Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has gained increasing popularity in Hungary in recent years, becoming a new medium to extend traditional Chinese culture.
Chen Zhen, president of the Central and Eastern European TCM Association and head of the Qihuang TCM Center of Hungary, has witnessed the development of traditional Chinese medicine in Hungary.
Since he came to the European country in 1988, he has actively promoted TCM culture while conducting free medical services for locals and setting up training courses about TCM knowledge and treatment skills.
"Traditional Chinese medicine now has become an important part of the life of Hungarian people. They know the food they take should vary from season to season. They know how to expel toxin from their body in spring, strengthen the fundamental physical resistance and consolidate the foundation in winter, and nourish their mind in summer. Such stories are easy for them to understand," said Chen.
Many Hungarian patients have been cured by TCM, boosting their confidence in the unique oriental medicine.
"After many medial failures, I chose to try traditional Chinese medicine. I heard many patients had been successfully treated here, so I believed TCM could help me," said a Hungarian patient.
"TCM has helped many patients and even improved some with complicated and difficult diseases. I think TCM is becoming more and more popular in Hungary," said Sissi, an interpreter at the Qihuang TCM Center.
Hungary is the first European country to legislate for traditional Chinese medicine. In 2016, the Hungarian government issued EU licenses for doctors practicing traditional Chinese medicine and started to recognize the academic certificates issued by TCM colleges and universities from China.
The University of Pecs and the Semmelweis University in Hungary started to cooperate with universities in China to carry out traditional Chinese medicine teaching and research.
At present, Hungary has built a factory to produce herbal medicines, and more than 300 products of the factory have been licensed for sales in the European Union and they are widely popular in the European market.
"The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is not only about the construction of railways and highways, but more importantly, it should build mutual understanding between peoples. Hungary's policy of opening to the East deeply matches our BRI. Only through deep cultural exchanges, can our two countries learn from each other's civilizations and achieve common development," said Chen.