Treatment in China: priority medical areas and peculiarities of Celestial medicine

Chinese medicine is becoming more and more in demand every year due to its integrated approach to treatment, which gives the best results. The traditions of Asian practices, which have proven their worth over several millennia, are skillfully combined with the latest Western developments.

Issues related to foreign patients are handled by the China Medical Tourism Association, an organization that oversees health tourism in China and monitors the quality of services provided. The Association’s supervision gives full protection to foreign patients and allows them to receive quality treatment according to international standards.

Why patients prefer to be treated in China

Over the last 20 years, Chinese medicine has been developing at an unprecedented pace: modern public and private hospitals have appeared in cities, with huge financial investments in their construction. Every year about one million patients come to the People’s Republic of China for treatment. Among the most significant advantages stand out:

• The highest qualification of doctors: Chinese specialists are as highly trained as their European and American counterparts. The Chinese government spends tens of millions of dollars a year to train students in the world’s best medical universities
• Innovative medical equipment: China, along with South Korea and Japan, is considered a leader in the production of high-tech equipment. All Chinese clinics are equipped with advanced equipment used to treat and diagnose various diseases
• Robotic tooling: A major percentage of the world’s robotics industry is concentrated in China. The Middle Kingdom produces robots specializing in cleaning and disinfection, to which medical centers pay close attention. They help to keep microbial counts normal and prevent the development of hospital-acquired infections
• Favorable pricing policy: The cost of services in Chinese clinics (public and private) is 30-50% lower than in European hospitals of the same level
• Accessibility of traditional medicine: Today, international treatment protocols that form the basis of Chinese healing are used. But in addition to them, traditional techniques proven over thousands of years are used: Guasha massage, phytotherapy, Qigong, stone therapy and vacuum treatment, which bring great benefits to the patient, especially during the rehabilitation period.
• Quality service: Respect for the patient is an integral part of the ancient culture of the PRC. Therefore, those coming for treatment can be assured of courteous treatment and compliance with all ethical standards
• English-speaking nursing staff: All nurses at leading international clinics speak English, and many of them have trained abroad. They often act as interpreters for doctors who do not speak the language

Research base in China

Modern material and technical equipment allows here to successfully design and implement in practical medicine the developments of talented students and teachers.

In addition, China is recognized as a leader in the field of bioengineering, a science that focuses on the application of technical approaches to medicine. The development of artificial joints, pacemakers, prostheses and artificial circulatory devices are among the important achievements of the constantly developing bioengineering.

Innovative trends in Chinese medicine

CEREBRAL PALSY

Cerebral palsy is a condition in which a child has motor disorders. To ensure a quality life for the child, dozens of methods have been developed around the world. The most effective of them are applied in China, which allowed this country to take a leading position in the field of cerebral palsy treatment.

To help young patients, they use unique programs that include Chinese medical practices and advanced stem cell treatment. Leading specialists at the clinics are convinced that most children with cerebral palsy can be helped: the earlier treatment is started, the greater success can be predicted. Medical rehabilitation centers accept patients from the age of one month, when a definitive diagnosis has not yet been made in their home country.

The peculiarity of treatment is the fusion of two reliable approaches: Western and Chinese medicine. The most effective always turns out to be an integrated approach, which includes:

• Drug therapy: Use of new-generation nootropics and anticonvulsants with an evidence base in China
• Stem cell therapy: The therapy is aimed at repairing damaged brain tissue, which is stimulated by the introduction of stem cells. Chinese specialists do not treat the consequences of the disease, but affect the cause, so great attention is paid to the affected brain areas. The effect of application is visible after the first procedure: mental activity improves, the manifestation of strabismus decreases, muscle mass increases. Progress is noticeable not only at the time of treatment, but also in the long-term period (within a year)
• Acupuncture: A specialized acupuncture technique considered a traditional Chinese therapy. During a session, thin needles are inserted under the skin to target specific areas. The technology of insertion is passed from master to master, and over so many years of use has become a real “treasure trove” in the treatment of cerebral palsy. The method not only reinforces the successes of other methods, but also strengthens the immune system with anti-inflammatory effects
• Transcranial magnetotherapy: the action of electromagnetic impulses on certain areas of the brain, stimulating nerve cells. The process aims to restore brain function. Thanks to the fact that China is at the forefront of bioengineering, the latest generation of magnets are used here with even greater effectiveness

Additionally, occupational therapy, psychotherapy, aqua therapy, and nutritional therapy are used in the treatment to make the recovery process as complete as possible.

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation after illness, injury or surgery is just as important as the actual treatment. It helps to consolidate the positive effect of therapy and return to a quality of life. Top clinics in China offer a modern comprehensive approach, including the assistance of specially trained rehabilitation specialists.

Rehabilitation in specialized centers includes:

• Physical therapy classes according to individually developed programs
• Massage sessions of different orientation (acupressure or therapeutic)
• Exercise in water to lighten the load (especially with musculoskeletal pathologies)
• Exercises on simulators

Rehabilitation programs are very labile and are adjusted for each patient based on their complaints. Chinese doctors restore mobility in spine and joint surgeries, and restore activity and lost functions after a stroke. The main role in the selection of therapy plays not only the disease itself, but also the root cause. For example, in the case of stroke, the type of stroke is important: hemorrhagic or ischemic, which in turn is easy to determine what led to a violation of cerebral circulation.

How traditional Chinese medicine works

All cells in the body depend on nerve impulses and hormones to function. If the neuroendocrine system is properly influenced, it is possible to change the feeling of well-being and the state of health in general: to relieve muscle tension, pain and discomfort. Knowledge of biologically active points allows experienced rehabilitation therapists from China to determine at what depth and how to conduct therapy.

At present, three international centers have been established in China on the initiative of the World Health Organization, where thousands of specialists from all over the world are trained in traditional medicine.

Neurology

Nervous system disease is an ailment that affects more and more people every year. According to the Institute of Medical Devices, the spending market in China in the field of neurological disorders is increasing by 10% annually.

The greatest demand among overseas patients in Chinese neurology is for: stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, brain and spinal cord injuries.

Neurosurgery in China is performed on a Remebot robotic systemIn China, neurosurgery is performed using the Remebot robotic system, multiple sclerosis is treated with bone marrow-derived stem cells, and Parkinson’s disease can be corrected by implanting hRPE cells into affected brain structures.

Many leading clinics at research universities offer stroke treatment using hematopoietic cells. Also, the Neuroscience Institutes are developing CRISPR technology – genome editing of organisms for Alzheimer’s disease therapy.

An important factor in this progress has been the fact that the PRC is a major market for multinational healthcare companies. As a result, neurosurgical departments use state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment equipment, including Zeiss microscopes, Storz endoscopic systems и a unique intraoperative (during surgery) Xltec neuromonitoring system..

Artificial intelligence in Chinese medicine

AI is being used to solve many problems in modern medicine. Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS)The Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS), developed on the basis of medical archives of leading clinics, has recently appeared in China, but has already established itself as “a system that changes the world for the better”. It allows doctors to see a patient’s symptoms and the methods of care used, which speeds up the treatment process many times over.

Another challenge of current trends is the growing number of elderly people. According to China Development Foundation statistics, the number of aging population in China is constantly increasing, and in two decades the figure will grow by 30%. For this purpose, a special display based on computer vision and a voice assistant that gives health advice has been created. This will largely relieve medical personnel in hospitals and allow them to shift their attention to patients who really need urgent help.

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