VNC Event Report
Introduction and Opening
The session was opened by Lianne Baaij, explaining the goal of this event; exploring how traditional Chinese health principles continue to shape daily routines and wellbeing in contemporary China and how we can learn from this in the Netherlands.
She emphasized that in contemporary China, health is viewed as a proactive pursuit of balance, energy, and vitality rather than just the absence of disease. This is supported by national programs like Healthy China 2030, where traditional thinking and modern science complement each other.
The Chinese health concept offers a holistic perspective centered on the balance of Yin and Yang and the flow of Qi. In modern China, this is integrated into daily life through:
- Food: Seasonal choices such as warming ginger and lamb in winter, and cooling chrysanthemum or mung beans in summer. Cafés and wellness stores now offer herbal breads and drinks inspired by TCM as part of a modern lifestyle
- Movement: Practices like Tai Chi and Qigong are performed in parks and workplaces, now supported by apps for urban dwellers.
- Preventive Care: Herbs and acupuncture are used to maintain balance. TCM clinics handle over 1 billion patient visits annually, proving how embedded these practices are in daily life.
The program of the event was tailored to experience this firsthand: both theoretical explanations and interactive demonstrations. It aimed to inspire people to see health not only as the absence of illness, but as a dynamic balance that guides daily choices and enriches life.
On Qi, Yin, and Yang: Theoretical Foundations
Dianne Sommers clarified the fundamental concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine. She noted that while the Western perspective emphasizes ‘things’ (stable identities and categories), the Eastern perspective focuses on change, processes, and relations. Things are ‘knots’ in a moving stream; some transform very quickly, others so slow that it takes generations to know that they changed.
The Evolution of Qi
A fitting example of this perspective can be seen in the evolution of the character for Qi itself. During a timeframe of ages the character for Qi evolved from a simple symbol for ‘mist’ to a complex character with 23 definitions. It is often mistranslated as ‘energy’, but its meaning is closer to:
- Vital force
- Transformative movement
- Lived atmosphere
As Sommers noted: “Not everything has life, but nothing is inert.”
Yin and Yang
When Qi is the transforming vital force of the universe Yin and Yang are used to describe how this changing universe differentiates.These are not opposites but a unity in a dynamic cycle. Applying Yin-Yang logic shifts focus from diagnoses to restoring balance. Key takeaways included:
- Decline is part of renewal and overextension leads to reversal
- Rest is not weakness; Yin enables Yang
- Life has its own flow
- Embracing these concepts can reduce medical over-intervention and restore respect for natural limits.
Personal Journeys: Presentation by Fang Fang
Fang Fang shared how century-old practices transformed her life and that of her mother. After an accident, her mother suffered from depression and physical pain until she began practicing Tai Chi, ultimately for two hours daily. Fang Fang herself used TCM to recover from a six-month illness following COVID-19.
Her daily routine includes seasonal diets, meditation, and warm foot baths. Her core lessons for the audience were:
- You are the doctor of your own health
- Listen to your body and be aware of internal and external changes
- Small changes make a big difference in achieving balance.
Interactive Workshop: Movement and Tai Chi
Nancy Wong, Qigong instructor, explained the importance of the theory behind movement, as taught by Prof. Dr. Yan Kwai Leung. She distinguished between three versions of movement:
- TaiJiGong: Performed at slow speed to increase oxygen uptake and circulation
- TaiJiWu: Dance-like movements at medium speed for agility and flexibility
- TaiJiQuan: Fast-speed exercises intended for self-defense.
These movements evoke various and sometimes spontaneous reactions leading to self-healing. Nancy illustrated this with case studies where patients recovered from eczema, menstruation cramps, and weight issues. The session concluded with the Nine Joint Movements exercise.
Interactive Workshop: Nutrition
Lie Hoogenberk discussed the relationship between awareness, food, and health, noting how pleasure improves digestion while stress hinders it. And how she incorporates Chinese wisdom in her endeavours with the 5 Elements Food Theory and the Yin-Yang concept. She aims to balance health by cooking and eating foods that support the body systems and restore harmony.
The 5 Elements Food Theory connects food to the 5 elements (wood, fire, earth, metal and water) and links these to organs, colors, tastes, seasons.
Thinking in Yin – Yang qualities of food gives a spectrum between Yin as cooling and hydrating and Yang as warming and stimulating.
- Yin: cucumbers, leafy greens, tofu. Best eaten raw or lightly steamed to balance internal heat
- Yang: ginger, spices, onions, garlic). These are “hot” in thermal energy and promote activity.
- Neutral: Staple food like rice, potatoes, carrots, beans, and proteins like fish or eggs.
The presentation ended with a tasting of warm Chinese date tea and a snack.
Clinical Techniques: Acupuncture, Guasha, and Moxa
Three specialized therapies were presented:
- FSN Acupuncture: Grace Hu explained Floating Acupuncture (Fu’s Subcutaneous Needling). Developed by Dr. Zhonghua Fu, it uses a special needle inserted just under the skin to stimulate connective tissue, providing quick pain relief without deep muscle penetration.
- Guasha: Janske van Dun demonstrated scraping techniques using jade, rose quartz, and cow horn tools. This method breaks up blocked Qi and treats colds and headaches. The resulting skin redness typically heals within days.
Moxa Therapy: Shasha Liu presented Moxibustion, which involves burning the herb Artemisia vulgaris (dried for at least 3 years) on specific body points. It is used for chronic pain, depression, and even infertility.
Integration of Chinese health practices in the Netherlands; Interview with Cheng Liu
Cheng Liu, Chairman of SAMEDA and NBCG-Yi has extensive experience in the field of TCM regulations, both nationally and internationally. In this interview the professionalization of TCM in the Netherlands was discussed. Coming from a medical family – his father Wanli Liu was a pioneer of TCM in Arnhem – Cheng Liu works tirelessly to ensure TCM associations are recognized by Dutch health insurers. As a result so far the association for Chinese doctors is now recognized by all health insurers in the Netherlands.
Interview Highlights:
- Relevance: Acupuncture is the most relevant principle for the Netherlands due to its strong track record.
- Misconceptions: The biggest hurdle is the ‘alternative’ label, which falsely implies a lack of reliability.
- Barriers & Opportunities: Success is found in small steps, such as acupuncture being offered for pain relief at the Prinses Máxima Center and via Kanker.nl.
- Accessibility: Accessibility can be improved through cooperation between Western and Chinese medical doctors, smoothing the way for therapists and persistent promotional work by branch organizations.
Closing
The event was closed by Lianne Baaij on behalf of VNC, thanking the sponsor of this event, Qingbai Academy for Chinese Medicine, the speakers and audience. Baaij concluded that the content of the event to blend traditional wisdom and modern knowledge can inspire people to live healthy.
Healthy Living in China Trip
Announced was the next event about Healthy Living, a two week trip to China (10 – 24 October 2026), organised by VNC and DimSum. For more information look here. https://www.dim-sum.nl/china/rondreizen/gezond-leven-in-china-reis
