Health & Beauty

Historically, China and Central America had a long-term lack of communication and understanding due to geographic and language differences. The implementation of the “Belt and Road” initiative has provided a new communication platform for countries along the route, and has also built a bridge for the dissemination of medical culture in various countries. Medical culture plays an important role in this.

Professor Zhao Jing of the Institute of Basic Chinese Medicine and Clinical Medicine of the Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences believes that although the spread of Chinese medicine culture in the region is still in its infancy, with the improvement of China-Pakistan relations, the further promotion of Chinese medicine in Panama and in the region will Usher in historical opportunities.

With the support of the International Science and Technology Training Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Zhao Jing and several other experts combed Panama’s domestic medical and health conditions and the history of exchanges with Chinese medicine, with a view to providing directions for the further spread and development of Chinese medicine in the region.

The use of Chinese medicine has a certain popular base in Panama

In her research, Zhao Jing found that although the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan is not long, the spread of Chinese medicine in Panama has a long history and is driven by factors such as Chinese immigrants and local traditional medicine.

As early as the early 20th century, Chinese medicine was introduced to Panama. In 1915, to celebrate the opening of the Panama Canal, the U.S. government organized the first Panama Pacific Universal Exposition. China participated in the exhibition for the first time. The Chinese medicine product Dong Ejiao (000423) on display won the gold medal of the exposition. From this time on, Chinese medicine also gradually entered the Americas and Panama. In 2015, after a lapse of 100 years, Dong Ejiao won the gold medal for the 100th anniversary celebration of the Panama Expo once again.

The completion and opening of the Panama Canal communicated the economic and cultural exchanges between Asia and the American continent. The number of Chinese in Pakistan was increasing day by day. By the beginning of the 21st century, the number of people in Pakistan reached 200,000, accounting for 1/10 of the total population of Panama. In 1977, "People's Daily" published it. A report on "Panama Government Approves the Use of Acupuncture Therapy" stated that the Panamanian government approved the use of the ancient Eastern acupuncture therapy in the country and believed that it was a new type of therapy in the West.

Since the 1980s, a number of high-level TCM physicians began to immigrate from China to Panama. Traditional Chinese medicine has flourished in Panama, and the services of TCM physicians are available in almost all places where Chinese people gather. Driven by Chinese immigrants, Panamanians also began to accept and try Chinese medicine treatment. At present, although the practice of Chinese medicine practitioners has not been included in the relevant legislation, many Panamanian officials generally respect Chinese medicine and do not have strict requirements on the license of Chinese medicine practitioners. Traditional Chinese medicine doctors in the tourist bus mostly set up clinics in apartments and carry out medical activities in the form of individuals or mutual aid groups (combinations of two or more families). According to the "Overview of Foreign Chinese Medicine" published by the People's Medical Publishing House in 1998, there are more than a dozen private Chinese medicine clinics or medical rooms in the building opposite to the Chinatown of Panama and the Chinese General Association of China. Department of Gynecology and Pediatrics, Orthopedics, Dermatology, Otology, etc.

At the beginning of the 21st century, the use of traditional medicine in Latin American countries has entered a new stage. Under the influence of the concept and practice of the biomedical model, the demand for traditional and alternative therapies has increased by leaps and bounds. A 2001 survey on traditional medicine in Latin America and the Caribbean showed that although traditional medicine still occupies a subordinate position in the official health care system of these countries, it has become an important health care option for people in Latin America and the Caribbean. one. Nine countries in the region have also established a database of traditional medicine systems involving professionals and institutions to support traditional medicine-related drug research and promote the introduction of official medical policies focusing on primary health care. Recognized by the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization.

At the same time, the Panamanian people have a growing demand for traditional medicine that focuses on health care and prevention, and Chinese medicine is among them. According to relevant records, the Chinese in Pakistan have a long history of using traditional Chinese medicine for medical treatment. There are many Chinese medicinal material shops in Panama’s urban business district, and there are many large and medium-sized Chinese medicinal material companies invested by Hong Kong, Taiwanese or foreign Chinese. Among the traditional Chinese medicine decoctions, the sales of decoctions for thyroid, gastrointestinal, and edema related diseases are relatively large, while the sales of proprietary Chinese medicines for lowering fat and weight loss, such as "abdomen reducing fat and weight loss pills" and "hawthorn lowering fat tablets", are more popular. Andrology medicines are also very marketable.

