Image taken on March 2, 2017 shows a doctor applying a natural and traditional Chinese medicine treatment on a patient at the Gastroenterology Institute in Havana, Cuba. Over the last 20 years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been gaining ground in Cuba as a new way of easing ailments and treating chronic pains and diseases. (Xinhua/Joaquin Hernandez)
Over the last 20 years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been gaining ground in Cuba as a new way of easing ailments and treating chronic pains and diseases.
Cubans have since the 1990s benefited from TCM, whose ancient roots have deepened in the island's awareness without the need to conduct publicity campaigns.
GOOD TREATMENT EFFECTS ARE WALKING ADVERTISEMENTS
"I saw the effects in other patients. Therefore I went to a local clinic for treatment and the results have been very favorable," Marta Gonzalez told Xinhua.
At 77 years of age and diagnosed with osteoarthritis, Marta said that after a few courses of treatment using suction cups and moxibustion -- a therapy which involves burning dried mugwort on the body's particular points, her pains almost disappeared.
Just like her, Rigoberto Villalza came to Havana's Camilo Cienfuegos primary care center in search of a better quality of life free from years of sufferings from two herniated discs in his spinal cord.
"They treated me with ozone and acupuncture and I've noticed considerable relief. Also with these treatments, I am avoiding surgery, which is very traumatic," he noted.
In addition to targeting ailments associated with joint pains, Cuba applies traditional and natural medicine to other health conditions.
Diana Guillen has treated thousands of patients over the years and was one of the first TCM specialists on the Caribbean island.
"This rehab center is always full because favorable results have been obtained over time. We always make an initial diagnosis through an exhaustive questionnaire and a physical examination to determine the best treatment for each case," she said.
Although most of her patients are elderly, Guillen is also very satisfied with treating other conditions such as chronic asthma, gastric ulcer or high blood pressure with TCM.
"What we do is to raise the quality of life of the population and we start each treatment with that expectation. What fulfills us most as doctors is that results can be seen in a short time," she said.
In Cuba, family doctors are able to provide such treatments while polyclinics are mostly better equipped. A number of hospitals and research institutes have both TCM and specialized doctors to treat specific disorders with a range of therapies.
This is the case with the Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery and the Institute of Gastroenterology, both based in the capital Havana.
Working with the Institute of Gastroenterology, Mirna Quintero is a pioneer in treating digestive disorders with TCM.
"At the beginning, I was alone and started doing acupuncture and its related techniques, then years later others were introduced. Recently we have incorporated laser therapy and drug puncture," she said.
Currently, said Quintero, the institute's research protocols include treatments which have shown positive results and great acceptance by patients who are interested in such techniques previously unknown but praised today by many.
