Michael Regilio

So this gave rise to what they called the, quote, barefoot doctors, which were basically just farmers who had taken a crash course in TCM. Chairman Mao was happy as he was able to fulfill his promises. And in general, people were happy as they had medical care. And after a several centuries long break, TCM came roaring back.

So this gave rise to what they called the, quote, barefoot doctors, which were basically just farmers who had taken a crash course in TCM. Chairman Mao was happy as he was able to fulfill his promises. And in general, people were happy as they had medical care. And after a several centuries long break, TCM came roaring back.

So this gave rise to what they called the, quote, barefoot doctors, which were basically just farmers who had taken a crash course in TCM. Chairman Mao was happy as he was able to fulfill his promises. And in general, people were happy as they had medical care. And after a several centuries long break, TCM came roaring back.

Yeah. In fact, Mao himself was an avowed believer in Western medicine. His personal physician quotes him as saying, quote, even though I believe we should promote Chinese medicine, I personally do not believe in it. I do not take Chinese medicine.

Yeah. In fact, Mao himself was an avowed believer in Western medicine. His personal physician quotes him as saying, quote, even though I believe we should promote Chinese medicine, I personally do not believe in it. I do not take Chinese medicine.

Yeah. In fact, Mao himself was an avowed believer in Western medicine. His personal physician quotes him as saying, quote, even though I believe we should promote Chinese medicine, I personally do not believe in it. I do not take Chinese medicine.

Yeah, I was absolutely not going to guess Richard Nixon. What does he have to do with any of this? In 1972, Richard Nixon famously visited China. And as always, a press pool followed. In that press pool was James Reston of the New York Times, a political reporter. While there in China, Reston fell ill and needed an emergency appendectomy. Oof, ouch.

Yeah, I was absolutely not going to guess Richard Nixon. What does he have to do with any of this? In 1972, Richard Nixon famously visited China. And as always, a press pool followed. In that press pool was James Reston of the New York Times, a political reporter. While there in China, Reston fell ill and needed an emergency appendectomy. Oof, ouch.

Yeah, I was absolutely not going to guess Richard Nixon. What does he have to do with any of this? In 1972, Richard Nixon famously visited China. And as always, a press pool followed. In that press pool was James Reston of the New York Times, a political reporter. While there in China, Reston fell ill and needed an emergency appendectomy. Oof, ouch.

And meanwhile, there was an entire room full of anesthetics in the next room over, and it was just this stereotypical evil East German dentist. No, we have no anesthetic. Yeah. All right, fine. He really just didn't like me at all, I think, is what it came to. American, huh? No anesthetic. Sorry, we're out. All right.

And meanwhile, there was an entire room full of anesthetics in the next room over, and it was just this stereotypical evil East German dentist. No, we have no anesthetic. Yeah. All right, fine. He really just didn't like me at all, I think, is what it came to. American, huh? No anesthetic. Sorry, we're out. All right.

And meanwhile, there was an entire room full of anesthetics in the next room over, and it was just this stereotypical evil East German dentist. No, we have no anesthetic. Yeah. All right, fine. He really just didn't like me at all, I think, is what it came to. American, huh? No anesthetic. Sorry, we're out. All right.

Chinese doctors gave James Reston, who we were originally talking about, almost entirely Western medicine when they performed surgery on him. He had normal anesthesia, antibiotics, etc. But... As a little showcase for TCM, his post-surgery routine included acupuncture.

Chinese doctors gave James Reston, who we were originally talking about, almost entirely Western medicine when they performed surgery on him. He had normal anesthesia, antibiotics, etc. But... As a little showcase for TCM, his post-surgery routine included acupuncture.

Chinese doctors gave James Reston, who we were originally talking about, almost entirely Western medicine when they performed surgery on him. He had normal anesthesia, antibiotics, etc. But... As a little showcase for TCM, his post-surgery routine included acupuncture.

Reston, who, as I said, was just a political reporter, he had no medical training or an expertise to judge this, but he went back to America and he wrote a now-famous op-ed in the New York Times completely touting this amazing ancient procedure, acupuncture.

Reston, who, as I said, was just a political reporter, he had no medical training or an expertise to judge this, but he went back to America and he wrote a now-famous op-ed in the New York Times completely touting this amazing ancient procedure, acupuncture.

Reston, who, as I said, was just a political reporter, he had no medical training or an expertise to judge this, but he went back to America and he wrote a now-famous op-ed in the New York Times completely touting this amazing ancient procedure, acupuncture.

Even though Reston was clear in the op-ed about the fact that the acupuncture was just a post-procedure addition to his medical care, the rumor mill did what the rumor mill always does. And it churned out these fantastical stories here in the US about how only acupuncture was used and no Western medicine. And as a result, TCM in America became all the rage. Yeah. Which it remains.

Even though Reston was clear in the op-ed about the fact that the acupuncture was just a post-procedure addition to his medical care, the rumor mill did what the rumor mill always does. And it churned out these fantastical stories here in the US about how only acupuncture was used and no Western medicine. And as a result, TCM in America became all the rage. Yeah. Which it remains.