Asian Studies Program
La Trobe University
Victoria 3086
AUSTRALIA Tel: +61 3 9479 3596 Fax: +61 3 9479 1880 Email:cha@latrobe.edu.au
Asian Studies Program
Chinese Australia
Traditional Chinese medicine
Unit title:
Traditional Chinese medicine
Year level:
Middle secondary
Key learning areas:
Studies of society and environment
Health and physical education
Curriculum emphases:
From: Studies in Asia: A Statement for Australian Schools:
- World contributions by the people of Asia
Duration:
Two - three 50 minute lessons
Description:
Students read about Kwong Sue Duk and his role in introducing
traditional Chinese medicine to people in Australia. The passage
of the Chinese Medicine Registration Act 2000 through
the Parliament of Victoria is examined to demonstrate the
lasting significance of this contribution to our culture.
Teacher background material:
The following links provide an introduction and overview of
the topics covered in this unit:
- Brief
History of the Chinese in Australia on the Chinese Heritage
of Australian Federation website.
Descriptions of traditional Chinese medicine. -
'Chinese traditional herbal medicine' by Rebecca J. Frey
from the Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine on FindArticles
website
- 'East
meets West' and 'Acupuncture'
factsheets as part of the Good Medicine television programme
on the Nine Network Australia website
A brief outline of the role of Kwong Sue Duk in introducing
traditional Chinese medicine to people in Australia
-
'Chinese herbalist medicine' on the Harvest of Endurance
Scroll website
Student outcomes:
Students will:
- develop an appreciation of the long history of Traditional
Chinese Medicine (TCM)
- learn about its introduction into Australian society.
- recognise the influence of TCM on modern Australian society,
through seeing it regulated by the Parliament of Victoria.
- be able to find the address of a practitioner of TCM in
their state.
Materials required:
- Computer/s with internet access. Alternatively could use
a cached version of the site or print the relevant pages and
copy onto overheads or handouts.
- Photocopy of a map of Australia for students to mark locations
of Kwong's TCM practices.
Procedure: Introduction
In a teacher-led class discussion, ask the students if any
of them have heard of, experienced or had a family member
experience any TCM.
What is TCM?
Students work in pairs. Use the links below to find out about
TCM. Each pair writes a paragraph definition of TCM.
- 'East
meets West' and 'Acupuncture'
factsheets as part of the Good Medicine television programme
on the Nine Network Australia website
- 'Chinese
Herbal Medicine' on the Internet Health Library website.
Why would people use TCM?
Divide the class into small groups. Each group discusses the
question "Why would people use TCM?", then completes
the table below with reasons people may have for using TCM
rather than western medicine. Group leaders share their group's
thoughts with the rest of the class.
In Kwong's day
Today
Chinese Australians
European Australians
TCM is brought to Australia
- Read the story on 'Kwong
Sue Duk' on Chinese Heritage of Australian Federation
website.
- Make a timeline of Dr. Kwong's life. Mark on a map all the
places where he had TCM practices.
- Read 'Chinese
Herbalist Medicine' on the Harvest of Endurance Scroll
website. Suggest reasons why Kwong was so successful. (Great
need for health practitioners among pioneering communities,
remedies worked, Kwong was kind, generous)
- Read 'Herbalists'
on the Golden Threads website. Name three ingredients used
in TCM.
TCM today
Use the Yellow Pages
directory (hard copy or online version) to locate practitioners
of TCM in your state or local area. Select 'Health / Caring'
category, then select 'Alternative'. Try 'Acupuncture'and
'Herbalists' categories. How many are in your local area?
The Parliament of Victoria became the first jurisdiction
in the world (including China) to legislate to register the
profession of Chinese medicine, with the passing of the Chinese
Medicine Registration Act 2000. Links to the 'second reading
speeches' published on the Victorian State Parliament website
are found below. Ten Members of Parliament spoke on the bill.
Hong
Lim, M.P. - a Cambodian-born Chinese man, also spoke on
the Bill (scroll down the page until Mr Lim's speech appears).
According to Mr Lim, how much will the TCM industry be worth
over the next ten years?
Further information on Hong
Lim, M.P. can also be found on the Victorian Parliament
website.
Extension activities: 1. Guest speaker
Invite a practitioner of TCM to speak to the class
2. Excursion
Visit the local supermarket and/or pharmacy to see what herbal
remedies are readily available over the counter. Ask the store
keeper about the popularity of such products.
3. Excursion
Visit a Chinese herbalists shop. Search the yellow
pages for details.
