“What I eat in a day since I’ve become Chinese.” “How to be a Chinese baddie.” “You met me at a very Chinese time in my life.” While these sentences may seem strange, recently, I haven’t been able to escape them on social media. The newest internet infatuation seems to be traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and it is everywhere. From no cold drinks to savory breakfasts, Chinese culture has somehow become the newest fad among young non-Chinese people. But are people really appreciating the benefits of Chinese culture, or repeating a familiar pattern of cultural appropriation?
The Obession with chinese medicine
Stealing things from Asian culture, giving them a new name, and making them go viral is not a new phenomenon. This happens all the time, from food to beauty trends. Recently, Courtney Cook, a trending food influencer, made soy marinated eggs. All of a sudden, tons of videos were being made of white TikTokers claiming that they were trying one of Cook’s ‘weird foods’ and couldn’t believe it tasted good. This received mass backlash, and people had to be reminded that soy marinated eggs are eaten in many Asian cultures and have existed long before Courtney Cook brought them to people’s attention.
So, is the Chinese medicine trend doing the same thing, or actually educating people? Some articles have claimed that this new infatuation stems from disillusionment with the American health system. Additionally, others have said that the rise of AI has made us disconnected from being human, and connecting with traditional medicine counteracts this. TCM has been around for thousands of years and is highly connected to humanness and symbology, making it appealing to a younger generation that can’t escape technology.
In some ways, this new trend is a positive movement. It brings to people’s attention different forms of self-care and medical practices, celebrating Chinese culture. Overall, people are discussing these traditions in a very positive light and trying to get others to jump on the bandwagon.
On the other hand, to avoid appropriation, it is vital to educate both yourself and others about the lineage of these practices and the meanings behind them. Chinese creators have talked about how growing up, they would often be bullied for partaking in TCM, and now, when white people are partaking in it and enjoying it, it’s the next biggest thing.
educate, don’t appropriate
So, continue enjoying your warm tea and post-meal walks, but be mindful about taking the time to learn about where TCM comes from. After all, can something that has existed for so long and been so prevalent in Chinese culture really be considered ‘trendy’? Keep spreading these practices, but don’t forget to pass on the traditions and culture that come with them.