Interview with Prof. Maria Tu of UDel: Science of TCM?

OH: Hi Professor Tu, we are so glad to have you featured. Thank you for your time.

MT: Sure thing! Thank you for your interest!

OH: So today, we wanted to focus on breaking down what happens regarding the science of TCM and its long history.

MT: Sounds great.

OH: Let's get started! First, can you explain the history behind Traditional Chinese Medicine?

MT: Acupuncture was founded in Shang Dynasty which is traced back to 17th century BCE to 11th century BCE. Many people wonder who discovered this? 

*Note: Not invented, it’s discovered. 

Those people are called shamans who are demigods. They are bridges between human beings and divine gods. They have gifts where they can see something that ordinary people cannot see. They can spot acupuncture/acupressure points which is how we know where to place the needles. These types of people are actual human beings, they are not invented as the figures are in mythology. They are human beings, but gifted human beings. The kings in the Shang dynasty were all Shamans. But when the King began to lose these capabilities, the King selected shamans in order to help him decide when to launch a war, when to plant the crops, etc. 

From a modern point of view, there is a western medical expert who tries to explain the existence of these acupressure points by giving a theory that they were invented by the Chinese: the 12 meridian channels. The acupuncture points as he explained it were along the line of the meridian paths. The meridians serve as a whirlpool/turning point for qi. 

OH: Can you explain how Chairman Mao’s conservative policies impacted the TCM legacy?

MT: Chairman Mao didn’t entirely discard TCM. He encouraged his doctors to treat his soldiers with acupuncture. Mao only got rid of Daoism, Confucianism, and Taoism, he didn’t really block TCM for being used in the army. 

OH: Do you think that acupuncture/TCM perception and practices are different in the West than in countries like Taiwan? 

MT: I can only view TCM in western world as acupuncturists because acupuncture is easier than TCM herbal medicine. I’ve visited around three different TCM clinics, and compared to the doctors I visit in Taiwan, the theories and practices are pretty much all the same. However, in terms of skill and knowledge, doctors in Taiwan and China are superior to the doctors here in the US. And although these doctors were trained in China/Taiwan then came to the United States, I think this discrepancy might be because they are good at English. And so if he spent a lot of time learning TCM, they might not have time to learn English and vice versa. The doctors in China also jokingly say the same. The language barrier serves as an important obstacle/element that we need to take into consideration. 

The doctors in Taiwan not only give you the diagnosis, but they also provide thorough explanations and theories to back up what they are saying/doing. Additionally, the doctors in Taiwan don’t really ask you questions or say much. They just tell you to sit down and give you a pulse feeling. And after three minutes, they give you the diagnosis.

OH: That's all so interesting. So do you often travel to Asia to receive treatments?

MT: Yes, in fact, I'm pursuing a degree in TCM in Beijing in the upcoming months. I've been wanting to go for a while, but I finally made enough time to go study with my teacher for three months in the fall.

OH: That sounds amazing. Thank you so much for your time! We hope to have you back.

MT: Anytime.