The He Ping Li Hospital specializes in orthopaedic complaints, stroke and other neurological complaints, while in the Japan-China Friendship Hospital (widely considered the best TCM hospital in Beijing) our students spent time within Dermatology & STD, Gynaecology, Diabetic, Gastro-intestinal and Cardiology departments.

For the students, the day started at 7am for breakfast and hospital hours were 8am – 4/5pm Monday to Friday. The evenings and weekends were free, to see the sights and shopping for bargains (which were many!).

The students were a group of mixed ability therapists, some who had already passed their Degree in Oriental Medicine and others in the process of qualification. Graham and Phil are very proud of the professionalism and attitude of the entire group, and we were approached by the China Academy of Chinese Medicine Sciences’ director, and other professors/tutors stating how well our students were performing within the departments and their understanding of TCM.

From left to right: Mehmet, Jay, Richard, a Korean student, Professor Li, Kim, Dr Li,
Below: Pauline and Linda (who works at the China Academy of Chinese Medicine Science in Beijing and who will hopefully be a tutor for us in the near future).

During our stay in china Richard, Mehmet and Jay also had a rare chance to see the specialist area of acupuncture surgery, which they found an eye opening experience.

Everyone worked very hard but still found plenty of time for fun including Richard’s 21st birthday celebrated in a Beijing bar! There were hangovers all round the following morning but everyone seemed to muddle through which is surprising considering the festivities went on until the early hours.

Phil and Graham also had the opportunity to visit Beijing Oncology and Tumour Hospital. This is a brand new hospital associated with the Beijing University of TCM, catering for overseas visitors as well as Chinese residents. They have secured specialist lectures in pain relief and treatments of all types of cancer as well as relieving symptoms associated with common treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy and they hope to take a group of practitioners (including western medical practitioners) interested in these areas to Beijing next year, where an alternative view of treatments could be explored and discussed. Their approach is not purely traditional Chinese medicine, the Lecturers and doctors are also western trained and approach cancer from two directions. Phil and Graham were quite surprised at their facilities approach and results.

A post Olympic trip will be organised for next year and if you are interested please contact the clinic on 01708 457390 for further information.