Seven decades of Inner Mongolia: China’s development through our eyes (3)

“Generally considered to date back to the time of Genghis Khan (1162-1227, founder of the Mongol Empire), TMM is now stepping out of a relatively small circle of practitioners to reach more people.” [Photo by Tanja Herko]

Bayanmandula, 63, born in 1942, retired professor of traditional Mongolian medicine (TMM)

Born into a Mongolian family, Bayanmandula started to grow a keen interest in TMM when he was a child. When China's national college entrance exam, the gaokao, resumed in 1977, Bayanmandula took the exam and was admitted to the Inner Mongolia Medical University, becoming one of China's first university students to major in TMM. Ever since, he has dedicated his life to traditional medical practices.

After decades of hard work, Bayanmandula and his colleagues have successfully conducted over 300 TMM research programs, earning 15 patents for medical innovation, while two traditional Mongolian medicines have been approved for clinical use. Every year, over 1,100 domestic and foreign students come to study TMM, many of whom go on to become professional TMM physicians.

For more stories about Bayanmandula: Revival of traditional Mongolian medicine: a combination of old and new