Acupuncture and moxibustion, treatments of traditional Chinese medicine, have won increasing recognition throughout the world since they were inscribed on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2010. [Photo by He Dongping/Zhu Jun/For China Daily]A decade ago, when asked about popular pastimes, many people would say going to KTV or amusement parks. However, young people now spend their free time at health clubs, or getting tuina, or even a foot massage to experience traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practices, such as acupuncture and moxibustion.要说十年前流行的娱乐活动，很多人会提到KTV或游乐园。现在有很多年轻人喜欢在休息时间去“养生馆”，体验推拿、足底按摩、针灸、艾灸等传统中医疗法。

A 2023 survey conducted by China Youth Daily, involving 1,000 respondents in China, revealed that 93.3 percent of them had tried various TCM diagnostic and treatment methods.根据中国青年报2023年对1000名中国受访者进行的一项调查显示，93.3%的受访者尝试过各种中医诊断和治疗方法。

“Many young people in their 20s come to me for neck and back pains, as well as dry eye syndrome, all of which are usually associated with the elderly,” said Ma Huifang, a professor at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, who is also a TCM doctor. “I have witnessed such diseases becoming more common among a younger age group due to unhealthy lifestyles and increased pressure.”“很多20多岁的年轻人来找我治疗颈椎、背部疼痛以及干眼症，这些通常是老年人多发的症状。”北京中医药大学教授、中医师马医生说。“由于不健康的生活方式和压力的增加，一些以往在老年人群中多发的疾病已经越来越多地常见于青年人群。”

When faced with the choice between Western medicine and TCM, young people often prefer TCM therapies “due to its efficacy” for these diseases, according to Ma. The impact of TCM on young people’s lives is noteworthy, with many not only incorporating TCM practices into their daily lives, but also learning TCM skills to treat themselves and others.马医生说，相较于西医，年轻人往往更喜欢中医疗法，“因为它对这些疾病有功效”。中医对年轻人生活方式的影响值得关注，许多年轻人不仅将中医养生思路融入日常生活，还用学到的知识帮助他人。