School of Traditional Chinese Medicine Recognized at International Conference

Published on July 10, 2025

The School of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM), proudly participated in the International Conference on AYUSH & Chinese Medicine, held from 5–6 July 2025 at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Malaysia. The event brought together scholars, practitioners, and students engaged in advancing traditional and complementary medicine.

A total of 35 participants from XMUM's School of TCM attended the event, including students and faculty member Dr. Muhammad Shahzad Aslam, who led the delegation and actively engaged in the conference sessions.

Two student-led research teams from the School of TCM, XMUM were selected for poster presentations. The first poster, titled "Hygiene, Safety and Professional Standards in Cupping and Malay Massage Therapy: Document Analysis of Malaysia Regulatory Framework", was presented by Zi Qing Chan, Mei Yun Ling, Zhi Wei Looi, Zhi Wei Ng, Muhammad Shahzad Aslam, and Chep Lee Lu Siang. The study analyzed Malaysia's T&CM Act using document analysis, uncovering gaps in hygiene enforcement and practitioner compliance. The research emphasized the importance of regulatory clarity, enhanced safety protocols, and more representative longitudinal studies.

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The second poster, titled "The Effectiveness of Acupuncture Combined with Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) on Post-Stroke Depression Patients: A Systematic Review on Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)", was presented by Elaine Chia, Fenson Law Yee Chao, Tan Wei Xiang, Tong Jia Ying, Muhammad Shahzad Aslam, and Chep Lee Lu Siang. The systematic review assessed RCTs and found that the combination therapy significantly improved depression outcomes and sleep quality in post-stroke patients.

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The team behind the first study received a certificate of appreciation from the conference organisers in recognition of their work.

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"We are proud of our students' dedication to evidence-based traditional medicine and their ability to address both clinical and policy-level gaps," said Dr. Muhammad Shahzad Aslam, the supervisor of both projects.