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ZHANG YALI, DIRECTOR OF ,,KINA MEDIKA“: By promoting traditional Chinese medicine in Montenegro we want to contribute to the preservation of health
Mrs. Zhang Yali, director of Specialist clinic ,,Kina Medika” in Podgorica, comes from the city of Baoding situated in China's Hebei province. Until the arrival in Montenegro in 2012, she dealt with healthcare, culture and housing in China and invested in many projects in these areas. Upon arrival in our country she launched three projects and opened company ,,CMTY” doo, Specialist clinic ,,Kina Medika” and International school of Montenegrin language for the Chinese people ,,Kina Montenegro”. In an interview for MNE magazin she says that she regards Montenegro as a beautiful country with an impressive mountain scenery, tucked beaches and rich history and tradition. She particularly appreciates the kindness, simplicity and sincerity of friendly Montenegrin people.
– Private Medical institution Specialist clinic for physical therapy ,,Kina Medika” was registered in 2014 in Podgorica, with the aim that all citizens of Montenegro are provided with unique opportunity to learn about traditional Chinese medicine, as well as thousands of years rich Chinese culture. ,,Kina Medika” employs highly qualified personnel with rich experience in the treatment, in order to provide reliable healthcare to the citizens of Montenegro. Commercial space of Specialist clinic ,,Kina Medika” has about 1000 square meters, while the interior, which is designed in the traditional Chinese style, exudes uniqueness and provides a feeling of warmth. In addition to acupuncture, glass cup method ,,ba guan”, a special type of massage ,,tui na”, the method of scraping ,,gua sha” and moxibustion doctors at the clinic ,,Kina Medika” provide treatment with Chinese herbs. There are more than 175 kinds of herbal teas at the clinic, which are prepared according to original recipes – says Mrs. Zhang Yali representing ,,Kina Medika”.
It is our honor and pleasure, she adds, that we can provide the people of Montenegro with good and quickly noticeable effects of treatment, affordable prices and treatment without adverse effects and thereby give our modest contribution to their health and well-being.
What do you insist on in diagnostics and treatments?
– In diagnostics, as well as treatment process, Chinese medicine emphasizes the ,,nurturing life”, the preservation of health and preventive measures for the removal of the apparent good health. ,,Nurturing life” refers to leading a healthy and long life, so preventive measures are exactly one of the most important ideas that the traditional Chinese medicine has given to humanity. The apparent good health can easily lead to tumor, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, respiratory or digestive tract diseases. All of them have a gradual and progressive course of development, so if at the very beginning they are manifested through apparent good health and if preventive treatment has started at that moment, the emergence of real disease can be effectively avoided. But people often neglect that. Some of the methods that are used in the treatment of apparent good health and some common diseases are acupuncture, massage ,,tui na”, ,,qi gong”, medical patches, teas for health preservation and ,,nurturing life”.
What are the main benefits of traditional Chinese medicine?
– Traditional Chinese medicine in theory represents a complete, unique and organic system. The emphasis is on the diagnosis ie. finding the cause of disease. Each patient is approached in a different way and each therapy is completely individual and unique. Chinese herbal medicines are most natural and the safest, so with rational use of rich natural resources, traditional Chinese medicine sees nature as best equipped pharmacy.
Chinese medicine has the advantage in therapeutic purposes. For many diseases, especially incurable ones, Chinese medicine helps, relieves pain and discomfort in a natural way. Chinese medicine is also important for maintaining good health. Regular drinking of Chinese teas particularly helps in achieving youthful look and longevity.
What is the basic difference between the traditional Chinese and official medicine?
– Greatest advantage of Western medicine is reflected in the rapid visible results and clear goals of treatment. Thanks to the advanced diagnostics, in most urgent cases official medicine offers effective treatment. A major drawback is a series of side effects and side effects of the treatment, as well as the acquisition of drug resistance. Traditional Chinese medicine has been around for about 3,000 years. Before the arrival of official Western medicine on Chinese soil, traditional medicine has helped the prosperity of Chinese nation and led to population growth. Over the centuries she connected science, philosophy, culture and other ethnic elements, which makes it truly unique in the world. Traditional Chinese medicine is based on the premise that illnesses occur if the balance between yin and yang in the body is disturbed and when this balance is re-established, the body will strengthen and disease will disappear. Yin and yang are mutually complementary opposites and contradictions that exist in all things, such as heaven and earth, male and female, cold and warm, full and empty, fire and water and the like. In the treatment of some of the methods of ancient Chinese medicine, the most important thing is to look for the causes of disease, and restore this balance between yin and yang in the human body. We believe that in the near future it will come to the merge of Chinese and Western medicine and the formation of a new medical system and concept, as well as that the Chinese medicine will provide a greater contribution in maintaining health to people around the world. Nowadays, people are increasingly advocating for the return to nature and healthy lifestyles, as well as the removal of chemicals that can bring many side effects and are therefore opting for some of the natural methods of treatment.
What is the most common type of health issues that patients come to you with?
– We mostly have patients with pain in the cervical, lumbar spine and extremities, followed by patients who suffer from hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, respiratory diseases, allergies, cancer, epilepsy, obesity, infertility and skin diseases.
How pleased are you with the level of promotion of traditional Chinese medicine in Montenegro and do you think that, perhaps, it may soon be part of the tourist offer in our country?
– It seems to me that Chinese medicine has not yet become a reality in Montenegro, to the extent it should. Montenegrin people find it interesting and hard to believe that a doctor can determine the patient's diagnosis and suggest treatment solely on the basis of testing the pulse and tongue, without a stethoscope, and other aids. Ecological aspect of traditional Chinese medicine, which is completely natural and has no negative impact on the individual and his environment, is also important to the Montenegrin citizens, so I believe that it takes more to promote this segment.
As far as health tourism is concerned, it is becoming more popular around the world and I am sure that our Montenegrin partners recognize its importance and that they will enrich the tourist offer of Montenegro with Chinese medicine as well, which will surely make it even more unique and attractive destination.
What are the projects you are planning to realize in the coming period?
– With great support of the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Montenegro, major investment is planned in the municipality of Niksic. The project is the planting and processing of Chinese medical herbs, as well as the expansion of our services outside Podgorica, so that as many citizens of Montenegro have the opportunity to use the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine.
In the coming period we are also planning the signing of Cooperation agreement in the field of medical tourism with a reputable travel agency Fly Montenegro.
V.T.
Photo: B. Šekularac
