Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine

The Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a first-level clinical department at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University. It is recognized as a National TCM Clinical Demonstration Unit in General Hospitals, a Guangdong Provincial Key TCM Specialty for Geriatric Diseases, a member unit of the Southern Integrative Medicine Alliance for Geriatric Disease Prevention and Treatment, and a National Clinical Drug Trial Base.
The discipline leader, Professor Li Jianjun, currently holds several positions, including Vice Chair of the Sub-health Professional Committee of the Guangdong Association of Integrative Medicine, Vice Chair of the Natural Therapy Professional Committee of the Guangdong Association of Integrative Medicine, and Vice Chair of the Guangdong Cancer Rehabilitation Society. He also serves as an editorial board member for journals such as Journal of Chinese Medicinal Materials and Global Traditional Chinese Medicine.
The Department of TCM consists of an Integrative Medicine Inpatient Ward, a TCM Internal Medicine Outpatient Clinic, a TCM Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, and a TCM Orthopedics Department. The current staff includes 1 professor, 5 associate professors, 5 master's supervisors, 11 attending physicians, and 5 resident physicians. Among them, there is 1 postdoctoral researcher, 11 individuals with (or pursuing) doctoral degrees, and 5 with master's degrees. The department is characterized by a broad integrative approach combined with focused subspecialties. The Integrative Medicine Ward and TCM Outpatient Clinic cover the clinical and research work of integrative medicine in areas such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, malignant tumors, geriatric diseases, respiratory system diseases, various complex gynecological disorders, infertility, and critical illnesses. The Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department employs acupuncture and herbal medicine to treat various types of pain, rehabilitation for cerebrovascular diseases, recovery from nerve injuries, pruritus and immune-related inflammation, menstrual regulation and fertility support, digestive system disorders, and comprehensive care for patients post-cancer surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy. The Orthopedics Department specializes in manual therapies and integrative approaches for treating cervical, shoulder, lumbar, leg, and knee pain caused by spinal conditions and related disorders, as well as fractures, dislocations, and soft tissue injuries resulting from trauma. The Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine upholds TCM culture, promotes its unique strengths, adheres to the integration of Chinese and Western medicine, continuously innovates, refines compassionate skills, and safeguards the physical and mental health of patients.
The department is also designated as a Guangdong Provincial "13th Five-Year Plan" Key Specialty by the Guangdong Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a member unit of the Southern Integrative Medicine Alliance for Geriatric Disease Prevention and Treatment, a National TCM Work Demonstration Unit in General Hospitals, the Vice Chair Unit of the Sub-health Professional Committee of the Guangdong Association of Integrative Medicine, the Vice Chair Unit of the Guangdong Cancer Rehabilitation Society, and the Vice Chair Unit of the Natural Therapy Professional Committee of the Guangdong Association of Integrative Medicine.

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Featured Medical Technology

I.Specialized Medical Services of the Integrative Medicine Inpatient Ward
Three research teams have been established focusing on diseases such as heart failure, stroke, dementia, and malignant tumors:
1.Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases Research Team: Investigates the genetics of blood stasis syndrome in elderly patients with hypertension and coronary heart disease from an integrative medicine perspective. Advocates the academic concept of simultaneous treatment of the heart and kidneys, and balancing yin and yang to treat geriatric heart failure.
2.Malignant Tumor Research Team: Utilizes Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to improve the quality of life for cancer patients, prolong survival time, and reduce recurrence rates.
3.Geriatric Diseases Research Team: Researches the application of the proven TCM formula "Naohuandan" (Brain-Returning Elixir), which is designed to tonify the kidneys, replenish essence, promote blood circulation, remove meridian obstructions, clear phlegm, and open the orifices, for the treatment of dementia in the elderly.
II. Specialized Medical Services of the TCM Internal Medicine Outpatient Clinic
The TCM outpatient clinics at both the North Campus and South Campus offer specialized consultations for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, malignant tumors, geriatric diseases, respiratory system diseases, gynecological disorders and infertility, TCM rheumatology, TCM sleep disorders, TCM diabetes, preventive treatment focusing on spleen and stomach health, and TCM digestive disorders. Emphasizing the integration of Chinese and Western medicine, internal and external treatments, and prevention with cure, the clinics actively explore traditional TCM therapeutic methods. Beyond internal administration of herbal decoctions, treatments such as meridian frequency conduction therapy are employed to regulate yin and yang, reinforce healthy qi to eliminate pathogenic factors, and promote the recovery of bodily functions.
III. Specialized Medical Services of the Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department
The Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department steadfastly upholds TCM traditions and inherits the distinctive techniques of senior master acupuncturists. These include acupuncture, moxibustion, warm needling, cupping, and blood-letting cupping. The department has also expanded its repertoire to incorporate modern therapies such as electroacupuncture, blade needle, fire needle, floating needle, abdominal acupuncture, pestle needle, ear acupuncture, scalp acupuncture, acupoint injection, Governor Vessel moxibustion, acupoint application, and acupoint catgut embedding. The range of common and complex diseases treated spans all specialty areas of the hospital. Particularly notable clinical efficacy has been achieved in treating neck, shoulder, lower back, and leg pain; rhinitis and asthma; stroke; facial paralysis; neuralgia; insomnia; gastrointestinal dysfunction; simple obesity; ovarian dysfunction; skin immune disorders; and male and female reproductive system diseases.
IV. Specialized Medical Services of the TCM Orthopedics Department
TCM massage therapy works by correcting anatomical misalignments, altering relevant system functions, and adjusting biological information. It possesses functions such as relaxing tendons and activating collaterals, regulating sinews, bone-setting, and promoting blood circulation to resolve stasis. The department employs massage therapy to treat conditions including lumbar disc herniation, lumbar spondylolisthesis, third lumbar transverse process syndrome, lumbar muscle strain, lumbar myofascitis, lumbodorsal muscle rheumatism, piriformis syndrome, hyperostosis, sciatica, knee synovitis, cervical spondylosis, frozen shoulder, anterior scalene syndrome, as well as dislocations, misalignments of various joints, and adhesions of soft tissues and tendons.

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Scientific Research Results

The Department of TCM is a key component of the TCM Key Specialty designated by the Guangdong Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
The department is responsible for delivering theoretical courses and clinical instruction in both Chinese and English for subjects such as Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture and Moxibustion, and Basic Theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Sun Yat-sen University. Concurrently, it leads two research projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and four projects supported by the Provincial Natural Science Foundation, in addition to several other research initiatives under the Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Plan, teaching reform programs, and projects from the Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The department has published over 60 research articles, including SCI-indexed papers and high-quality Chinese publications. It is also recognized as a National Clinical Drug Trial Base.
The department places a strong emphasis on talent development. Faculty members have been invited and dispatched on multiple occasions for advanced training and academic exchanges both domestically and internationally, which has effectively fostered the sustainable and positive growth of the department.

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