TCM ‘savior’ doctor eases pain of seniors
Print Edition
Down an old alley next to a farmer’s market, young Dr Wu Zheng treats around 20 patients a day, 80 in summer, and most are seniors with chronic pain who consider him a savior.
Dr Wu is a 30-year-old specialist in traditional Chinese medicine, an expert in acupuncture and massage. The Shanghai native has been practicing at Changshou Community Health Center on Dongxin Road, Putuo District, for six and a half years.
“Being a doctor is sacred and the ability to help people brings me a sense of accomplishment,” Dr Wu tells Shanghai Daily. Patients attest to his abilities and the center’s walls are hung with banners given in thanks to Wu for his help.
After graduating from the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dr Wu decided to work — not in a big hospital — but in a community where affordable health care is much needed, especially by seniors.
“I think the community environment is good and I had mentors in clinical practice,” he says. “In large hospitals there are a lot of rare and complicated diseases, while community hospitals treat more ailments of the elderly.” The TCM university encourages graduates to work in neighborhood health centers.
Wu says he chose to study TCM because unlike much of Western medicine, it goes beyond the treatment of symptoms and is more holistic, long-lasting and suitable for Chinese people.“While Western medicine focuses on disease and specific conditions, TCM pays attention to the individual’s entire physical condition,” he says.
Acupuncture and massage are also practical skills and he can help family and relatives doing TCM massage at home.
On an average day, more than 30 local patients register at the center and Wu treats around 20. In summer, the peak season for acupuncture, he treats around 80 patients a day. Some patients come from outside the community after hearing of Wu’s successful treatments from other patients and reading about him in newspaper articles.
Dr Wu answers a TCM hotline (189-6463-1575, Chinese only) every Tuesday and Thursday from 4-5pm.
Most patients are in pain from neck injury, lower muscle strain, arthritis in the knees and shoulders, herniated discs. Many also suffer from insomnia.
Zhao Yongqiang, who is in his 70s, has been suffering from a herniated disc in his lower back. He has been treated for pain by Dr Wu for three or four years. A few years ago, the symptoms suddenly worsened, making him unable to walk. Surgery to repair the disc would cost 160,000 yuan (US$26,400), far too expensive.
“I was looking for alternative treatments and heard the acupuncture here was good,” Zhao says. He has acupuncture sessions with Dr Wu and physical therapy in a hospital.
Zhao was much improved after visiting Wu for a year and a half, five days a week. Now he can ride a bicycle and walk for an hour or two every day.
“Wu is my savior because he made it possible for me to walk again,” Zhao says. “I even come here on the hottest days of the year for acupuncture.”
Li Mingzhen suffers from sciatica, pain in the sciatic nerve that sometimes makes it impossible for her to walk. The 65-year-old has had the condition since she was in her 30s and required hospital stays of a month for each episode. She sometimes had TCM steaming treatment.
She has been a patient of Dr Wu’s for a year and today she receives herbal prescriptions and acupuncture for occasional pain.
“When the pain prevented me from walking, Dr Wu helped me register and get medicine,” Li says. “He is nice and polite to everyone, whether old or young.”
Dr Li Rongying, a colleague of Dr Wu’s, specializes in TCM steaming and traction treatments. Wu is praised by patients, she says.
“He has a good attitude as well as skill and patient’s conditions improve after acupuncture. What matters most is his goodness and dedication.
“He is a motivated young man with positive energy.”
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