A 21-year-old Sierra Leonean university student, Ramatu Dumbuya, who had been troubled by recurrent back pain for 16 years with worsening symptoms for the past five years, and had sought no effective relief at multiple local hospitals, has achieved remarkable pain relief after just three sessions of Balance Acupuncture treatment by the Chinese medical team in Sierra Leone. She has returned to normal study and daily life, becoming a vivid example of China-Sierra Leone medical cooperation and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) benefiting local people overseas.
Ramatu has suffered from repeated back pain since the age of five. Her condition kept deteriorating over the past five years, with significantly elevated inflammatory markers. Oral painkillers failed to relieve her symptoms, severely disrupting her study and daily life. Thanks to a relative working as a Xinhua News Agency staff member in Sierra Leone, who knew well about the medical expertise of the Chinese medical team, she was referred to a China-aided medical institution for treatment.
Dr. Huang Xianzhe, Deputy Chief Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Chen Juan, Attending Radiologist, and Dr. Zhou Shengqiang, Deputy Chief Physician of the TCM Center, carried out a joint consultation. After fully ruling out tuberculosis, fractures and other conditions, they confirmed the diagnosis: hemivertebra deformity at D10, vertebral dysplasia of D9-D11 with local kyphotic deformity, and secondary chronic inflammation of surrounding soft tissues.
Through careful physical examination and in-depth TCM syndrome differentiation, combined with the patient’s uneven leg length and thick, greasy, and dry tongue coating, Dr. Zhou Shengqiang diagnosed the condition as phlegm-dampness transforming into heat and blocking the meridians, and decided to treat her with Balance Acupuncture.
Balance Acupuncture is a distinctive therapy integrating the holistic concept of TCM and modern biomechanics, with two core parts: postural balance and meridian balance. Postural balance targets external physical imbalance by stimulating tense and contracted muscles to correct abnormal posture. Meridian balance regulates internal zang-fu functions based on the five elements, zang-fu and meridian theories, treating both symptoms and root causes.
For Ramatu’s condition, Dr. Zhou adopted a precise treatment plan combining postural balance and meridian balance. For postural balance, he stimulated the right soleus, internal oblique abdominis, and rectus capitis posterior major to correct the mechanical imbalance caused by spinal deformity. For meridian balance, following the TCM theory that “the spleen governs dampness”, he selected Taibai, Zusanli and Xiaohai acupoints to resolve phlegm and eliminate dampness. Based on the TCM pathogenesis theory that “all pain, itching and sores pertain to the heart”, he chose Shaofu and Yangfu acupoints to clear heat, unblock collaterals and relieve pain.
After only three treatments, Ramatu’s severe back pain was significantly relieved, allowing her to resume normal activities and focus on her studies.
“I am truly grateful to the Chinese doctors. They have freed me from 16 years of suffering and given me back a normal life,” Ramatu said sincerely.
Since its operation, the Traditional Chinese Medicine Center at the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Hospital has continuously promoted appropriate TCM techniques such as acupuncture and tuina therapy for local residents, providing simple, affordable, and effective medical services. Across mountains and oceans, these tiny acupuncture needles not only relieve pain and suffering but also build a bridge of friendship between China and Africa, demonstrating the responsibility and commitment of China’s foreign medical assistance.
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