(East-West Question) Song Nanhua, winner of the "Light of China": Why did the two presidents of Brazil love Chinese medicine and acupuncture?
China News Agency, Sao Paulo, June 26th: Why do two Brazilian presidents love traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture?
——Interview with Song Nanhua, winner of "Light of China"
China News Agency reporter Mo Chengxiong
In May 2006, the Brazilian Ministry of Health promulgated a decree to incorporate natural remedies such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, homeopathy and warm baths into Brazil’s unified medical system SUS (Sistemaúnico de Saúde). Many Brazilians love it.
It is worth mentioning that both former Brazilian presidents Lula and Rousseff have received TCM acupuncture treatment and expressed support for the application and development of TCM in Brazil.
The winner of the "Light of China" and a well-known Chinese acupuncturist of Chinese traditional Chinese medicine in Brazil, Song Nanhua, said in an exclusive interview with China News Agency "Dongxiwen" recently that thousands of Brazilians have received Chinese medicine therapy, and the spread and development of Chinese medicine in Brazil has benefited The Brazilian people have made great contributions to Brazil's health and well-being.
The following is a summary of the interview transcript:
China News Service: When did Chinese medicine enter Brazil? What stages have you gone through?
Song Nanhua:
Looking back at the history of Chinese medicine entering Brazil, its development can be divided into three stages: germination, growth and maturity.
The first is the embryonic stage: in the early 19th century, more than 2,000 Chinese immigrants arrived in Brazil during the Portuguese colonial period, and with these immigrants came Chinese medicine, including Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture.
However, due to communication barriers, the dissemination of TCM knowledge in Brazil was very limited at that time, and TCM was only accepted by immigrants who could not speak Portuguese fluently.
In the 1960s, Asian immigrants, including Japanese immigrants, brought TCM acupuncture to Brazil, marking the growth stage of TCM acupuncture in Brazil.
The first acupuncture clinic in Brazil was established in 1961, the Brazilian Acupuncture Association was established in 1972, and in 1977, the Brazilian legislation recognized the status of acupuncturists.
Since then, TCM has been further promoted in Brazil.
In the 1980s, with the deepening of China's reform and opening up and the further development of the relationship between China and Brazil, acupuncture and moxibustion of traditional Chinese medicine developed rapidly in Brazil and entered a mature stage.
In 1984, the Brazilian Federal Association of Physicians established the Brazilian Association of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Physicians to provide acupuncturists with consultation, service and guidance in terms of study and training, academic exchanges and related TCM acupuncture expertise.
In May 2006, the Brazilian Ministry of Health promulgated a decree to incorporate natural remedies such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, homeopathy and warm baths into the Brazilian unified medical system SUS. Since then, TCM acupuncture has flourished in Brazil.
Brazilians experience traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture and massage.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Mo Chengxiong
China News Agency reporter: What is the current status of the development of traditional Chinese medicine in Brazil?
Song Nanhua:
According to incomplete statistics, there are currently 100,000 formal TCM acupuncturists in Brazil, including 30,000 Chinese acupuncturists.
Nearly 500 public hospitals and more than 2,500 clinics in Brazil have acupuncture treatment rooms, providing free acupuncture treatment services to the public.
At present, the traditional Chinese medicine treatment methods in Brazil mainly include acupuncture, massage, cupping, traditional Chinese medicine, diet therapy, Tai Chi, Qigong, etc.
Traditional Chinese medicine products such as Chinese herbal medicines and proprietary Chinese medicines are mainly used by Brazilian Asians.
Traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture is often used in clinical rehabilitation together with other therapies, and it is widely used and has good results.
In 2015, Song Nanhua, a Chinese traditional Chinese acupuncturist who has practiced medicine in Brazil for 20 years, was awarded the "Professional Medal" in the field of acupuncture by the Brazilian Academy of Science, Art, History and Letters in Brasilia, the first Chinese in Brazil to receive this medal.
Photo by Lv Peng issued by China News Agency
China News Agency: Former Brazilian Presidents Lula and Rousseff both received TCM acupuncture treatment. Why do two Brazilian presidents love Chinese medicine and acupuncture?
Song Nanhua:
After decades of development, the therapeutic effect of TCM acupuncture and the concept of TCM treatment have been recognized and praised by the Brazilian public.
From presidents to ordinary citizens, they are willing to accept traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture treatment.
Former Brazilian President Lula suffered from severe frozen shoulder. He tried many methods to no avail. He was finally cured by traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture.
Lula is full of praise for the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture and loves it very much.
Lula said: "I like TCM acupuncture very much. It cured the periarthritis of the shoulder that has been painful for me for many years. TCM acupuncture is indeed effective, and it is a very good natural medicine. My family and I are all TCM practitioners. Acupuncture beneficiaries and fans of TCM acupuncture.”
Former Brazilian President Rousseff also has a soft spot for TCM acupuncture. She said: "Traditional Chinese acupuncture is miraculously effective. It is these small silver needles that have cured the chronic disease that has plagued me for many years."
It is precisely because the two former Brazilian presidents received TCM acupuncture treatment, under the influence of celebrity effects and news reports, the whole Brazilian society set off a wave of TCM acupuncture, which played a very good role in the promotion and popularization of TCM acupuncture in Brazil. promotion.
The 2017 World Federation of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Societies Acupuncture and Moxibustion Physician Qualification Examination was held at the Brazilian Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The picture shows the participants attending the seminar.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Mo Chengxiong
China News Service reporter: Chinese medicine has played a unique role in the current global fight against the new crown epidemic. How did China and Pakistan carry out anti-epidemic cooperation?
Song Nanhua:
China has made remarkable achievements in the prevention and control of the new crown epidemic, and the effect is obvious, providing valuable lessons for the world to effectively fight the epidemic.
