Female doctor keeps the "stream" of traditional Vietnamese medicine alive.

(Baohatinh.vn) - With over 30 years of dedication to the Ha Tinh Traditional Medicine Hospital, Distinguished Physician - Specialist Doctor II Bui Thi Mai Huong has successfully researched many projects, transforming indigenous medicinal plants into scientifically proven remedies.

In the preparation room of the Ha Tinh Traditional Medicine Hospital, the faint scent of medicinal herbs mingles with the heat from the pots of decoction. Amidst this distinctive atmosphere, Dr. Bui Thi Mai Huong (born in 1969) – Director of the Ha Tinh Traditional Medicine Hospital – patiently checks each medicinal ingredient. For her, this is not just a workplace, but also a place to preserve the "vein" of traditional medicine, the source of her research. And with her passion and responsibility, she is affectionately called by her colleagues "the guardian of the 'vein' of traditional Vietnamese medicine."

Distinguished physician Bui Thi Mai Huong - affectionately known by her colleagues as "the guardian of traditional Vietnamese medicine".

After graduating as a general practitioner from Thai Binh Medical University (in 1992) and working at the Thach Ha District Health Center (formerly), Dr. Bui Thi Mai Huong never imagined she would develop her career in the field of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine. Her opportunity arose in 1994 when she was transferred to the Ha Tinh Traditional Medicine Hospital. There, she encountered various medicinal herbs and studied numerous documents about the prescriptions of the renowned physician Hai Thuong Lan Ong, sparking her passion for Southern Vietnamese medicine. In particular, Hai Thuong Lan Ong's philosophy of "Southern medicine for Southern people" became her ideal and career goal.

Every day, traditional herbal remedies prepared by Dr. Bui Thi Mai Huong are brewed to treat inpatients at the hospital.

“Ha Tinh is a land of medicinal herbs, and I am very aware of that resource when I learn about the 300 traditional Vietnamese medicinal herbs that Hai Thuong Lan Ong discovered when he returned to his mother's hometown to practice medicine. When I switched to specializing in Traditional Chinese Medicine, I nurtured the aspiration to turn familiar medicinal plants from my garden, fence, and mountain corner into useful remedies for the community. For over 30 years, I have been dedicated to this profession, patiently following a path few choose: researching and applying traditional Vietnamese medicine in treating diseases. I am happy because this path is also fulfilling President Ho Chi Minh's ideology as well as the Party and State's policy of combining modern medicine with traditional medicine,” shared Dr. Bui Thi Mai Huong.

Dr. Bui Thi Mai Huong and her colleagues at a scientific conference on Hai Thuong Lan Ong held in Hung Yen to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the birth of the great physician (in 2024).

Colleagues will always remember the image of a female doctor who tirelessly traveled throughout the rural areas of Ha Tinh province, searching for native medicinal herbs, documenting their properties, conducting experiments, and then quietly spending hours in the laboratory analyzing their medicinal effects. This passion, responsibility, and dedication were embodied in three provincial-level scientific research projects, becoming a hallmark of Dr. Bui Thi Mai Huong's career.

These projects include "Blood Pressure Lowering" to support the treatment of hypertension (2017); "Liver Detoxification" to stabilize liver enzymes and protect the liver for patients (2020); and "TD-01" to support the treatment of type 2 diabetes (2024). The common point of all three projects is the utilization of local medicinal herbs to create remedies that are both accessible and effective, reducing the financial burden on patients.

Dr. Mai Huong shared: “Without scientific research, traditional Vietnamese medicine would remain merely folk experience. Only science can help traditional medicine stand firm. Therefore, every project I pursue is carried out seriously, adhering to evaluation and testing procedures, ensuring safety and widespread applicability.”

Doctor Bui Thi Mai Huong (in the middle) shares with her colleagues the effects of each ingredient in the herbal remedy she has successfully researched.

Despite her leadership role, Dr. Mai Huong has always maintained a warm and humble demeanor. Driven by her responsibility as the head of the province's leading traditional medicine hospital, Dr. Mai Huong prioritizes the development of ancient remedies. Amidst her busy schedule, she still dedicates time to guiding young doctors on how to utilize medicinal herbs and encourages them to boldly register new research topics. For her, inspiring the next generation to continue the journey of "using Vietnamese medicine to treat Vietnamese people" is just as important as the completed projects.

Strengthening scientific activities is one of the leadership principles aimed at developing medical examination and treatment work under the leadership of Meritorious Physician Bui Thi Mai Huong. Along with investing in upgrading modern medical equipment and machinery, scientific research activities have helped the hospital effectively combine modern medicine with traditional medicine. As a result, the prestige and standing of the Traditional Medicine Hospital have been enhanced. Annually, the hospital examines 14,000-16,000 people and treats 9,000-11,000 inpatients, exceeding the set plan by 200%-285%.

Along with investments in upgrading modern medical equipment and machinery, scientific research activities have helped the hospital effectively combine modern medicine with traditional medicine, attracting an increasing number of patients.

Dr. Bui Thi Mai Huong's quiet contributions have been recognized with numerous awards and prestigious titles, the most honorable of which is the title "Hai Thuong Lan Ong". However, for her, the greatest happiness remains the smiles of patients after successful treatment with traditional Vietnamese medicine, and the increasing number of patients who trust and choose to be inpatients at the hospital. This helps alleviate her work pressure and strengthens her belief in the path she has chosen.

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/nu-bac-sy-giu-mach-nam-duoc-post295383.html