Happy International Women’s Day! This day, when we celebrate women around the world, I thought I’d reflect back to pay tribute to one woman who brought ancient knowledge from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) into today’s modern, scientific world.

In 2015, Tu Youyou became the first Chinese woman to receive a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Her groundbreaking discovery of artemisinin — derived from Traditional Chinese Medicine — revolutionized malaria treatment and has saved millions of lives worldwide.

International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate the women who have shaped our world, not only through visibility and leadership, but through perseverance, humility, and devotion to others. Few stories reflect this more beautifully than that of Tu Youyou, the scientist whose groundbreaking work, rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has saved millions of lives worldwide.

Born in China in 1930, Tu Youyou was trained in both pharmaceutical science and traditional Chinese medicine for researchers. In the 1960s, during a time of crisis due to drug-resistant malaria, she was appointed to a secret research project seeking new treatments. Rather than relying solely on modern laboratory methods, Tu turned to the ancient wisdom of TCM.

She meticulously studied centuries-old herbal formulas and clinical records. One passage from a 4th-century medical text describing the use of qing hao (Artemisia annua) for intermittent fevers caught her attention. Instead of dismissing this ancient knowledge as outdated, she approached it with curiosity and respect. By carefully re-examining the extraction process described in the original text, she and her team successfully isolated artemisinin, now one of the most effective antimalarial treatments in the world.

“Artemisinin… is a true gift from old Chinese medicine. But this is not the only instance in which the wisdom of Chinese medicine has borne fruit.”

–Tu Youyou

Her discovery has saved millions of lives, particularly in developing regions where malaria remains a major threat. Yet what stands out most is not just the scientific achievement. It is the spirit behind it.

Tu Youyou’s work was not driven by fame, prestige, or personal recognition. In fact, for many years she remained relatively unknown outside scientific circles. Her motivation was finding a solution to relieve suffering. That devotion to others is reflected poetically in her name.

Her name carries layered meaning. Her given name, Youyou, was given to her by her father, based on a famous ancient poem about the sound a deer makes when it is eating this very same plant! No wonder her later reading about this plant made her stop to investigate it further. Additionally, in French, “tu” means “you.” In English, her name echoes “you” twice. It is a beautiful coincidence: “You, You.” A life oriented toward others. A career defined by service to you and you again. Her name seems to amplify the very essence of her work—dedicated not to self, but to humanity.

The Power of Chinese Medicine’s Ancient Knowledge

Her achievement also stands as a powerful affirmation of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Tu did not abandon ancient knowledge in favour of modern science. She bridged them by demonstrating that TCM is not merely historical tradition, but a sophisticated, empirical medical system with insights still relevant today. By paying careful attention to classical texts and applying rigorous research methods, she showed that ancient wisdom and modern science are not opposites—they are partners.

For women in medicine, research, and leadership, her story carries particular resonance. She worked in a male-dominated scientific world. She navigated political upheaval. She persisted through failed trials and setbacks. And she remained steady in her commitment to the greater good.

On this International Women’s Day, Tu Youyou reminds us that leadership does not always shout. Sometimes it studies quietly. It reads deeply. It honours tradition. It serves consistently. It places the wellbeing of others first.

In celebrating her, we celebrate not only a remarkable woman, but also the enduring value of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the profound impact of knowledge passed down through generations.

Her name says it simply: You. You. You.

A life in service to others—multiplied.