SOFIA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Mitko Stankov, 52, starts his days with a Baduanjin Qigong exercise, which consists of a sequence of slow, relaxing movements. This traditional, low-intensity mind-body exercise has been practised for centuries by millions of Chinese people.
"I get started with Qigong every day," he said, "and I do it again before going to bed. I combine standard Qigong with Baduanjin. This is a 'secret course' my doctor advised me to follow."
Mitko got acquainted with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) 30 years ago. One of his friends, a judo athlete, got injured one day and had difficulty walking.
"Our doctors were trying to treat him, but he still couldn't kneel for a long time. There was a Chinese doctor in the neighborhood who practiced acupuncture, and my friend went to his clinic."
After two sets of treatments, "things got better and my friend recovered."
"That was the first time I heard about TCM," Mitko said, admitting that back then he had doubts about its therapeutic effects.
A decade down the road his stiff joints and sore muscles forced him to seek medical help.
Acupuncture combined with herbs eased his pain, and this experience converted Mitko to a believer in TCM. He began to read Chinese medicine books, which acquainted him with all kinds of herbal remedies.
By now, Mitko has become completely captivated by TCM's holistic approach.
"With this treatment, not just the specific ailments, but everything connected can be fixed. The body parts form a connected system," Mitko said.
In Bulgaria, the locals have been using herbal medicines for ages, no wonder their affinity to TCM.
Mitko found that although several herbs used in TCM are available in Bulgaria, such as mulberries, ginger or daisies, the locals are not necessarily aware of their medicinal uses. To help educate his compatriots, Mitko has launched a website where he introduces Chinese herbal medicines and their effects to his visitors.
"The traditional Chinese medicine has a long history," he said. "Practitioners had been treating many ailments before the modern medicine appeared." Enditem