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Alternative Medicine InformationCan Western Medicine Accept Chinese Medicine?
by:
Brian B. Carter, MS, LAc
Q: My doctor is skeptical of Chinese medicine. Is there a way to do it acceptable to the western medicine way of thinking?
A: This is a complex
issue. Ideally, we could use scientific research to do this possible. This has been done to several extent. However, there are still problems with research and its acceptance.
Not Testing Authentic Chinese Medicine
Studies often diverge from authentic Chinese medicine methodology. Investigators seldom
do use of pattern discrimination, which is fundamental to Chinese medicine. Also, studies have yet to acknowledge another reality of CM - its plurality. There are many a route to practice it, and many a many herb formulas, herb combinations, treatment
point combinations, and needling techniques.
See What You Want To See
Plus, studies of folk reading and mistreatment studies have established that once
we disagree with a study's conclusions, we are more much critical of its methodology and validity than once
the results agree with our beliefs. That is a breakdown in the scientific method. In the scientific method, we let study outcomes revise our beliefs - not the different way around.
The Nice Research That's Out There
If you want to see nice treatment
research, and great statement
by an MD who devotes his medical practice fully to acupuncture, and who studies authentic CM, go to Acubriefs.com.
I did a short review of the better treatment
studies since the 1997 National Institutes of Health statement.
Effectiveness and Proof are Secondary
An engrossing twist: Scholar and societal scientist
Paul Unschuld's suggests that the acceptance of any medicine has more to do with how it fits or doesn't fit with the societal feeling (spirit of the times). Folk must understand a medicine in a way that fits with their beliefs and values first. Scientific evidence, and personal experience of effectiveness are secondary.
Acceptance by Western Medicine
But as for acceptance by western docs- it depends on the doc. I doubt the AMA is going to be acceptive
Chinese medicine as a separate and equally valid medical system. But several individual docs might.
Who Speaks For Western Medicine?
According to Modern Aid Magazine, "Not enumeration medical students and residents, who are lured by deep discounts in annual dues, AMA members account for only simply about 29 per cent of 726,000 practicing doctors in America."
This raises the question- who represents most doctors? How do we cognize what they think or want?
I did an cyberspace search, several on Google and Yahoo, for different medical organizations... most of them were state, or country-oriented.
I did find a few others, but their membership amount may overlap:
The Christian Medical and Dental Associations (CMDA) - 17,000 members
American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) - 2,000 members
American Holistic Medicine Association (AHMA) - membership not listed
So even as tho'
the AMA represents less than one-third of physicians, it doesn't appear that any different organization has nearly as many a members. Maybe no one speaks for Western medicine.
Pattern Discrimination Isn't So Strange
Besides all the distinct metaphysics
(the study of what exists) like meridians and organ-systems, a au fond unique feature of CM (used in China to differentiate CM from WM) is pattern discrimination.
Different treatment for several symptom/sign patterns is not actually that strange. Western docs don't give all patients the same medicament drugs, for example. It depends on the patient, and there are specific groupings according to symptoms, signs, and different diagnoses. We do the same thing - simply several groupings.
Regardless, many a Western docs look down their nose at pattern discrimination. Maybe they don't think it's scientific enough? They don't see the benefit. It's outside their paradigm.
Inequality in Believability and Authority
Chinese medicine's biggest obstacle to fashioning progress politically and in the media is that MD's are seen as the one true medical authority. They are the experts on everything. Pure scientists don't get as more attention, nor do scholars, or Master's degree people. Politicians and journalists several have this perspective. Because of this, our objections (to the actions of AMA, FDA, and drug companies against Chinese flavouring medicine) go unheard. We are not seen as being as competent to assess dangers. Nor do they take Chinese docs really seriously. You have to either be an MD or connected with a big institution.
So, to summarize, you can't persuade several folk no matter what. Others wish get behind Chinese medicine regardless. Those in the middle wish be swayed by the media and their friends.
It's going to take several time for enough of us to have the degrees, affiliations, and temperament
to do statements loud enough to be detected
above the din of the prevailing winds.
Just simply about the Author
Acupuncturist, herbalist, and medical academic Brian B. Carter supported
the alternative health megasite The Pulse of Oriental Medicine (http://www.PulseMed.org/). He is the author of the book "Powerful Body, Peaceful Mind: How to Heal Yourself with Foods, Herbs, and Acupressure" (November, 2004). Brian speaks on radio across the country, and has been quoted and interviewed by Real Simple, Glamour, and ESPN magazines.
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