From the Perspective of Master TCM Professor Dr. Hua Bing Wen
In the evolving field of integrative healthcare, Dr. Hua Bing Wen stands as a respected voice advocating for acupuncture’s rightful role in modern medicine. Classically trained as a physician in China and now a practicing acupuncturist and educator in Los Angeles, Dr. Wen draws from decades of clinical and academic experience to help shape the next generation of practitioners who are fluent in both traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western biomedicine.
Currently on faculty at both Yo San University and Emperor’s College, Dr. Wen teaches in the master’s and doctoral programs, where he emphasizes not only clinical competence but also professional readiness. Through mentorship, clinical training and curriculum development, he challenges students to become fluent in both the energetic language of Chinese medicine and the physiological frameworks of biomedicine.
Dr. Wen has been featured in multiple podcasts and interviews including: Qiological, Elevated Practice Podcast, and TCM Zone Continuing Education, to name a few. In a recent episode of Cura x Cura: TCM Mastery, titled “When East Meets West – The Medical Mashup That Could Change Everything,” Dr. Wen shared key principles for integrating acupuncture into mainstream medical discourse – while preserving the depth and coherence of TCM theory.
Key Principles Dr. Wen emphasizes
Medical bilingualism: Acupuncturists should be able to describe their work in terms of both meridians and mechanisms – explaining how acupuncture modulates inflammatory cytokines, enhances vagal tone or downregulates sympathetic nervous system activity.
Shared language without loss of meaning: A diagnosis like liver qi stagnation is internally consistent within Chinese medicine. However, when working in hospitals or interdisciplinary teams, practitioners should also be ready to discuss the role of the HPA axis, stress hormones and emotional regulation.
Engaging with evidence: Dr. Wen encourages practitioners to read research not to validate the medicine, but to participate in shaping the clinical conversation. Knowing the language of clinical trials, inflammation markers, and neurochemical pathways enhances legitimacy and collaboration.
Integration is a professional responsibility: Practicing in isolation may preserve purity, but it limits reach. Dr. Wen challenges colleagues to embrace integration not as compromise, but as a strategic expansion of acupuncture’s role in healthcare.
Classical Concepts, Modern Interpretation: Ying and Wei Qi
One of the most compelling parts of the conversation is Dr. Wen’s interpretation of ying qi and wei qi, classical TCM concepts often misunderstood or left untranslated in biomedical contexts. He explains:
- Ying Qi, the nutritive qi that flows within the vessels and nourishes the internal organs and tissues, can be correlated with blood perfusion, microcirculation and parasympathetic nervous system activity. It governs restorative functions like digestion, healing and sleep.
- Wei Qi, the protective qi that circulates at the surface, defending the body from external pathogens, aligns conceptually with the immune system, sympathetic tone and skin-barrier defense. It is the body’s readiness state – dynamic, responsive and alert.
In clinical terms, Dr. Wen uses this understanding to treat patients with autoimmune conditions, chronic fatigue and post-viral syndromes by considering both the regulation of wei qi (modulating immune hypersensitivity) and the support of ying qi (restoring systemic nourishment and repair).
These parallels allow acupuncturists to engage more deeply with medical teams by offering insights into regulatory dynamics like immune modulation, neurovascular coupling and stress resilience – all while honoring classical frameworks.
A Call to Evolve ... Together
Dr. Wen advocates for enhancing the visibility, respect and accessibility of TCM rather than Westernizing acupuncture. He speaks to fellow acupuncturists from experience and the humility of a lifelong student: If we want our medicine to thrive, we must build the skills to communicate across disciplines in today’s healthcare environment.
As an educator, Dr. Wen sees this as his most pressing task: to prepare practitioners not just to treat, but also to represent traditional Chinese medicine in a way that builds bridges, earns trust and opens doors!
