From Aug 8 to 10, a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) night market took place at Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (LNUTCM) in Shenyang, Northeast China's Liaoning province.

A foreign face stood out at the market. He was deeply engrossed in making hawthorn balls, a traditional Chinese remedy for boosting appetite and digestion.

"Even though I've studied TCM for years, this is my first time actually making a medicinal formula with my own hands," said Liu Bao Oscar, a 26-year-old Hungarian student at LNUTCM.

Liu's journey from Hungary to LNUTCM was not just academic but also personal.

As a child, Liu often struggled with digestive issues — a weak stomach and frequent diarrhea — and Western medicine offered little relief. "It cast a shadow over my childhood," he said.

So, Liu's father, a graduate of LNUTCM, turned to his own training. He applied traditional Chinese medicinal patches to Liu's belly button, where the Shenque acupuncture point is located. In a matter of months, Liu's condition improved significantly.

"At the time, it seemed almost magical," Liu recalled. "How could something so different from Western medicine be so effective? I had to understand it."

In 2019, driven by both a love for the ancient practice and admiration for his father, Liu left Hungary for China. "I knew I had to come to the source to truly learn," he said.

During his studies, Liu's understanding of TCM broadened and deepened. He learned that the patches his father used contained herbs believed to have warming effects, perfectly suited to his cold-induced digestive issues, and that the proximity of the Shenque acupuncture point to the digestive organs allows the medicine to be absorbed more effectively.

"It all made sense once I understood the theory," he said. "It's not magic — it's science."

This realization marked a turning point for Liu. He began applying what he had learned to his own condition.

Diagnosed with spleen deficiency, Liu tried to create a personalized remedy by experimenting with different combinations and adjusting the formula based on his understanding of TCM principles.