Literature review of Chinese culture - Research Paper Example

However, with the coming of the white missionaries, the idea of professional nursing came to bear and nursing as a career emerged and flourished by combining both western and eastern techniques. Nursing Education in China was based on the medical model and majority of the nurse trainees attended around two to four years of formal training, however, elements of Chinese culture significantly influenced the practice. In a study carried out in Hong Kong to determine the extent to which nurses used Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 80% of them admitted to having used at some point while over 90 said they had confidence in it.

The endorsement of nurses proves beyond doubt that TCM is still relevant and practical; in fact, in some instances it can prove to be more effective and progressive than conventional modern practices (Charlie et al., 2008). Among the most popular were, massage therapy, herbal medicine bone setting and aromatherapy, majority of registered nurses recommended the use of acupuncture or acupressure for patients who suffered from musculoskeletal disorders. According to Chinese beliefs, illness is caused by disharmony and imbalance within the patient and between them and the environment, thus the restoration of balance is a major concern of Chinese medical and nursing practice.

This is different from many of the western practices, where nursing as concerned with curing the apparent symptoms as opposed to the inner and outer factors that are indirectly contributive. Over the years, their medical practices have evolved and they are practiced alongside modern medicine, such include acupuncture, auriculotherapy, herbal medicine, cupping, guasha, moxibusti and other therapies intended to help the body relax and reconnect with nature and the natural environment (Lih-Mih, 2008).

Majority of the principles in Traditional Chinese Medicine