Mao didn’t exactly invent TCM, but he popularized it as a pragmatic, yet cynical solution to the lack of proper medical care in the early days of the People’s Republic. Rather than spending millions of dollars (or rubles, as the case was then) to rapidly expand China’s medical system — which would have taken decades, anyway — Mao told the people that TCM was just as effective, if not better than Western medicine. So, acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage, and other traditional methods became the standard of health care. As China became more prosperous, especially after Zhou Enlai took office, Western medicine became more available and more popular. It is, after all, much more effective.

Today, every city or town has at least two hospitals, a Western medicine and a TCM unit. Likewise, there is a parallel system of doctors and pharmaceuticals. The young and more educated seek out Western doctors first, but still accept TCM if their parents or elders insist. As one example, a former student of mine, aged 23, has osteosarcoma and has undergone surgery and chemotherapy. In addition, she takes TCM concoctions at home, as prescribed by the family’s traditional doctor. She is quite sure the chemo will prolong her life; the TCM she only takes to avoid conflict with her family.

One of Mao’s many failures as a leader was popularizing TCM as the preferred method of treatment. Sadly, too many Westerners have also been hoodwinked into believing TCM is better than Western medicine.