After the outbreak of the epidemic in Brazil, China actively assisted the Brazilian people in fighting the epidemic, provided Brazil with 1,200 tons of anti-epidemic medical equipment, and organized several online exchange meetings with the epidemic prevention department to introduce China's anti-epidemic experience.
More importantly, the cooperation between China and Brazil in the development, production and vaccination of the new crown vaccine has achieved great success.
At the beginning of 2021, the new crown vaccine co-developed by China Sinovac and the Butantan Institute of Brazil was granted emergency use authorization by the Brazilian Health Supervision Bureau. The world has made great contributions to the fight against the epidemic.
Facts have proved that traditional Chinese medicine has played an important role in China's fight against the new crown epidemic and has achieved good results.
In March 2022, the World Health Organization released the "WHO Expert Evaluation Meeting on the Treatment of New Coronary Pneumonia with Traditional Chinese Medicine", which clearly affirmed the effectiveness and safety of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of new coronary pneumonia, and encouraged WHO member states in their health care systems and Consider the possibility of using traditional Chinese medicine to treat COVID-19 within the regulatory framework.
Now, Chinese patent medicines can be bought in some pharmacies and websites in Brazil, and some Brazilians have also begun to use Chinese patent medicines to prevent and treat the new crown.
China News Service: What challenges are faced by the current spread and development of traditional Chinese medicine in Brazil? What problems need to be solved urgently?
Song Nanhua:
Currently, TCM represented by acupuncture and moxibustion has flourished in Brazil, but there are also some problems and challenges.
Due to the very strict drug regulations in Brazil, it is difficult for traditional Chinese medicine to be registered in the form of medicines, and only appear as food additives.
Currently, Chinese patent medicines are not legally allowed to enter the Brazilian market.
To solve this problem, we must first promote traditional Chinese medicine legislation in Brazil.
Therefore, I hope that the relevant administrative departments of Chinese medicine and relevant associations in China can have more contacts, exchanges and communication with the senators and representatives of the Brazilian legislature, so that they can have more knowledge and understanding of traditional Chinese medicine.
They are the makers and legislators of laws and regulations, and only with their support and help can the legislation of traditional Chinese medicine in Brazil be hopeful.
In addition, there are still some problems in the international standard of Chinese medicine, Chinese medicine education and even the promotion of Chinese medicine. We must create conditions and try to solve them.
China News Service: How can China and Pakistan strengthen cooperation in traditional medicine and medicine?
Song Nanhua: Both
China and Brazil are big countries with abundant plant resources, and plant resources are highly complementary.
Brazil has about 40% of the same medicinal plants as China.
Traditional Chinese medicine has been used for thousands of years. China has rich experience in the use, processing and processing of traditional Chinese medicine. Brazil is rich in herbal medicine resources and there are many cooperation projects between the two sides.
Based on the relevant laws and regulations of both sides on medicinal plants, China and Pakistan have great potential and broad prospects for cooperation in traditional medicine and medicine.
In 2018, the "Traditional Chinese Medicine Care Group" organized by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Jiangsu Province of China held a free clinic for local overseas Chinese in Sao Paulo, Brazil, which was welcomed and praised by the overseas Chinese community.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Mo Chengxiong
In fact, Brazilian herbalists have been able to use Brazilian medicinal plants and herbs to make local Chinese medicines, such as decoctions, pills, etc., according to Chinese medicine prescriptions, and treat Brazilian patients with excellent results.
Prescriptions include Liuwei Dihuang Pills, Guipi Pills, Buzhong Yiqi Pills, Zhibai Dihuang Pills and other proprietary Chinese medicines.
At present, although there are still some laws and regulations restricting the entry of Chinese patent medicines into Brazil, China and Brazil are both members of the BRICS. It is absolutely possible to promote the cooperation between the two countries in traditional Chinese medicine through exchanges and make rational use of Brazil's rich medicinal plant resources.
It is possible to establish a Chinese medicine production base in Brazil first, and then further promote and improve the registration of Chinese medicine and related products in Brazil, and then promote the marketing of Chinese medicine in Brazil.
At the same time, with the attention paid to traditional Chinese medicine by the Brazilian government and the medical community, as well as the promotion of China's "One Belt, One Road" initiative, it will certainly promote the cooperation of medical institutions and professionals in China and Brazil in the fields of clinical, teaching and scientific research to a greater extent. Cooperate to promote the development of traditional Chinese medicine in Brazil, and let traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture play a greater role in maintaining the health of the Brazilian people and preventing and treating diseases.
(Finish)
Interviewee Profile:
Song Nanhua, born in Yunnan, China in 1963, is the first Chinese TCM acupuncturist in Brazil to be licensed as a professional doctor.
Song Nanhua has practiced and researched in the field of TCM and acupuncture in Brazil for 27 years.
With his noble medical ethics and superb medical skills, he has made outstanding contributions to the Brazilian medical field, and is trusted and favored by many Brazilians, as well as recognized by Brazilian society and institutions.
He has successively won the titles of "Cavalier of Professionalism", "Cross Medal for Outstanding Immigrants" and "Lifetime Academician" in the Brazilian medical field by the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, Arts, History and Letters, becoming the Chinese who has received the most medals from Brazilian institutions.
In September 2017, Song Nanhua became a new academician of the Latin American National Academy of Humanities, the first Chinese to receive this honor.
In December 2017, Song Nanhua won the "Light of China - Person of the Year Award for Spreading Chinese Culture" jointly issued by seven units including the State Council Information Office, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, the All-China Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and Hanban.
In 2018, he was awarded the "Brazil-China Friendship Contribution Award" jointly issued by the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, Arts, History and Letters and the Brazil-China International Development Chamber of Commerce.