Traditional Chinese Medicine at Xian Medical University

Three Months in China

An eight week period of study was undertaken at Shanghai Medical University as a student elective from Manchester University Medical School. During this time the student was taught elements of the traditional theory of acupuncture and was given clinical training in acupuncture, electroacupuncture, moxibustion, cupping and herbal injection. A good variety of medical problems were seen being treated. The process of selecting a suitable venue for a student elective in China is discussed, as is the teaching routine in an acupuncture clinic.

The Use of Acupuncture for Pain Relief in a Chinese Hospital Clinic

This study formed part of a medical student elective and was conducted over a six-week period from April to June in the Acupuncture Clinic of the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin Traditional Medical College, China. It is a descriptive cross-sectional study investigating the painful conditions for which Chinese consult an acupuncturist. The effectiveness of acupuncture as an analgesic was assessed subjectively using a visual analogue scale to estimate the amount of pain before and after treatment. A significant improvement was seen following acupuncture. The patients’ own views on the efficacy of acupuncture in controlling their pain were also noted: this resulted in a mean effectiveness rating of 74.4%.