Or working in the Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Photo provided to Hangzhoufeel
Or gives himself acupuncture. Photo provided to Hangzhoufeel
Story
By Wu Jing
In the Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, amidst the sea of white coats, I noticed a doctor in hiking attire, with remnants of dried earth still clinging to the tips of his shoes--a mosaic of nature’s soul. What’s more, this doctor even performed a handstand in the middle of the hospital café!
He is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner intern from Israel, demonstrating his calisthenics skills during our interview. His name is Or Zoref, and he has traveled from his hometown to China to deepen his understanding of TCM at Zhejiang Chinese Medical University.
Growing up with parents who followed a holistic approach to life, Or, at the age of eight and suffering from a common stomach ache, was brought to Dr. Shlomi’s clinic, a Chinese acupuncturist in Israel. Since that fateful visit, Dr. Shlomi has become Or’s family doctor and a guiding light in his pursuit of TCM.
Or studied TCM for four years in Israel before coming to China. With each passing year, it became clear to him that this was his destiny. He describes TCM as his passion, burning like a fire: “I really enjoy it, and I already want to go back to my country and start treating people.” While Or noticed the differences in clinical application due to variations in diet, climate, and lifestyle between Israel and China, after completing his studies, he joined a special program that enabled him to come to China for a one-year internship rotation at a hospital.
Or did not know or speak any Chinese before coming to China, yet this did not hinder his love for practicing TCM. “None of my professors speak Chinese. We only recognize the words by pinyin. For example, if we see the word dàzǎo, we know it means red date, and we know its specific medicinal purposes.”
After arriving in China, despite the language and cultural gap, Or enjoys his time in Hangzhou. TCM has allowed him to appreciate the universal importance of movement in promoting health. Whether in Israel or China, movement is a fundamental component of well-being--a principle well understood by TCM practitioners. Or enjoys doing calisthenics, hiking, yoga, and exploring the natural landscapes of Hangzhou during his free time. “I usually hike around the mountains by West Lake, or sometimes I go to the mountains by Xianghu Lake.” Often, he wakes up at 4 a.m. to hike in the mountains, have breakfast, and arrive at the hospital in time to start work--hence his appearance in hiking attire beneath his white coat.
During his hikes, Or carries a box of new needles for acupuncture and packs of Chinese medicine in case of an emergency. “If someone faints or has serious pain, I can use them.” On a Sunday morning hike and yoga session last week, he brought along a pack of Chinese herbs that help improve his sleep, digestive system, and combat fatigue.
In fact, one of TCM’s most renowned practices--acupuncture--is his favorite. “One month ago, I had the best experience in the acupuncture department because you don’t need to know a lot of Chinese to understand what the doctors are doing. You just watch where the needles go, and you understand what acupuncture treatment the doctor is performing and which parts of the patient’s body need healing.”
Or often performs acupuncture on himself. “We all have our ups and downs in life. So, when I’m feeling down, I know I just need some needles, lie down, and relax for 30 minutes.”
TCM, with its roots sunk deep into the fertile soil of thousands of years, is a system of healing that views the body not as a battleground of symptoms and cures, but as a delicate balance of energies, a microcosm of the universe. As a foreigner, the concept of TCM may sound taboo to those unfamiliar with it. When asked how he would best introduce TCM to his friends and family, or other foreigners in general, Or said, “TCM heals the person, not the illness.”
In this journey, he finds not just healing for others, but a profound sense of healing for himself. His Israeli roots anchor him, providing the stability of home, history, and identity. Yet, the philosophies of the East, with their emphasis on balance and harmony, are the wings that allow his spirit to soar. His love for an active lifestyle is further emphasized when he quoted a Chinese saying: “When we are young, we exchange our health for money. When we are old, we exchange money for our health. So, it is important that we do things we love and take care of ourselves even at a young age.”