Prihardinni, from the Indonesian city of Surabaya, is amazed at how traditional Chinese medicine (TCM中医) has continued to develop since she began studying it a year ago.
When Prihardinni was 10 years old, she suffered from serious headaches. So, her mother took her to see a TCM doctor near their home. The doctor checked her pulse, examined her face and tongue, and wrote down a prescription(处方). After several weeks of drinking Chinese medicine, she didn't have headaches any more.
"His medical skills were like magic," Prihardinni recalled. The experience of being cured by TCM impressed her and it encouraged her to choose TCM study. Now, she is a freshman at the Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, which has thousands of years of history and widespread international popularity.
"TCM is becoming more and more popular worldwide and has become an important cultural symbol(象征) for China," said Zhao Zhongting, a professor at the Gansu University of Chinese Medicine. "Many foreign students face difficulties in fully understanding the meaning and function of TCM medical terms because of cultural and language barriers," Zhao said, adding that in order to help them, the university offers various training courses for freshmen, including chemistry, language study and Chinese medicine culture. Activities between local and international students, lectures and study tours are also provided to help students better understand the courses.
"More people in my country are becoming interested in TCM. Many social media(媒体) are sharing their experiences with Chinese medicine," Prihardinni said, adding that she plans to return to her hometown after graduation and open a TCM clinic(诊所). "I want to tell my parents and friends that Chinese medicine is also a good and believable choice."
