes will produce huge benefits.

Wang Sifan (R) is a ninth-generation Miao medical practitioner. He learned Western medicine for three years in a bid to find theoretical support for Miao medicine. /CGTN Photo

Since ancient times, Miao people have developed special medical solutions for treating ailments like bone fractures and snake bites. However, as the Miao people don't have their own written language, prescriptions have been passed on verbally and thus can be difficult to trace back.

Wang Zengshi has decided to spend up to five years writing down all the recipes he has learned and used in Chinese, so that the younger generation can learn and pass them on. He is also calling for the government to lift restrictions on the practices of itinerant doctors.

He said that such doctors should be certified to work as long as they have practical skills to cure disease, in a bid to keep traditions alive and help those in need.

Liu Guangliang (R) broke his leg a month ago at a construction site in Sichuan Province. He traveled 600 kilometers to get Miao treatment. /VCG Photo

Yuan Taozhong has spent 50 years researching ethnic minority medicine. He warns the public against having a closed mind when evaluating this medical legacy.

Yuan Taozhong, an expert in traditional minority medicine in Kaili, Guizhou Province, said some of the knowledge behind Miao medicine can be explained by modern science. /CGTN Photo

Yuan added that considering cultural and geographical limitations, the effectiveness of traditional medicinal practices like Miao medicine cannot be overstated. For Yuan, the best way to pass on Miao medicine's legacy is to improve it via modern means.

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