Thousands of foreign students are swarming into Chinese universities of traditional Chinese medicine each year to learn acupuncture. More than 100,000 acupuncturists are providing alternative treatment worldwide nowadays.

However, contrary to the flourishing development abroad, acupuncture has been declining in its motherland during the past two decades.

As acupuncture cannot generate as much economic gains as TCM drugs do, it is commonly neglected both in hospitals and research departments.

For most Chinese patients, acupuncture is also not their first option. Acupuncture doctors earn much less than other doctors, because each treatment would only allow them to charge a few yuan, similar to the cost of redressing a wound. A lot of them try their luck abroad to practise acupuncture.

As a result, Chinese acupuncture is facing a serious brain drain.

On the other hand, in order to obtain international recognition, most acupuncture research has focused on the theory study, but has been divorced from clinical practice. The efficacy of acupuncture is declining.

Acupuncture experts worry that China may lose its advantage in acupuncture practice one day if the present dilemma cannot be changed.

Source: China Daily