By Zhu Yingliang

  This September, with the arrival of the 20th China Medical Team for Malta, the Mediterranean Regional Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine located in Paola, Malta once again gained many ‘Chinese medicine fans’. 

  From ‘trying Chinese medicine for the first time’ to ‘trusting Chinese medicine’ and finally to ‘promoting Chinese medicine’, Ms. Maria has a different diagnosis and treatment story.  

  54-year-old Ms. Maria had been suffering from chronic lower back pain. A recent accidental fall caused her sacral pain to suddenly increase, and affected her daily life severely. Ms. Maria went to the Mediterranean Regional Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine for help. Cao Ying, a member of the 20th China Medical Team for Malta and Attending Traditional Chinese Medicine Physician of Nantong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, after detailed consultation and comprehensive check, made a personalized treatment plan which used ‘acupuncture as the main treatment, massage as the auxiliary treatment’ according to Ms. Maria’s long-term chronic pain conditions. 

  After treatment, Ms. Maria’s back pain has been greatly relieved. When receiving the third treatment, Ms. Maria openly revealed her long-term insomnia to Cao Ying. 

  Ms. Maria asked Cao Ying whether acupuncture could relieve insomnia symptoms. So, while treating the pain, Cao Ying performed acupuncture ‘incidentally’. Something magical happened. When they met again, Ms. Maria handed Cao Ying a bag of health products. She said happily, ‘now I do not need these any more, acupuncture is sufficient for my sleep now!’  

  After successfully getting rid of her back pain and insomnia, Ms. Maria developed deep trust and gratitude for Chinese medicine, and she actively promoted the benefits of Chinese medicine to her family. 

  It is learnt that since the 20th China Medical Team for Malta started to provide outpatient services, more than 1,300 patients have been treated in more than two months. At the same time, 5 special free consultation sessions have been held. Activities have been held in Chinese Embassy in Malta, the Malta National Swimming Pool, local pharmaceutical companies and other enterprises to promote traditional Chinese medicine culture. 

【背景阅读】

Maria的中医诊疗故事

    今年9月，随着第20期中国援马医疗队的到来，位于马耳他保拉市的地中海地区中医中心再度收获了众多“中医迷”。

    而从“初试中医”到“信任中医”再到“推广中医”的Maria女士更是有着一段不一样的诊疗故事。

    54岁的Maria女士一直饱受慢性腰痛的折磨。最近一次的意外跌倒却使得她的骶尾部疼痛骤然加剧，并严重影响到了她的日常生活。Maria女士走进地中海地区中医中心寻求帮助。第20期中国援马医疗队队员、南通市中医院主治中医师曹颖经过详细问诊和全面检查，并根据Maria女士的长期慢性疼痛的情况，为她制定了“针灸为主、推拿为辅”的个性化诊疗方案。

经过治疗，Maria女士的腰痛得到了大大缓解了。在接受第三次治疗时，Maria女士主动向曹颖袒露了她长期失眠的困扰。

    Maria女士向曹颖咨询针灸是否能缓解失眠症状。于是，在治疗疼痛的同时，曹颖“顺带”施起了针。神奇的事情发生了，再次见面时候，Maria女士递给曹颖一袋子保健品，欣喜地表示“现在已经不需要这些了，我的睡眠现在有针灸就足够啦！”

在成功摆脱腰痛与失眠的困扰后，Maria女士对中医产生了深厚的信赖与感激之情，她向家人积极推广中医的益处。

    据悉，自第20期中国援马医疗队开展门诊服务以来，两个多月接诊超1300人次。同时，举办专场义诊5次，走进中国驻马耳他大使馆、马耳他国家游泳馆及当地医药公司等企业开展活动，推广中医药文化。

    作者：朱颖亮