Society

Experts slam blind pursuit of health

By Qiu Bo (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-08-20 07:33

Beijing - The Chinese public's blind pursuit of health preservation has contributed to the success of certain "so-called health gurus", according to experts.

Li Yi, a Taoist priest who gained fame and wealth by helping his followers "preserve health", was recently accused of having affairs with his female disciples and forging his educational certificates.

Related readings:  Priest faulted for self-promotion

Before the accusations cropped up, Li's rather expensive health classes were extremely popular among the public.

One of Li's followers reported him to the Chongqing ethnic and religious affairs commission last Saturday, after which authorities placed the priest under investigation.

Tian Chenghua, a clinical professor of psychiatry at Peking University's No 6 Hospital, said health programs and philosophy classes for high-end elites are not categorically undesirable, as people's pursuit of good health is universal.

"But the public should be cautious of possible fraud," he said.

Zhang Zhigang, an expert in philosophy and a professor at Peking University, said people should first gather knowledge about health preservation before trying to emulate others.

Li Yi's case resembles the scandals of Zhang Wuben and Lin Guangchang, who were hailed as health gurus before they got busted.

In May, Zhang was accused of forging his academic background and duping the public by promoting his theories without any scientific basis.

Lin, labeled as the "godfather of detoxification" in Taiwan, was sentenced to two and a half years in jail in 2008 for coaxing cancer patients to take his pills rather than receive chemotherapy, leading to three deaths.

Yang Yuechao, vice-president of the People's Military Medical Press, said there were more than 500 publishers in China, of which 70 percent were publishing books on health preservation, or yangsheng in Chinese.

Nan Lin, a 58-year-old retired physician in Nanyang of Central China's Henan province, said: "Senior citizens are more interested in such information.

For those who dislike reading, Hunan TV launched a yangsheng talk show called "Talking Takes All" in 2009, which once ranked among the top three in ratings.

Some Internet users said they had gained massive knowledge from the show, which had Zhang Wuben and Li Yi as its guests before they were busted.

When the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television ordered the suspension of the show after Zhang Wuben's scandal was exposed in May, angry viewers demanded an apology from Hunan TV.

Deng Chunfang, 53, a resident of Cangzhou in Hebei province, said yangsheng has been a major habit in her life.

"I've no idea when some colleagues and I started caring about our health so much. But the TV programs, books and online information fulfilled our requirements," Deng said.

Li Yao contributed to this story.