Newsletter No. 486

08 # 4 8 6 | 4 . 1 1 . 2 0 1 6 Photo by ISO Staff 口 談 實 錄 / V iva V oce 李宇銘博士 Dr. Lee Yu-ming • 中醫學院講師 Lecturer, School of Chinese Medicine • 「全仁中醫」創辦人 Founder of Chinese Medicine for All 從2000年開始在不同地方不斷進修中醫學，你有甚麼 體會？ 我在香港浸會大學修畢中醫學學士及碩士課程後，有感香港 的中醫課程以研習理論為主，2009年到北京中醫藥大學攻讀 中醫學博士課程，跟隨當地老師作三年臨床學習。我有幸遇 到不少良師，更覺中醫博大精深，故在2012年到中國中醫科 學院任博士後研究員，深入鑽研中醫經典理論。現時香港中 醫師的年齡中位數約六十歲，這是因為香港在1997年前，未 有正規中醫教育，97後也大多聘用內地中醫師、老師，但他們 現在大多已接近退休年齡。縱然修讀中醫學者漸多，但有經 驗又相對年輕的中醫師仍是少之又少。要促進中醫學在香港 的持續發展，並培育更多本地中醫人才，就要從我們這一代 做起，這也是支持我在中醫學中不斷尋求進步的主要原因。 為何創立「全仁中醫」？ 我在修讀碩士課程時曾帶領學生到菲律賓體驗當地文化，遇 上當地社區組織，負責人得悉我的中醫學背景後，立刻邀請 我合作舉辦義診。中藥不但價格廉宜，所需的針藥器材亦相 對簡便，實有利貧困地方的人民。回港後我便聯同一群志同 道合的年輕中醫師，成立「全仁中醫」這個慈善組織，旨在以 中醫學幫助及教育貧困地區的人民防治疾病。 何以選擇菲律賓為首個義診地點? 選擇菲律賓是當地對中醫已有一定認識，有些本地人甚至略 懂針灸技術。我們近年亦積極探索其他地區，現時「全仁中 醫」的義診團隊已踏足柬埔寨及泰緬邊界等地的窮鄉僻壤， 為更多有需要人士服務。 義診過程有何難忘個案？ 有一名三十六歲的女士，每逢晚上便會精神失常，喃喃自語， 但日間卻與常人無異，有村民認為她被邪靈附身，不敢接近。 細問得知她已有整整二十一年不能安穩入睡。我從沒接觸過 相關病症，但記得中醫經典《傷寒論》中有這種病情記載，故 使用書中藥方為其醫治。病人經中醫藥治療後，情況已大有 改善。 一年後，我們重返當地，特地到她家探訪。她的母親告訴我， 她過去一年病情沒有復發，能正常生活工作了。各種案例不 但提升醫師和學生的臨床水平，更為我們打下一支強心針。 我們希望可將義診服務推廣至更多地方，讓更多人認識及體 驗中醫藥的簡、便、效、廉。 你茹素多年，更是香港素食會主席，中醫學提倡素食嗎？ 中醫學沒有反對人吃肉，但的確比較支持素食的飲食方式。 選擇素食能預防不少疾病，中醫經典《黃帝內經》之中便記 載了不少吃肉帶來的健康和性情問題。唐代大醫孫思邈亦對 採用動物藥物如雞蛋極為謹慎（古代視雞蛋為藥物），非到 危急關頭不會使用。 你認為凡病皆與情志有關，可否分享一些保持身心健康 的妙法？ 中醫是身心靈合一的醫學，認為各種疾病都是與思想情緒有 關，治療不單可吃藥針灸，還有情志療法，例如透過與病人 對話為其解開鬱結，從而治理身體病症。保持身心健康的第 一步是「覺醒」，先要確切了解自己的問題所在，只有勇於面 對並接受自己的情志問題，願意作出改變，好好愛惜自己，內 心恢復平靜，身體才會健康。 You have been learning Chinese medicine in different places since 2000. What insights have you derived? I completed my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Chinese medicine at the Hong Kong Baptist University. As Hong Kong’s programmes are mainly theory based, I decided to apply in 2009 for PhD in Chinese internal medicine at the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, where I engaged in clinical practice with local teachers for three years. I was fortunate to have encountered many brilliant teachers. They enlightened and encouraged me to further explore traditional Chinese medicine. In 2012, I furthered my inquiries with a post-doctoral research at the Institute of Basic Theory of Chinese Medicine of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. The current median age of Chinese medicine practitioners in Hong Kong is around 60. The main reason is that Hong Kong had been recruiting mostly Chinese medicine practitioners from mainland China before 1997 and this segment is now approaching the retirement age. Although there has been an increase in the number of students studying Chinese medicine, young and experienced Chinese medicine practitioners are still in short supply in Hong Kong. Therefore, our generation would be the torchbearers to promote the sustainable development of traditional Chinese medicine and the nurturance of local talents. Why did you establish the ‘Chinese Medicine for All’? I once led some students on a cultural exploration trip to the Philippines when I was studying my master’s programme. During the trip, I chanced upon a local voluntary acupuncture event and was invited to help when the organizer knew of my Chinese medicine background. Chinese medicines are highly affordable and require only simple equipment for treatments, which is convenient for conducting