TCM appeal growing in Brazil
Later, I started acupuncture. The benefits were extraordinary. I had rhinitis and allergic asthma ... and all of these disappeared.”
SAO PAULO — Gustavo Pinto, a 73-year-old Brazilian professor, pays a daily visit to the ChinaBrazil International Cooperation Base of Chinese Medicine Products in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo.
His visit there every morning is for traditional Chinese treatments, such as acupuncture and massage, even during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The base was jointly established by Brazil’s Taimin company and the Affiliated Hospital of the Gansu University of Chinese Medicine in September 2019.
Pinto recalls that, since he first found out about the ancient Chinese book I Ching at the age of 19, he has had a great interest in Chinese culture, especially traditional Chinese medicine.
“Later, I started acupuncture. The benefits were extraordinary. I had rhinitis and allergic asthma since childhood and all of these disappeared,” he says.
Since then, Pinto, also translator of the Portuguese version of I Ching, has been committed to promoting Chinese culture in Brazil.
Fang Fang, CEO of Taimin company, highlights the growing popularity of Chinese acupuncture and moxibustion treatments in Brazil.
Nevertheless, people know little about the Chinese herbal medicine, which focuses on “internal” treatments, she adds.
The company has introduced more than 50 TCM products in Brazil, such as Lianhua Qingwen capsules and Huoxiang Zhengqi pills, which are sold in local pharmacies.
She says that the promotion of TCM is the commitment of several generations, while the key is to get more Brazilians to understand and embrace the theories of this ancient practice.
For this reason, Fang invited four doctors from the Affiliated Hospital of the Gansu University of Chinese Medicine to teach courses on TCM at the base.
To solve the language difficulties, she also invited Shu Fu Cheng, a local doctor, as a translator, who is fluent in both Chinese and Portuguese.
The Chinese medical programs attracted many Brazilians interested in TCM, who have had to continue with those courses online due to the impact of the pandemic.
Han Yingdi, a doctor from the Affiliated Hospital of the Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, is specialized in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. She has a large number of followers in Brazil and her courses were attended by more than 100 participants.
Fernanda Waterstradt, a Brazilian pharmacist, says Han’s courses greatly inspired her and enhanced her understanding about TCM.
Shu Fu Cheng says: “In Brazil, people are paying more and more attention to traditional Chinese medicine. The courses at the base help students understand its application.”
Fang can see the enthusiasm of the students. Although the pandemic has brought many challenges to her job, she will not give up.
“Traditional Chinese medicine is the pride of Chinese people. We have a responsibility to share the fruit of Chinese culture with everyone,” she says.
Gustavo Pinto, a TCM enthusiast in Brazil