A doctor from Israel has brought his family to Taiwan as he embarks on a PhD in acupuncture. Gil Elazar Ton is studying at China Medical University in Taichung, which is acclaimed for its programs in Chinese medicine and pharmacology. He’s deepening his knowledge of Chinese medicine and the Chinese language, and he’s also falling in love with Taiwan along the way. Pointing at acupuncture points on the human body, this 34-year-old from Israel explains each one in simple Chinese.A Chinese medicine doctor back home, he came to Taiwan to deepen his skills with a PhD in acupuncture.Gil Elazar TonIsraeli studentThis is the “hegu” – we in the west call it the fourth acupuncture point on the large intestine meridian. We don’t call it hegu. If you know the meaning of hegu, then you understand the meaning of this acupuncture point.In Israel, each of the acupuncture points is represented only by a number. Learning what Taiwanese practitioners call them has widened his knowledge of Chinese medicine and the Chinese language.Lee Yu-chenChina Medical UniversityLearning the Chinese names of the acupuncture points lets you link them directly with treatment and diagnosis. That opens up a better understanding of the acupuncture points’ significance.He’s become enchanted by Chinese medicine – and by Taiwan, too. He says that after getting his PhD, he might even stay in Taiwan, taking up work in teaching or research.
