The European Parliament (EP) on Tuesday held a lecture on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the first of its kind that ever took place in the European Union's legislative body.

The event was part of the EP's three-day special event marking the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year which falls on Feb. 14 this year.

The lecture was delivered by Li Feng, a professor from Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It attracted over 100 people from the parliament and other international organizations in Brussels.

Li introduced the TCM's basic theories and practices concerning health regimen, covering such topics as good sleep, appropriate exercises and balanced eating and drinking.

"The Yin and Yang theory is the key thought of TCM, which was developed in the past thousands of years." said Li.

"I think it is very hard for the audience to grasp the basics of the TCM, because it has undergone evolution for thousands of years. So I laid emphasis on letting them know the Chinese culture." he told Xinhua.

"I found it extremely interesting. Because professor Li Feng is as attractive as his CV (curriculum vitae), he is a very good lecturer. To meet Doctor Li Feng was extremely exciting," Mrs. Pia Severin Michel, a state employee of the EP told Xinhua.

"The global impressions on TCM are very positive. My family bases our life on the Chinese philosophy of life." she said.

Pedno Chaves, a European Commission staffer responsible for educational affairs, noted the high effectiveness of acupuncture in treating diseases.

"I felt very tired and couldn't sleep three years ago, but after two months of acupuncture at that time, I found I was full of energy. So I do believe in TCM," he told Xinhua.

At Tuesday's opening ceremony of the event marking the Chinese New Year, a number of other traditional Chinese activities such as festive cooking, tea ceremony, calligraphy, brush painting, shadow boxing and martial arts were also staged.

The event will run through Thursday.

(Xinhua News Agency February 3, 2010)