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ACMA Publication Issue Jan 1, 2006
On Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM)
American Chinese Medicine Association (ACMA)
Background of Chinese Medicine Is Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) Experimental? CHM vs. Dietary Supplement Herbs
In the early stage of English translations of Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM), the terms TCM (stands for Traditional Chinese Medicine) and CM (stands for Chinese Medicine) were mixed together with CHM. Both TCM and CM were used to refer to CHM. This situation occurred because CHM is the major component of Chinese Medicine. Therefore, most people (patients, the public, and some medical professionals) simply use TCM and CM to refer to CHM in China. As a result, people usually regard that "TCM (CM) is CHM, and CHM is TCM (CM)" in China. Many English translations and publications follow above tradition and also use TCM and CM to refer to CHM. Therefore CHM is mixed with TCM and CM in many places around the world. Since TCM and CM have also been called Oriental medicine (OM), Asian medicine (AM), Eastern medicine (EM), etc. in America, CHM is mixed with OM, AM, and EM, etc. too in America. Due to above reason, currently both in China and in many other countries, the terms CHM, TCM, and CM are mixed together. However, rigorously speaking, CHM, TCM, and CM are not exactly the same. The distinctions and differences between these terms need to be clarified [1]. (1) TCM and CM are general terms for Chinese Medicine. They include CHM, acupuncture, moxibustion, tui na, an mo, zheng gu, cupping, qi gong, tai ji, gua sha, etc all branches of Chinese Medicine [2]. (2) There are some differences between TCM and CM. TCM emphasizes more on the traditional part of Chinese Medicine, while CM covers both traditional and contemporary Chinese Medicine. (3) Because CHM is the major branch of Chinese Medicine [2], many literatures simply use TCM to refer to CHM. However, for accuracy purpose, CHM should be used in most places when TCM is used. As to Oriental medicine (OM), Asian medicine (AM), Eastern medicine (EM), etc., they are synonyms of TCM or CM. Because Oriental medicine, Asian medicine, and Eastern medicine have caused many confusions to the public about Chinese Medicine (many people thought they are different from Chinese Medicine), these terms should be discontinued. More discussion on these terms can be found in On Chinese Medicine vs. Oriental/Asian/Eastern Medicine [3]. Background of Chinese Medicine Due to the long history of the practice of Chinese Medicine, it is very difficult to trace back to its origin. The earliest books available with established theory on Chinese Medicine were written more than two thousand years ago. Because books earlier than two thousand years ago were unable to be preserved, there might be earlier books containing established theory on Chinese Medicine that were unavailable now. Because Chinese Medicine was established through a long-term trial and error process, it took a very long time from the beginning of the practice of Chinese Medicine to the establishment of a complete theory. Therefore, it is generally estimated that the beginning of the practice of Chinese Medicine might start around hundreds of thousands or even million years ago [4]. During its long history, Chinese Medicine had established the world's first medical school and issued the world's first medical degree [5]. Chinese Medicine directly and indirectly influenced the development of many herbal medicines around the globe, including but not limited to the herbal medicines in Japan, Korea, Tibet, Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, etc. Through the Silk Road and other cultural exchanges, Chinese Medicine had been exported to Europe and other continents hundreds and thousands years ago, had been practiced in more than 100 countries around the world, and had influenced the development of many other herbal medicines in regions outside Asia. The influence of Chinese Medicine on other alternative medicines (including homeopathy, naturopathy, chiropractic, physical therapy, etc.) could be much more profound and significant than most people realize. Therefore, Chinese Medicine is in a leading position in the Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) family. Chinese Medicine together with other CAM developed under its influence serve the largest CAM patient population in the world. Just for Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) alone, there are millions and billions of CHM patients in the world now. As a result, Chinese Medicine has become a world medicine. Today, the term "Chinese Medicine" refers not only to the Chinese Medicine inside China, but also to the Chinese Medicine in other Asian countries, Europe, Africa, America, Australia, etc. more than 100 countries. The word "Chinese" in Chinese Medicine has lost its original regional or ethnic meaning, and has become an abstract term representing a world medicine. Is Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) Experimental? Some people think all Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM) are experimental. Therefore, they deem Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) to be experimental too. This, however, is a misunderstanding about CHM and has been proved to be very wrong. Let's look at the following facts. (1) Time Clinically, CHM has been practiced directly on human body for hundreds and thousands years, which is much longer than Western Medicine. Comparing with CHM, it is the Western Medicine that is primitive and experimental on many diseases. (2) Scale Through hundreds and thousands years of clinically practice, CHM has successfully treated millions and billions of patients. This number is much larger than the 300 or 500 clinical trials numbers required by FDA. Actually, the CHM's clinical number has surpassed all FDA approved clinical trial numbers combined. (3) Efficacy CHM efficacy has been proved through hundreds and thousands years of spreading of CHM practices from China to Asia, from Asia to Europe, Australia, America, Africa, etc. This growing popularity among patients around the world is the best testimonials for its efficacy. (4) Safety Because CHM is a natural medicine, it is much safer than Western Medicine. This has been proved from the hundreds and thousands years of practices too. (5) Recognition Chinese Medicine medical schools issuing the CMD degree are the first and probably the only medical schools in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) that are listed in the World Health Organization (WHO) World Directory of Medical Schools together with the Harvard Medical School, Yale Medical School, etc. So CHM is very different from other Complementary and Alternative Medicines. CHM is not experimental. CHM is a time-tested professional medicine with very high efficacy and safety records in the history of medicine. CHM vs. Dietary Supplement Herbs Some people think that the Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) is the same as dietary supplement herbs. This is a very serious mistake and misunderstanding on CHM. Around 2002, more than 150 people in America died of a related incident (the ephedra event) because of this mistake. In that incident, many people took a CHM as dietary supplement herb, which led to hundreds and thousands people got side effects, and claimed more than 150 lives [4]. There are many examples and lessons like this around the globe. The root cause of this mistake originated from the 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). FDA enforces that law, and also contributes to the confusion and chaos on this issue. This issue has been elucidated in details in [4]. To avoid repeating those lessons, the Chinese Medicine profession once again cautions all patients and the public that: (1) Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) are not dietary supplement herbs; (2) CHM are professional medicines for thousands of years; (3) CHM are used for disease treatments; (4) CHM should be taken under Chinese Medicine Doctor (CMD) directions and instructions; (5) CHM can cause serious side effects or even death if patients or public take CHM without CMD directions and instructions. Following is a comparison between CHM and dietary supplement herbs:
References [1] Xu B, Molony D, Yuan C.S. Handbook of Chinese Medicine. The Haworth Medical Press. New York. To be published. [2] Xu, B. About Chinese Medicine. ACMA Publication Issue Oct 2001. [3] Xu, B. On Chinese Medicine vs. Oriental/Asian/Eastern Medicine. ACMA Publication Issue May 2003. [4] Xu, B. Letter to the Congress. ACMA Publication Issue Aug 2002. [5] About Chinese Medicine Doctor (CMD) Education, ACMA Publication Issue Aug 1, 2004.
Related Links: Qualifications to Practice CHM On Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) Unified Medicine Project, Part One Unified Medicine Project, Part Two About Chinese Medicine Doctor (CMD) Education On Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) On Chinese Medicine vs. Oriental/Asian/Eastern Medicine
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