Recently, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) night markets have been popping up in various locations, featuring a range of activities that include consultations, prescriptions, acupuncture, massage, wellness promotion, dietary advice, and cultural outreach. This trend is attracting a significant number of young people. At TCM night markets, checking pulses, receiving acupuncture, purchasing fragrant sachets, and enjoying herbal teas have become popular new choices for nightlife. The bustling atmosphere at these markets can only be described as teeming with visitors. Dr. Jiao Zhihong, the head of the TCM specialty clinic at Beijing Fengtai Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital, noted, “We see over 200 patients daily, with more than half being young people. They may not have time during the day due to work commitments, but they want to understand their health better, so they come here for consultations in the evening.”
The benefits of TCM night markets are numerous. For one, they break the conventional hospital hours, allowing busy professionals to take advantage of the night market setting to seek medical advice. The relaxed environment of the night market makes interactions between patients and doctors less formal, fostering a more comfortable atmosphere. Additionally, visitors can not only consult on health issues but also enjoy the experience of browsing, tasting, and learning about TCM, making the offerings exceptionally diverse. Beyond treatments and consultations, these markets provide young people with a chance to delve deeper into TCM culture and knowledge. They serve not only as excellent spots for diagnosis and treatment but also as vital platforms for promoting TCM principles.
The rise of TCM night markets is merely a reflection of the increasing popularity of traditional medicine. Alongside night markets, commercial areas featuring TCM, such as “TCM Streets,” are also seeing crowds. TCM clinics have become favored destinations for wellness, with young people flocking to physiotherapy and traditional herbal medicine shops. TCM pastries have gained fame as trendy food items, while traditional methods like Ba Duan Jin (a form of gentle exercise) are replacing more common activities like square dancing. These trends underscore the widespread acceptance and recognition of TCM within the community.
The grassroots appeal of TCM is rooted in its tradition and strengths. TCM theories derive from practical daily life and are closely intertwined with the experiences of ordinary people. This framework is based on long-term observation and summarization of life phenomena and natural occurrences. Many diagnostic techniques, such as inspection, listening, inquiry, and pulse-taking, stem from everyday life, making them highly applicable for broader promotion and use. Therefore, the popularity of TCM night markets is not surprising. It’s evident that the future of TCM will continue to be closely connected to everyday life.
However, as TCM night markets gain popularity, there is an urgent need to enhance the scrutiny of physicians’ qualifications to prevent untrained practitioners from posing as legitimate doctors. While embracing management styles typically found in night markets, it’s crucial that these venues adhere to medical regulations and maintain strict standards for qualifications and oversight.
While it’s essential for TCM to be more accessible, there needs to be a clear distinction between accessible services and professional medical practices. Currently, some lifestyle service providers are overstepping their boundaries by offering diagnostic services unrelated to their original offerings. It is imperative to comply with the “Guideline for Traditional Chinese Medicine Wellness Services (Trial Version)” to prohibit any service provider from employing invasive or risky techniques like acupuncture, moxibustion, or other procedures that could harm clients.
The ongoing success of TCM night markets is indeed encouraging, but ensuring their lasting popularity requires thoughtful consideration of regulatory challenges and details to minimize risks. Establishing a firm foundation for lawful medical practice will enable the healthy and stable growth of TCM night markets, ultimately providing the public with high-quality and convenient medical and wellness services.
