“Chinese medicine refers to a broad range of medical practices sharing common theoretical concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years. These practices are a common part of medical care throughout East Asia but are considered alternative medicine in the Western world.”(Wikipedia)
Today’s proponents of traditional Chinese medicine seem to think that because it is old it is better. In reality, many of the theories on which it is based have been disproven by modern science. Others may not have been disproven, but they have not been “proven” to be effective in treating disease. I am amazed that rational people who would dismiss other ancient medical practices—voodoo, bloodletting, leeches, and trepanning, to name a few—are able to embrace medical practices based on the mysticism of an ancient culture. The theory in simplest terms on which Chinese medicine is based: Energy moves through meridians in the body, traveling to the organs. Illness results when this energy or “chi” is blocked. For healing to occur the flow of energy must be restored. Among the methods used to accomplish healing are cupping, qigong, moxtibustion, acupuncture, and various herbal remedies.
Medical education in most of China, until recent years, was inferior to medical education in Western countries. In fact, during the 1960s it was nearly non-existent. Admission to medical schools in the last decades of the 20th century required limited prior education. Some students had no more than a junior high education. Much of the curriculum was devoted to political ideology rather than rigorous medical training. However, doctors in the large cities were well trained and practiced conventional medicine.
Another interesting phenomenon peculiar to Chinese medicine was the institution of “barefoot doctors.” In 1968, in order to provide medical care to the largely rural population, farmers were trained to travel throughout their provinces giving basic care to the poor. Candidates were required to be high school graduates who then received three to six months training in a community hospital. The services they provided were basic and primarily preventive—first-aid for injuries, prenatal care, immunizations, childbirth, and health education. Because of the unavailability of many medications, they relied heavily on herbs and folk treatments. They were provided with a textbook, A Barefoot Doctor’s Manual, which gave instructions for the doctors when care in a modern facility was out of reach.
When the manual reached the Western hemisphere, “Chinese alternative medicine went from being a vague curiosity to being an all-out pop culture fad.”(Brian Dunning) People failed to realize that the information was written for lay “doctors” doing the best they could for a population that had no access to modern medicine or hospitals. The methods were not the first choice but better than nothing in less than ideal conditions.
If you are considering an alternative medicine for a life threatening disease like cancer, be sure you have all the facts. Natural doesn’t always mean better. Purge the poppycock.
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