TCM diplomacy? Indians take to acupuncture, cupping therapy amid strained ties with China
- TCM techniques and Chinese herbal medicines increasingly used to treat various ailments, Indian medical professionals say
- As TCM grows in popularity among Indians, experts call for regulatory control to ensure patients receive correct treatment
Published: 4:00pm, 11 Dec, 2022 Updated: 4:00pm, 11 Dec, 2022
TCM specialist Jeewan Kumar Kaushal at his clinic in Delhi. Photo: Sonia Sarkar
Five years ago, when Joginder Kaur, 70, was prescribed knee replacement surgery by an allopathic doctor, she consulted a
(TCM) specialist. After taking Chinese herbal medicines and receiving acupuncture treatment for over four years, Kaur, who had been in a wheelchair, became fit enough to easily climb a few stairs.
“I lost all hope of standing on my feet but my condition improved drastically,” Kaur told This Week In Asia. “It’s nothing short of a miracle.”
Despite the two countries’
that dates back to the war in 1962, and a rising backlash against Chinese technology in India, TCM has surprisingly taken off among Indians seeking alternative treatment for their ailments with the system gaining popularity over the past decade.