A NEW milestone in the China-Guyana medical partnership was attained following the recent inauguration of a specialised Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) metabolic disease clinic, which will focus on treating metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity.
The 21st China medical team to Guyana had officially inaugurated the specialised clinic at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
According to a release from the medical team, “This marks another significant step in China-Guyana TCM co-operation following the establishment of the Guyana TCM Centre in 2023, offering new treatment options for local patients suffering from high-incidence metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity.”
In response to the prevalence of local metabolic diseases, Dr Wei Jie and Dr Wei Haoyang from the TCM department swiftly completed preparations for the TCM Metabolic Disease Clinic.
The clinic integrates classic TCM external therapies such as acupoint catgut embedding, cupping and bean auricular acupressure, which provides patients with personalised diagnosis and treatment plans.
The clinic’s first patient was a diabetic weighing 260 pounds, who had persistently elevated fasting blood-glucose levels above 12 mmol/L.
According to TCM theory, the core pathogenesis of metabolic diseases primarily involves spleen-stomach dysfunction, internal accumulation of phlegm-dampness, and meridian obstruction.
The treatment involved catgut embedding at acupoints to strengthen the spleen, resolve dampness and unblock meridians. This was combined with auricular acupressure at points corresponding to the pancreas, spleen, stomach and hunger to regulate metabolic functions.
After one week of the combined protocol of acupuncture acupoint catgut embedding and bean auricular acupressure developed by Dr Wei Jie and Dr Wei Haoyang, the patient lost four pounds and achieved stable blood-glucose levels.
“This TCM treatment is very convenient. I only need to visit once a week, which doesn’t interfere with my daily life. Moreover, the results are remarkable. Not only has my weight decreased, but my energy levels have also improved significantly, and I no longer worry about blood-sugar fluctuations,” the patient said.
Since its opening, dozens of patients have received systematic treatment at the clinic, showing significant improvements in key indicators such as weight, blood glucose, and blood lipids.
Additionally, Li Huansong, leader of the Chinese medical team to Guyana, stated that TCM is a treasure of Chinese culture and the launch of this metabolic clinic not only promotes China’s traditional culture, but also addresses local diseases in Guyana.
