Tonic for traditional Chinese medicine

Traditional medicine now has legal protection as well as increasing worldwide enthusiasm for its techniques.

Traditional Chinese medicine is a treasure of Chinese civilization. Through thousands of years of inheritance and development, the four traditional diagnosis methods－inspection, auscultation and olfaction, inquiry, and palpation－have been followed by practitioners for countless generations.

A woman receives a traditional ironing treatment at a traditional Chinese medicine hospital, named Shao Lin Tang, in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality. Ironing can treat conditions including dizziness, migraine and insomnia. (Photo/China Daily)

A report at the 19th CPC National Congress emphasized that China will carry out a comprehensive Healthy China initiative and "we will support both traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine, and ensure the preservation and development of traditional Chinese medicine."

Traditional Chinese medicine has played a major role in the prevention and treatment of common, frequently occurring, difficult and complicated diseases, as well as major epidemic outbreaks.

A woman receives a traditional massage at a clinic of traditional Chinese medicine in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality. (Photo/China Daily)

Through various forms of treatment, including herbal medicine, acupuncture, manipulation, massage, cupping, qigong and dietary therapy, traditional Chinese medicine balances yin and yang in patients' bodies to help them recover.

On July 1, China's first Law on Traditional Chinese Medicine was enacted. This is the first time that China has highlighted the important status of traditional Chinese medicine and put forward development plans and supportive measures from a legal aspect. The development of traditional Chinese medicine now has legal safeguards.

A patient receives acupuncture to treat facial numbness at a clinic of traditional Chinese medicine in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality. Chinese acupuncture was added to the United Nations World Intangible Heritage list in 2010. (Photo/China Daily)

Traditional Chinese medicine, which involves preventive treatment and has strengths and characteristics in preventing and treating modern diseases, is increasingly acknowledged and accepted by countries and medical communities worldwide.

With rapid economic development and the Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese people now enjoy better living standards and are much more aware of their health. All these factors provide new opportunities for the globalization and prosperity of traditional Chinese medicine.

Two women experience facial masks made of herbal medicines at Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality. (Photo/China Daily)

A patient receives electrical acupuncture therapy at Chongqing Cancer Hospital in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality. On the wall are images and instructions from famed ancient Chinese doctors, including Hua Tuo, Zhang Zhongjing, Li Shizhen and Sun Simiao. (Photo/China Daily)

An elderly woman receives acupuncture to treat his eye disease at a traditional Chinese medicine research institute in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality. (Photo/China Daily)

A patient receives moxibustion therapy at a traditional Chinese medicine hospital in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality. (Photo/China Daily)

Locals purchase healthy foods at a traditional Chinese medicine market in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality. (Photo/China Daily)

Diarra Boubacar, from Mali, takes the pulse of a patient at the traditional Chinese medicine hospital in the Xindu district of Chengdu in Southwest China's Sichuan province. Boubacar has been a TCM doctor for more than three decades. (Photo/China Daily)

TOWSON, Md. (AP) — Investigators in Baltimore County are looking into whether a shooting and related vehicle crash that left one person dead and nine injured Tuesday night are connected to a nearby homicide earlier this month.

Officials said all 10 of the victims were found inside a flipped SUV that burst into flames after crashing in front of a funeral home.

A service for Andrew Blessing had wrapped up just hours earlier Tuesday afternoon at a different facility several miles away. Blessing, 19, was shot to death Dec. 9 in the same suburban area north of Baltimore.

Detectives haven’t ruled out a potential connection between the two events, Baltimore County Police Chief Robert McCullough said at a news conference Wednesday afternoon. He had previously said that the funeral home appeared to be closed at the time of Tuesday’s shooting.

“At this point, nothing has been ruled out. We are taking a look at all serious crimes that occurred in that area,” he said.

Officials have emphasized that they believe the shooting was targeted and the people involved knew each other.

“We do not believe this was a random act of violence,” McCullough said.

The person who died was identified Wednesday as 26-year-old Charles Graham Jr., and those injured ranged in age from 14 to 27, according to police. Most are teenagers.

Some gunshots damaged the funeral home facade, and police received reports of gunshots in other locations as well, officials said. McCullough described the shooting as “an ongoing, rolling type of gun situation” that began several blocks away and ended outside the funeral home. The flaming vehicle was found on its side when police responded to reports of gunshots.

Eight of the surviving victims suffered gunshot wounds, officials said Wednesday.

“Right now, we haven’t confirmed that it’s gang related,” McCullough said. “We do know that there appears to be at least some rival individuals in this case. And we’re working to try to determine exactly what’s going on here.”

He said the people “may have known the individual Blessing and his family.”

An online obituary for Blessing says his family planned to gather for a visitation and funeral service late Tuesday afternoon. He left behind a daughter and many other relatives.

The shooting was reported around 7:15 p.m. Firefighters put out the vehicle fire and rendered aid to the victims while police began their investigation.

McCullough said detectives are working to get cooperation from victims and witnesses in the case. He said the department would boost patrols in the area, which doesn’t often experience violence.

“We will provide any and all resources to address the situation, to support the those who are working tirelessly to bring justice to those who committed these acts, and to make sure that our community both is safe and feels safe,” County Executive Johnny Olszewski said.

This story has corrected the location of Andrew Blessing’s funeral service.

This video image provided by WMAR shows Baltimore County Police Chief Robert McCullough talking to reporters near there scene where a shooting took place, Tuesday, Dec 17, 2024 in Towson, Md. (WMAR via AP)

This video image provided by WMAR shows police and firefighters barricading the crime scene where a shooting took place, Tuesday, Dec 17, 2024 in Towson, Md. (WMAR via AP)

Debris sits outside of a funeral home in Towson, Md., Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, a day after a shooting and a related fiery car crash. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/The Baltimore Sun via AP)