TCM Wisdom
The lifelong journey of a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, from a local village to the global stage
Wang Shengqiang, a native of Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, grew up immersed in the ancient traditions of Chinese medicine. As a child, he would often accompany his father, a locally renowned traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) doctor, to the nearby mountains to forage for medicinal herbs. Together, Wang and his brothers learned to identify the best herbs and understand their curative properties.
Wang comes from a family with a long lineage of TCM practitioners, whose medical legacy can be traced back over 980 years. He is the 49th generation of his family to carry on this distinguished tradition.
Raised in this environment of deep reverence for Chinese medical knowledge and practice, Wang developed a passion for the rich cultural heritage of TCM from a young age. This early immersion and training laid the foundation for his own remarkable mastery of ancient healing techniques.
Now in his 40s, Wang has not only followed in his father’s footsteps by treating many patients domestically, he has also taken on the mission of introducing the true essence of TCM to people in other countries. Through voluntary medical services and lectures, he shares his deep knowledge and mastery with international audiences.
“Traditional Chinese medicine has the ability to treat diseases while keeping the body intact,” Wang told Beijing Review. “Sometimes, the treatment process does not even use medicines or medical equipment. This is the true magic of TCM.”
TCM upbringing
In Wang’s home village, people knew well that his family possessed the expertise to treat a wide range of illnesses. Word of their medical prowess spread through the local community without any need for advertising. “People came from miles around, drawn by the reputation of our family’s healing abilities,” Wang recounted.
What most impressed Wang about his father’s practice was the deep compassion he showed toward the less fortunate. “My father would often treat the poor free of charge,” Wang explained. “And sometimes these patients would bring valuable goods from home, like meat, eggs or some local specialties, as tokens of appreciation.”
This spirit of kindness and service to those in need left a profound mark on the young Wang. “I wanted to show that same kindness to people, to bring them health and happiness, just as my father did,” he said.
Even as a young adolescent, Wang was already honing his skills as a TCM practitioner. By the time he reached middle school, Wang had been studying the principles and techniques of TCM under his father’s tutelage for over seven years, and had developed proficiency in several forms of treatment.
Word spread in the local community about the Wang children’s impressive medical capabilities, and patients would sometimes seek them out when their father was unavailable. With the trust and encouragement of his father, the young Wang would oblige these requests, utilizing techniques like blood pricking,
which involves pricking the skin at certain acupuncture points to remove stagnant or excessive blood and promote circulation, and tuina, a form of Chinese massage therapy, to provide relief and healing.
This early hands-on experience, combined with Wang’s diligent study and practice on his own family members, had instilled in him a growing sense of confidence in his abilities to help others.
As he grew older, Wang opened his own TCM clinic in his hometown. While diligently treating patients, he also continued studying and developing his expertise in an array of healing techniques. This included mastering blood pricking, as well as a therapy using the fingers or knuckles to apply focused pressure to acupuncture points, as well as muscle and tendon areas.
“Many diseases and disorders are caused by blockages and imbalances in the body’s natural flow of qi and blood,” Wang explained. “To effectively treat these conditions, we need to promote the smooth running of these physiological processes.”
Wang believes that by precisely stimulating key points and relaxing tight muscle areas, the body can often heal itself without the need for invasive surgeries that can cause long-term damage. “The right kind of focused, manual manipulation can often clear up those ‘blocks,’ allowing the body to function properly again. And these blocks can be tumors,” he said.
In TCM, qi, also spelled chi, is considered a fundamental concept that refers to the vital life force or energy that flows through all things in the universe. Treatments like acupuncture, herbs, diet and exercises aim to regulate and optimize the flow of qi through the body. Restoring the proper circulation and balance of qi is considered key to preventing and treating disease.
Wang also believes that an effective TCM practitioner must treat each patient as a unique individual, tailoring the approach based on their specific condition, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all method, even for the same illness.
“Take a simple example,” Wang explained. “Sometimes the patient’s bones can be relatively soft and delicate. In those cases, you need to carefully assess and judge the individual’s physiology. You can’t just use the same degree of force or technique for every patient—you have to adjust it accordingly.”
A wider audience
As Wang’s years of practice grew and his patient roster expanded, he found that his relationships with many of his long-term patients evolved into genuine friendship. These patients not only sought his expert medical care, but also came to deeply appreciate Wang’s compassionate and personalized approach.
Some of Wang’s patient-friends would offer valuable insights and inspirations that helped shape the course of his medical career. One such pivotal moment came when a particularly insightful patient suggested that Wang should consider relocating his clinic to Beijing.
“You’ve developed such remarkable skills in TCM,” the patient told him. “You need to be treating more people in a much larger city like Beijing, where you can have an even greater impact.” Ultimately, Wang decided to take his patient’s advice.
Since relocating his practice to Beijing, Wang has had the opportunity to treat a diverse array of patients, including those connected to organizations dedicated to promoting cultural and peopleto-people exchanges between China and the rest of the world. This has allowed him to not only expand his reach within China, but also to engage in popularizing the principles and practice of TCM among international audiences.
For example, in February, he was invited to give lectures on TCM and provide free medical services to a wide range of recipients, from diplomats to journalists in France. Wang was pleasantly surprised by the keen interest and enthusiasm that many people outside of China displayed for this ancient medical tradition.
Energized by this experience, Wang is now determined to further expand the global footprint of TCM. In addition to maintaining his thriving practice in China, he plans to participate in more international exchange activities focused on this traditional healing art. He also intends to open TCM clinics in other countries, with the goal of introducing the restorative powers of this holistic medical system to ever-growing numbers of people around the world. BR