“TCM has become popular in Cambodia because it is effective and safe in treating many illnesses,” Than Sokun, director of the Cambodia-China Friendship Preah Kossamak Hospital, told Xinhua. “In just over two years, more than 20,000 Cambodians have received TCM treatment.”
PHNOM PENH, June 27 (Xinhua) — Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is becoming increasingly popular among patients in Cambodia due to its efficacy and safety.
At the Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic of the Cambodia-China Friendship Preah Kossamak Hospital in Phnom Penh here on Wednesday, scores of patients were waiting for their turn for medical check-ups and treatment by a team of experts from TCM medical aid.
Kim Nay (71), a resident of Phnom Penh, had been suffering from shingles and numbness in his arms for over a year, but his condition improved after receiving treatment with traditional Chinese medicine.
“Before, I couldn’t even clench my fist, but now I can clench my fist firmly,” she told Xinhua during a return visit to a traditional Chinese medicine specialist for follow-up medical care.
“I hope this disease will be cured, that’s why I come here so often,” said Ney. “Chinese traditional Chinese medicine doctors are very trustworthy, so many Cambodian patients come to them for consultations and treatment.”
TCM is effective in treating osteoporosis, insomnia, infertility, pain, chronic cough, bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and interstitial lung disease.
It consists of acupuncture, moxibustion, and tuina therapy.
Thib Nian, 77, from Phnom Penh, said she came for a free TCM diagnosis and treatment after hearing from other patients that TCM is effective and safe.
“I suffered a stroke and was left paralyzed (for almost a year) and I have no movement in my hands,” she told Xinhua.
“I heard that acupuncture can cure me, so I came here to try it. I would be happy if it cures me,” Nairn said. “I have seen other patients who have been cured by acupuncture, so I hope I can be cured too.”
Than Sokun, director of the Cambodia-China Friendship Preah Kossamak Hospital, said China has been sending a traditional Chinese medicine medical support team to the hospital since March 2022 to help Cambodia fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since then, two groups of TCM medical aid teams have completed missions in the Southeast Asian country, he added.
Sokun said the first batch of TCM medical support teams received about 9,600 Cambodian patients from March 2022 to mid-2023, while the second team provided clinical services to about 11,175 patients from mid-2023 to date.
“TCM has become popular in Cambodia because it is effective and safe in treating many illnesses,” he told Xinhua on Tuesday. “In just over two years, more than 20,000 Cambodians have received TCM treatment.”
He said that in addition to providing clinical services to patients, the TCM medical support team has also held short-term training courses for hundreds of local doctors.
Yuan Geng, leader of Cambodia’s traditional Chinese medicine medical support team, said the second batch will consist of a total of eight traditional Chinese medicine experts and will begin operations on July 4, 2023.
“Currently, the number of outpatients at our hospital averages about 30 a day, with peaks exceeding 70,” he told Xinhua. “The average number of outpatients per month is about 600 to 700.”
Yuan added that after two years, thanks to the TCM medical support team, more people have come to trust in the effectiveness of TCM and prefer these treatments.
“So I think the increase in outpatient numbers is closely related to patients’ perceptions of traditional Chinese medicine,” he said.■