"The development of the local Chinese medicine industry has driven the prosperity of the Chinese medicine market. The use of Chinese medicine has a certain public foundation in Panama, and it has gradually expanded from overseas Chinese to local residents." Zhao Jing said.

Explore various forms of cooperation and exchanges in Chinese medicine

Zhao Jing pointed out that currently, the work of traditional Chinese medicine in Panama is mainly focused on clinical medicine, with little involvement in teaching, scientific research, and academic research. Combined with the current development of Chinese medicine in Panama, she made the following suggestions for the future development of Chinese medicine in Panama:

First, use culture as a carrier to promote the spread of Chinese medicine. Zhao Jing pointed out that China and Pakistan formally established diplomatic relations on June 13, 2017, which to a certain extent promoted the spread of Chinese culture, including traditional Chinese medicine, in the country. Under this general trend, it is possible to "use books, television, and the Internet to promote and promote Chinese culture such as traditional Chinese medicine." In view of the fact that Panama and many countries in Central America mainly use Spanish, in order to enable the Pakistani government, professionals and people to better understand Chinese culture and traditional Chinese medicine, Zhao Jing suggested that the publication of existing Spanish-related books should be promoted and Chinese medicine should be organized. The translation of ancient books and the latest research progress of traditional Chinese medicine, the production of promotional videos and the production of websites, and the development and launch of multilingual Chinese medicine knowledge websites and mobile phone software, etc., to increase the accessibility of Chinese medicine; in addition, through international The Chinese Medicine Expo, the Chinese Medicine Cultural Festival and other activities with a high degree of participation, disseminate the Chinese medicine culture in an easy-to-understand language and in a more intuitive way.

Secondly, through the form of cooperating with Panama in running schools and co-organizing Chinese medicine hospitals, the clinical application and teaching of Chinese medicine will be carried out to train its local Chinese medicine practitioners, which will lay the foundation for the sound development of Chinese medicine in the country. Zhao Jing suggested that through organizing visits, scientific research collaborations, academic salons and other activities, the exchanges and understanding between medical professionals of the two countries should be strengthened, so that professionals can more effectively contact and understand Chinese medicine. Remote education and cooperation can be carried out with the help of convenient communication methods such as the Internet.

In addition, use the research and development of traditional herbal medicine as an entry point to promote Chinese medicine. Zhao Jing found in her investigation that Panama’s traditional medicine, like Chinese medicine, attaches great importance to the use of local herbs. “For example, papaya is used to treat skin symptoms caused by skin diseases and diabetes, and the pepper plant is used to treat skin infections, insects and snakes. Bites, toothaches, fish poisons, muscle pains, cold symptoms, etc. These are very similar to the effects of related drugs recorded in Chinese medicine. For example, the traditional Chinese medicine papaya has the effect of dispelling rheumatism, and the pepper has the effect of killing insects and relieving itching." She believes that the research and development of traditional medicines can be used as an entry point to cooperate in the development of common and high-risk diseases in the country, so that Panamanian traditional medicine and traditional Chinese medicine can establish good communication and jointly serve the people's health.

Finally, increase the promotion of acupuncture and moxibustion. In recent years, acupuncture as the main form of traditional Chinese medicine has been widely used and spread around the world. Acupuncture and moxibustion are also widely used in many countries around Panama. For example, Mexico has included acupuncture and moxibustion in official education programs and established relevant medical degrees; many medical schools in Cuba have included acupuncture as an important teaching content in the curriculum system; Argentina The Chinese Acupuncture Association was established in the early 1990s. There are more than 500 acupuncturists mainly local doctors in Argentina. At present, acupuncture therapy is no stranger to Panamanians. Information about registered acupuncturists in their home countries can be found online. People can search or make appointments for the acupuncture services they need based on the city or the name of the acupuncturist. Therefore, Zhao Jing believes that the exchanges and visits of acupuncturists and the development of acupuncture research can be the focus of the dissemination and promotion of Chinese medicine to further promote the spread of Chinese medicine in Pakistan.