Beijing's first Taoist health clinic opened Tuesday at White Cloud Temple, the only extant Taoist temple in the Chinese capital.

Three Taoists with practitioners' permits and ten herbalists will receive patients and provide them with traditional Chinese herbal medicines, Taoist regimens and acupuncture.

On the first and fifteenth days of each lunar month, the clinic will offer free or reduced-price services to the poor.

The clinic includes internal medicine, dermatology and acupuncture departments.

Taoist health regimens are closely connected with traditional herbal medicines and qigong. They are based on the principle that all humanity is part of the natural environment and that health or balance can only be achieved when one follows the natural law, adapting to changes and the surrounding environment.

"There is an old saying that nine out of ten Taoists are doctors," said Li Yulin, a practitioner at White Cloud Temple.

"Taoist clinics are rare now in China and will surely benefit the people while helping to promote Taoist culture," said Secretary-General Yuan Bingdong of the Chinese Taoist Association.

(People's Daily, China.org.cn April 28, 2004)