Chinese Traditional Medicine takes roots in Northern America

LINK: http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2016-09/30/content_26946837.htm


The world's largest producer of products for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) opened stores this week in New York and California to capitalize on the growing interest in the alternative medicine practice. Founded in 1669 in Beijing, Tongrentang was appointed to provide medicine for the royal pharmacy of the imperial palace. Shares of the company began trading on the Hong Kong stock exchange in 2013."Tongrentang is a time-honored brand in China so most Chinese Americans, even second and third generation, will recognize our name," said Helen Wang, director of overseas investments for the company.

I am very proud to hear about this exciting news, since it was very hard to bring Chinese traditional medicines to the U.S according to the border and Custom's rules. Therefore, the traditional medicine was largely dominated by specific stores at Chinatown, making the market monopolistic and the price of these medicines were very high which causes a low demand of the market. Unlike American natural health store, these stores located on Madison Avenue in NYC as well as Vancouver, also adding to California Outlets in LA, San Francisco are providing health services like acupuncture and massage therapy. Those retail store locations are home to large size of Chinese community, however, this company also hopes to use acupuncture to motivate Americans to consider TCM. Since less Americans knew Chinese medicines before, this would be a proper time for TCM to attract more attention from the Americans.