A foreign TCM practitioner who gives himself acupuncture

In the Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, among the sea of white coats, I notice a doctor in hiking attire, with the remnants of dried earth still clinging to the tips of his shoes – a mosaic of nature’s soul. This particular doctor even does a handstand in the middle of the hospital café!

He is a TCM practitioner intern from Israel, who was showing us his calisthenics skills in the middle of our interview. His name is Or Zoref, and he has travelled all the way from his hometown to China to deepen his understanding of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) at Zhejiang Chinese Medical University. Growing up with parents who follow a holistic approach to life, when he was eight years old, a little boy at the time suffering from a common stomach ache, he was brought to Dr. Shlomi’s clinic, a Chinese acupuncturist in Israel. Ever since that fateful visit, Dr. Shlomi has become Or’s family doctor, and has also become a guiding lamppost in finding and pursuing his passion – Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Or had studied TCM for four years in Israel before coming to China.  And with each passing year as he studied, it became clear to him that this was his destiny. He describes TCM as his passion burning like a fire, “I really enjoy it, and I already want to go back to my country and start treating people”. While Or had already studied TCM for four years in Israel, he was struck by the differences in clinical application that stem from variations in diet, climate, and lifestyle between the two countries. After finishing his studies, he joined a special program where he could come to China for one year to do internship rotations at a hospital.

Or never knew any Chinese before coming to China. Yet, this does not hinder his love for practicing TCM. “None of my professors speak Chinese. We only recognize the words by pinyin. For example, if we see the word dàzǎo, we know it means red date, and we know its specific medicinal purposes”.
After arriving in China, despite the language gap and culture, Or enjoys his time spent in Hangzhou. TCM has allowed him to appreciate the universal importance of movement in the promotion of health. Whether in Israel or China, movement is a fundamental component of well-being – a principle well understood by TCM practitioners. Or enjoys doing calisthenics, hiking, yoga, and just exploring the natural landscapes of Hangzhou during his free time. “I usually hike around the mountains by the West Lake, or sometimes I go to the mountains by Xianghu Lake”. Often, he would wake up at 4 a.m. in the morning and go for a hike in the mountains, have his breakfast, and arrive in the hospital in time to start work – hence, he is often wearing hiking attire underneath his white coat.

During his hikes, Or carries a box of new needles for acupuncture and packs of Chinese medicine in case of an emergency. “If someone faints or has serious pain, I can use it on them”.  On a Sunday morning hike and yoga session last week, he brought along a pack of Chinese herbs that help improve his sleep, digestive system, as well as combat against fatigue.
In fact, one of TCM’s most renowned practice - acupuncture, is his favourite. “One month ago, I had the best experience in the acupuncture department, because you don’t need to know a lot of Chinese to understand what the doctors are doing. You just watch where the needles go, and you understand what acupuncture treatment the doctor is doing, and which parts of the patient’s body needs healing”.
Furthermore, Or even often does acupuncture on himself. “We all have our ups and downs in life. So, when I’m feeling down, I know I just need some needles, lie down, and relax for 30 minutes”.

TCM, with its roots sunk deep into the fertile soil of thousands of years, is a system of healing that sees the body not as a battleground of symptoms and cures, but as a delicate balance of energies, a microcosm of the universe. As a foreigner, the concept of TCM may sound taboo to those unfamiliar of it. When asked how Or would best introduce TCM to his friends and family, or other foreigners in general, he said, “TCM heals the person, not the illness”.
In this journey, he finds not just healing for others, but a profound sense of healing for himself. His Israeli roots anchor him, providing the stability of home, history, and identity. Yet, the philosophies of the East, with their emphasis on balance and harmony, are the wings that allow his spirit to soar. His love for an active lifestyle is further emphasised when he quoted a famous saying these days, “When we are young, we exchange our health for money. When we are old, we exchange money for our health. So, it is important that we do things we love and take care of ourselves even at a young age”.
Intern: Wu Jing
Editor: Fang Jingyi
Senior editor: Zhou Ji, Li Zheng
Source: Hangzhoufeel