A Thai medical student studying in China has found a professional calling in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), combining her family’s cultural connections with practical clinical training and hopes of bringing what she learns back to Thailand.

Salocha Techawanwanitchakorn, a graduate student specializing in acupuncture at Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, says her experience treating patients has strengthened her commitment to the centuries-old medical tradition.

Her journey reflects growing educational and cultural exchanges between China and Thailand, as more international students explore traditional Chinese medical practices.

A childhood connection with Chinese medicine

Salocha grew up around herbal shops in Bangkok’s Chinatown, where traditional Chinese remedies were part of everyday life. Her Chinese grandmother regularly purchased medicinal herbs, and the family often relied on traditional Chinese medicine for health care.

As a child, however, Salocha regarded the practice mainly as bitter herbal drinks and acupuncture needles. She did not fully understand its principles or the reasoning behind its treatments.

Her perspective began to change after she moved to Tianjin for high school. During a school visit to the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, she gained a closer look at how practitioners worked with patients.

The experience inspired her to pursue formal studies in TCM and eventually specialize in acupuncture.

Overcoming the challenges of learning acupuncture

The transition into traditional Chinese medicine was not easy. During her first year, concepts such as meridians and qi, commonly described in TCM as vital energy, were unfamiliar and difficult to understand.

Classical medical texts, many written using traditional Chinese characters, presented another challenge.

Salocha persisted and began studying acupuncture in her second year. Before treating patients, she practised on herself to understand the sensations associated with needling, including soreness, numbness and tingling.

This experience helped her appreciate the importance of making patients comfortable during treatment.

She also learned that acupuncture requires more than identifying a particular point on the body. Practitioners must adjust the angle and depth of needle insertion according to an individual’s physical characteristics and response.

Learning through real clinical experience

During her internship at the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Salocha began applying her classroom knowledge under the supervision of experienced practitioners.

One clinical experience proved particularly meaningful. While performing acupuncture on a patient with hemiplegia—a condition involving paralysis on one side of the body—she observed movement in the patient’s previously motionless leg.

The moment strengthened her belief that she had chosen the right field.

Her mentor also taught her that good medical practice requires attention not only to a disease but also to the individual experiencing it.

Salocha keeps a notebook in her white coat pocket, recording acupuncture points, prescriptions and important lessons in both Chinese and Thai. She considers practical experience essential to developing the sensitivity and technical skills required for treatment.

Building connections between China and Thailand

Her Thai background has also helped create warm connections with patients. Some initially mistake her accent for that of someone from southern China. When they discover she is Thai, they often greet her in Thai and express appreciation for her work.

The experience has demonstrated how medical education can also create opportunities for cultural exchange.

Salocha has noticed growing interest in traditional Chinese medicine in Thailand, where some hospitals have established TCM departments. She believes that her education in China can help strengthen awareness of the practice in her home country.

During a visit to Thailand, she used acupuncture on her sister, who was experiencing back pain, and introduced her mother to cupping therapy using equipment brought from China.

She has also incorporated some TCM-inspired habits into her daily routine, including drinking chrysanthemum tea.

Plans to take her knowledge home

Salocha is currently completing her clinical internship while preparing for China’s physician licensing examination. She hopes to remain in China initially to gain further clinical experience before returning to Thailand.

Her long-term ambition is to help more people in Thailand understand traditional Chinese medicine and its practices.

Her journey illustrates how international education can connect generations of cultural knowledge with modern professional training. It also highlights the role of students who move between countries in building links through healthcare, education and personal experience.

For Salocha, each clinical lesson represents another step toward a career that bridges her Thai roots and the traditional medical education she has received in China.