"I've been a nurse in a Canadian hospital for over 20 years, but now I've decided to dedicate myself fully to learning Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)!" After trying auricular therapy and thunder-fire moxibustion, Saralyn shared her brand-new life plan with a reporter from Yangcheng Evening News.

On March 10^th, the opening ceremony of the 2^nd "Chinese Bridge" Cultural Exchange Program for Canadian Students was held at Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. Twenty teachers and students from the Canadian College of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (CCATCM) will embark on a 14-day journey to explore TCM culture in six cities across Guangdong and Hunan provinces, immersing themselves in the unique charm of fine traditional Chinese culture and TCM.

"I'm so grateful to TCM! It changed me a lot," Holly told the Yangcheng Evening News. "Following TCM principles, I stop eating after 7 p.m. and I eat orange root vegetables to nourish my spleen and strengthen my stomach. I no longer eat any cold food, and I drink warm water. I actually do minimal exercise, just walking. But by changing my diet and applying TCM principles to what I eat, that's it — I've lost about 20 pounds."

Holly's daily life has also changed significantly. "Every morning when I wake up, the first thing I do is drink a glass of warm water," Holly told the reporter, easily naming various Chinese herbs. "I drink tea every day, and I add different herbs depending on my needs. For example, I use astragalus to strengthen lung qi, and I also like to use fennel seeds to help improve digestion."

"I’ve never seen such an advanced pharmacy! And it's a Chinese medicine pharmacy!" Saralyn, a nurse with over 20 years of experience working in Canadian hospitals, exclaimed to a reporter from Yangcheng Evening News after visiting the smart pharmacy at the Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. After experiencing various traditional therapies at the Acupuncture, Tuina & Rehabilitation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, she told the reporter, "I've decided to study TCM full-time. After completing my studies in acupuncture, I hope to become an acupuncturist and help community residents. What impresses me most about TCM is its holistic approach, not just focusing on a single symptom. I think this is something that modern Western medicine needs to learn most."

Emily, who graduated from the CCATCM in 2021, has been working in the field of TCM in Canada for about five years. "What impressed me most was a local patient who suffered from pain in many parts of her body, making even sitting difficult. After my acupuncture treatment, she can now sit and walk, and her life has basically returned to normal. I think this is a wonderful experience, being able to truly improve the health of local residents using TCM methods."

In recent days, the group members personally experienced a variety of distinctive TCM external therapies, including auricular therapy, acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion, and thunder-fire moxibustion. They also got hands-on experience in making moxa sticks.

为何这群加拿大人要组团来广州学中医？｜外国人学中医

“我在加拿大医院里当护士20多年了，但我决定投入全力来学中医！”在体验完耳穴疗法、雷火灸后，萨拉琳（Saralyn）认真地对羊城晚报记者分享自己的全新人生规划。

3月10日，第二届“汉语桥”加拿大学生文化交流团在广州中医药大学举行开营仪式，来自加拿大针灸中医学院的20名师生将在广东、湖南两省6城开展为期14天的中医药文化探索之旅，深度感受中华优秀传统文化与中医药的独特魅力。

“我真的太感谢中医了！中医是改变我很大的一件事。”霍莉（Holly）对羊城晚报记者说，“我按照中医养生的方式，在7点之后不再进食，吃橙色根茎类蔬菜来滋养脾脏，增强胃功能。我现在再也不吃任何冷食了，我喝的水也是温热的。实际上我只做了很少的运动，就是散步，但是我在饮食上做了改变，将中医的原则应用到饮食中，仅此而已，我就减掉了大约20磅。”

霍莉的日常生活，也发生了很大的改变。“每天早上醒来，我做的第一件事就是喝一杯温水。”霍莉熟练地对记者说起各种中药名称，“我每天都喝茶，还会根据自己的情况加入不同草药。比如我会用黄芪来增强肺气，我也喜欢用茴香籽来帮助改善消化。”

“我从来没见过这么先进的药房！而且它还是个中药房！”在广东省中医院参观体验完智慧药房，在加拿大医院里工作20多年的护士萨拉琳（Saralyn）对羊城晚报记者感叹；在广州中医药大学第一附属医院针推中心体验各种传统疗法后，她告诉记者：“我决定全职来读中医。当我完成中医针灸的学习后，我希望自己能成为一位针灸医生，帮助社区居民。中医的整体观念是让我最佩服的，不是只看到某个症状，我觉得这是西方现代医学最需要学习的一点。”

2021年就从加拿大针灸中医学院毕业的埃米莉（Emily），在加拿大从事中医工作已经有四五年了。“我印象最深的是一位当地患者，她全身多处疼痛，连坐都困难。经过我的针灸治疗后，她现在能坐能走，生活基本恢复正常。我觉得这是很棒的体验，能够运用中医药方法，真正地为当地居民健康服务。

连日来，团员们亲身体验耳穴综合疗法、针灸、拔罐、艾灸、雷火灸等中医药特色外治疗法，并亲手体验了艾条制作。

文、图｜记者 林清清 通讯员 广中宣
视频｜记者 林清清 实习生 彭文中
封面设计｜范英兰
翻译｜黄健新
审校｜曾敏