"To be a doctor, practice with your heart." When I graduated from the university, my mother told me, "Here is my gift to you: if you want to be a doctor, practice with your heart, not only with your mind." At that time, I did not understand her words of wisdom, but now I have a better understanding what she meant.

I remember my first class in medical school was named after Sun Si Miao who lived during the Sui-Tang Dynasty. He remarked that when patients come for treatment, a sincere Chinese medical doctor cannot discriminate them by their wealth or social ranks, but should help them as their own family members. Patients should be treated the same way, no matter if they are rich or poor, whether they are beautiful or ugly, the Chinese medical doctor should use his or her natural heart and spirit to care for them as him or herself. For this reason, Traditional Chinese Medicine is a natural approach to healing, and the heart and spirit of people who practice this medicine should be one with nature.

Growing up I never dreamed of becoming a doctor. I was frightened by hospitals with their antiseptic smells and needles. I was a healthy girl and was seldom sick. Once in a while if I caught a cold or cough, my grandmother would give me a cup of ginger soup or tea, and cover me with heavy blankets so that I would sweat. The fever would just go away. "Ban Xia Lu" was one of my favorite cough syrups. I would take it even if there was nothing wrong; I just liked the taste.