‘Magic hand’ in promoting traditional health remedies
Print Edition
CALLED the man with “a magic hand,” Songjiang native Xia Zhongfang was a traditional Chinese medicine doctor who specialized in gynecology, epidemics and chronic diseases.
A protégé of master Zhang Youchang, he opened his own clinic at age 20. Xia’s reputation was known far and wide, and patients came from all parts of Shanghai and even beyond.
In one case, a pregnant woman diagnosed with a stillbirth baby went to see Xia ahead of having the fetus aborted. Much to her surprise, Xia said the baby still had a pulse. He prescribed Chinese herbs for the woman, who gave birth to a healthy child months later.
He was on the verge of expanding his clinic to accommodate the increasing patient load when he heard about a problem of no student dorms at Songjiang Middle School. He donated his property and buildings to the school, which later named its library in honor of him.
Xia rented a new home on Songhui Road and took a class of 10 young people to pass on his medical knowledge.
During the Japanese occupation during World War II, Xia had to relocate to downtown Shanghai, where he gave free treatment to refugees.
From 1949 to 1954, he was employed at Shanghai East China Hospital as director of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department. He traveled the country, attending medical seminars, giving lectures and training young doctors.
His patients included celebrities and political leaders, like Liu Shaoqi, one of the founders of the People’s Republic of China, Lu Dingyi, a former vice premier of the State Council, and He Xiangning, a champion of women’s rights.
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