medical consultations in less affluent places. When I returned to Hong Kong, I joined hands with a group of like-minded young Chinese medicine practitioners and founded a charity organization, ‘Chinese Medicine for All’. The organization strives to treat and prevent diseases among people living in poor areas with Chinese medicine. Why did you choose the Philippines as the first location for voluntary Chinese medical consultation? We chose the Philippines as the locals already had certain familiarity with Chinese medicine. Some of the locals even acquired the techniques of acupuncture. We are also actively exploring other areas to serve more people in need and have set foot on poor villages in regions such as Cambodia and the Thailand-Burma border. Could you share with us an unforgettable episode of voluntary consultation? I once encountered a 36-year-old patient. While being completely normal during the daytime, she would become mentally disturbed and keep talking to herself at night. The villagers thought she was possessed by evil spirits and turned away from her. Through our conversations, I realized the patient had not slept well for 21 years. I had not come across such a case before, but it reminded me of a similar example in Shanghan Lun , a traditional Chinese medical book. I treated her with reference to the prescriptions in the book, and the patient’s condition gradually improved after several sessions of acupunctures and medical treatments. I visited the same place after a year, and the patient’s mother told me she had not had any reoccurrence of the nighttime symptoms. All these successful cases not only enhance our clinical experiences, but also boost our confidence in promoting our voluntary medical sessions and the virtues of Chinese medicine—simplicity, convenience, effectiveness and affordability—to different regions around the world. You have been a vegetarian for many years and are the chairman of the Hong Kong Vegetarian Society. Does Chinese medicine promote this diet? Chinese medicine does not oppose meat-eating, but it does support vegetarian diets as they could prevent a wide range of diseases. According to Huangdi Neijing , a traditional Chinese medical treatise, meat-eating could have undesirable physical and mental consequences. Sun Simao, a renowned doctor in the Tang Dynasty, was also extremely cautious in the use of animal drugs such as eggs (eggs were treated as drugs in ancient times). You believe that all physical illnesses are related to mental issues. Would you share with us some tips in maintaining physical and mental wellness? The art of Chinese medicine concerns the interrelationship of mind and body. We believe that many physical illnesses originate from emotional issues. Apart from medical treatments such as acupuncture, there is also psychological therapy in Chinese medicine, in which physical illnesses could be cured through dialogues with patients and helping them to release pent-up frustrations. To maintain mental and physical wellness, you have to begin with understanding what your real problem is and then accepting and embracing your own emotions. It is only through knowing how to take care of yourself and achieving peace of mind that your body will be healthy.