Our first meeting was in June 2023. As she tidied up the clinic, she said proudly, “This building is one of the few that wasn’t bombed during the war! We Chinese believe in Feng Shui, and the Feng Shui of this building must be very good to have escaped destruction. I believe that those who live here will also be very happy. Personally, I feel that this place is a real Feng Shui treasure. I’ve been working here for over thirty years and have always felt protected and incredibly lucky.”
Claudiusstrasse 3 is located on a quiet street surrounded by many old buildings that, like it, have miraculously survived the ravages of war. With its red brick and white exterior, decorative arches and tall, narrow windows, the building reflects the elegant architectural style of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Yet it blends harmoniously with the newer buildings around it, without any sense of dischord. Much like the acupuncture clinic that once operated here, the ancient art of Chinese medicine feels natural and balanced in this modern Western setting, a seamless coexistence of history and modernity.
This place was once Dr. Wu’s realm of healing. For those who had long suffered from pain with no cure, this was the place to find relief. She says, “I started working as a nurse when I was fourteen and I’ve been in the medical field for fifty years. I love this work very much.” Her teenage years coincided with China’s Cultural Revolution, a period of immense chaos and upheaval. According to her, it was a period of dramatic disorder and destruction, but it didn’t stop her from pursuing a career in medicine. After the Cultural Revolution, she resolutely continued on her medical path, which laid the foundation for her future medical career in Germany —something no one could take away from her.
As China began to open up, Dr. Wu seized the opportunity for Ausbildung (education) and came alone to West Berlin, a city divided by the Berlin Wall. There, she learned and adapted to the Western medical system while teaching Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) at the university. Despite the challenges of language and culture, Dr. Wu’s exceptional acupuncture skills helped heal countless patients, earning her the trust of both patients and colleagues. She says with a smile, “Many families have been coming here for treatment for generations.”
In 1999, the fall of the Berlin Wall brought hope and change. Dr. Wu witnessed the reunification of East and West Berlin and opened her own clinic in the Hansa district. She created a unique environment that combined TCM with Western medicine. She remarks, “The people who come to TCM often do so after exhausting all options with Western medicine. This place becomes their last hope.” Her clinic not only attracts many patients, but also led her to set up an acupuncture academy where she passed on her knowledge to more Western practitioners. In a way, Dr Wu’s acupuncture needles pierced through the barriers of borders and history. Her refined skills and gentle demeanor earned the trust of countless patients.
Dr. Wu’s story is steeped in historical turbulence, from China’s Cultural Revolution to the reunification of Berlin. Her journey, marked by cultural change and an unwavering dedication to her medical practice, exemplifies the power of cultural exchange and personal resilience. After more than thirty years of practising medicine in Berlin, Dr. Wu has decided to retire when the lease on her clinic expires. In her retirement, she plans to travel and write a memoir of her extraordinary life.
