Preface

World traditional therapies are valuable assets handed down in the long history of human civilization，which has laid a foundation for the progress and development of modern medicine.Faith will move mountains，and it is our unshirkable responsibility to promote the inheritance and standardized development of world traditional therapies.In 2016，Demonstration Base for International Cooperation and Research on World Traditional Therapies set up three world traditional therapy training bases and three world traditional therapy practical bases，which innovated the distance learning model combining training and practice.In order to further explore the new mode of international cooperation in traditional medicine，cultivate an international team of inter-disciplinary talents and let more people know and benefit from traditional therapies，the Manual of Practical Technology for Traditional Therapy is specially compiled.

This book introduces 20 kinds of traditional therapies under 4 categories containing acupuncture，moxibustion，medicated bath and Tong therapy.During the writing process，we put the emphasis on scientificity and practicality of the contents.Therefore，this book can be used for the training of the students from TCM colleges and universities and medical professionals at home and abroad，and can also meet the learning needs of the world traditional medicine lovers.

Now，the acupuncture therapy and the moxibustion therapy are the two most commonly-used traditional therapies，which can be together called“Acupuncture and Moxibustion”.The story of the highly-skilled doctor Bian Que who treated corpse-like syncope disease of prince of the Guo state by the Acupuncture and Moxibustion described in the Records of the Grand Historian is well known.In 2010，United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization（UNESCO）has added“Acupuncture and moxibustion of traditional Chinese medicine”to its Representative List of The Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.Now，the acupuncture and moxibustion is gaining popularity all over the world.According to the statistics of the Acupuncture and Moxibustion of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China published by the Information Office of the State Council in October 2018，acupuncture and moxibustion of traditional Chinese medicine has spread to 183 countries and regions with 380，000 practitioners.According to the statistics of the World Health Organization，29 countries have established laws and regulations on world traditional medicine，and the acupuncture and moxibustion has entered the international medical system.

The medicated bath has distinct regional characteristics，and is not widely spread over a long period of time.However，it must be admitted that the medicated bath plays an important role in protecting public life and health and preventing and treating diseases.The 13th regular meeting of UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was held between November 26，2018 and December 1，2018 in the capital of Mauritius，Port Louis，and passed a resolution to add“Lum medicinal bathing of Sowa Rigpa，knowledge and practices concerning life，health and illness prevention and treatment among the Tibetan people in China”declared by China to UNESCO Representative List of The Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity，proving that the medicated bath is an integral part of the world traditional therapies.This book introduces 5 kinds of therapies including Tibetan medicated bath therapy，and we hope to promote the medicated bath to the world.

Tong therapy is an important part of the traditional medical heritage，and has many advantages such as rapid effect，small side effect and convenient treatment.The therapy not only can be used in hospital，but also in the family for selftreatment，which is a relatively widely-used traditional therapy.

The 20 therapies described in this book are the most representative traditional therapies.Not all traditional therapies are described here，and there are many methods that need to be discovered and inherited.It is hoped that this book can contribute to promoting the spread of world traditional therapies，enhancing the international influence and social recognition of TCM，standardizing treatment techniques，improving the professional level of doctors and the discrimination ability of the public，and eliminating some misunderstandings about traditional therapies.Due to limited academic level and professional capacity，omissions are unavoidable.So criticisms are welcomed from readers！

Editorial Board

January 2022