Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Acupuncture and Moxibustion is an Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Acupuncture is a medical treatment in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which, in addition to being widely used in China, is practiced in Southeast Asia, Europe and the Americas. Acupuncture theory suggests that the human body is like a small universe of various meridians connected and functioning through physical stimulation of the meridians, and the stimulation method involves the use of moxa to burn or needling on the acupoints of these ducts. Acupuncture, depending on the specific circumstances of each person, choose to use the needle, and then use the needle to stimulate the points.
Moxibustion is usually categorized as direct and indirect moxibustion, which means that moxa sticks are placed directly on the acupuncture points or placed at a distance close to the surface of the body to sizzle the selected area. Moxa cylinders and moxa sticks are made from dried Artemisia absinthium leaves. Acupuncture is passed down from master to disciple or from family member to family member through oral lectures and practical demonstrations. The transmission of acupuncture is also included in the formal academic education system.In 2010, TCM acupuncture was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Development of TCM Acupuncture:
From the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (SATCM), it was learned that there are TCM and acupuncture clinics in most parts of the world that are run by Chinese or local people. There are reportedly more than 11,000 registered professional acupuncturists in the United States, 30,000 acupuncturists in Germany, more than 5,000 acupuncturists in Mexico, 4,500 acupuncturists and Chinese medicine practitioners in Australia, more than 15,000 acupuncturists in Brazil, 1,500 Chinese medicine practitioners in Singapore, and 7,707 Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists registered in Hong Kong SAR of China.
Even Kiribati, which has a population of only 20,000 among the South Pacific island nations, has two TCM clinics. These numerous and widely distributed TCM and acupuncture clinics have laid a broad foundation for TCM to go global. In the past 20 years, there has been a new development of TCM clinics abroad. In South Korea, the United States, Vietnam, France, Brazil and other countries, some government-run Western medical hospitals in the opening of acupuncture clinics, and some also set up Chinese medicine clinics, improving the status of acupuncturists.
There are also clinics that organize teaching of acupuncture and Chinese medicine and become internship clinics for local medical students, which not only cultivate Chinese medicine and acupuncture talents for the local area, but also improve the academic level of the clinic.
Reference for the above: Baidu Encyclopedia - Acupuncture and Moxibustion