TCM museum in US reveals Chinese medical practices to Westerners

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The purple cupping dots on the back of legendary US swimmer Michael Phelps during the Rio 2016 Olympics helped cast traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) into the international spotlight.

Michael Phelps of the USA is seen with purple cupping marks on his shoulder as he competes during the 2016 Rio Olympics on August 8, 2016. /VCG Photo

However, TCM is on the whole still shrouded in mystery for many Westerners. The Chinese Medicine Museum, located in Rockville, Maryland, United States, opens a window to learn more about TCM.

The museum, affiliated to Beijing University of Chinese Medicine's (BUCM) US research center, is a non-profit institution that opened to the public in late 2016. It features a display, about 2,000 square meters in scale, of herb formulas, as well as non-pharmacotherapy treatments.

"We hope by taking a tour of the museum, visitors can get to know the culture, theory and therapy of TCM," said Ji Bo, who is now in charge of the museum. "Beside, we are also hereby presenting some achievements of TCM studies on the international stage."

Dr Quansheng Lu, an acupuncturist, at his Chinese herbal pharmacy in the Wholelife Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Center in Rockville, Maryland, in December 2015. /China Daily Photo

TCM has thousands of years of history in China. In addition to making a contribution to the prevention and treatment of common, endemic and difficult diseases, it has played an important role in preventing and treating major epidemics, such as SARS, HIV/AIDS, and Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease.

Over the past decades, TCM's international reputation has grown to the extent that it is now used in 183 countries and regions around the world.

VCG Photo

"We are seeing more research has been done, more federal dollars have been allocated to complementary medicine. Chinese and Western medicine can certainly work together," said Maryland State Delegate Clarence Lam, also a physician at Johns Hopkins University.

Nowadays, there are more than 40,000 acupuncturists across the United States. Among 50 states, 46 have promulgated laws on acupuncture.