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Can
Western Medicine accept Chinese Medicine?
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by:
Brian B. Carter, MS, LAc
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Q:
My doctor is skeptical of Chinese medicine. Is there a way to make it
acceptable to the western medicine way of thinking?
A: This is a complicated issue. Ideally, we could use scientific
research to make this possible. This has been done to some 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 rarely make 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 ways to practice
it, and many many herb formulas, herb combinations, acupuncture point
combinations, and needling techniques.
See What You Want To See
Plus, studies of people reading and using studies have proven that when
we disagree with a study's conclusions, we are much more critical of
its methodology and validity than when 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
other way around.
The Good Research That's Out There
If you want to see good acupuncture research, and great commentary 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 best acupuncture studies since the 1997
National Institutes of Health statement.
Effectiveness and Proof are Secondary
An interesting twist: Historian and anthropologist Paul Unschuld's
suggests that the acceptance of any medicine has more to do with how it
fits or doesn't fit with the social zeitgeist (spirit of the times).
People 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 accepting Chinese medicine as a separate and
equally valid medical system. But some individual docs might.
Who Speaks For Western Medicine?
According to Modern Healthcare Magazine, "Not counting medical students
and residents, who are lured by deep discounts in annual dues, AMA
members account for only about 29 per cent of 726,000 practicing
doctors in America."
This raises the question- who represents most doctors? How do we know
what they think or want?
I did an internet search, both on Google and Yahoo, for other medical
organizations... most of them were state, or country-oriented.
I did find a few others, but their membership numbers 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 though the AMA represents less than one-third of physicians, it
doesn't appear that any other organization has nearly as many members.
Perhaps no one speaks for Western medicine.
Pattern Discrimination Isn't So Strange
Besides all the distinct ontology (the study of what exists) like
meridians and organ-systems, a fundamentally unique feature of CM (used
in China to differentiate CM from WM) is pattern discrimination.
Different treatment for different symptom/sign patterns is not really
that strange. Western docs don't give all patients the same
antihypertensive drugs, for example. It depends on the patient, and
there are specific groupings according to symptoms, signs, and other
diagnoses. We do the same thing - just different groupings.
Regardless, many Western docs look down their nose at pattern
discrimination. Perhaps they don't think it's scientific enough? They
don't see the benefit. It's outside their paradigm.
Inequality in Credibility and Authority
Chinese medicine's biggest obstacle to making 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 much
attention, nor do scholars, or Master's degree people. Politicians and
journalists both have this perspective. Because of this, our objections
(to the actions of AMA, FDA, and drug companies against Chinese herbal
medicine) go unheard. We are not seen as being as competent to assess
dangers. Nor do they take Chinese docs very seriously. You have to
either be an MD or affiliated with a big institution.
So, to summarize, you can't convince some people no matter what. Others
will get behind Chinese medicine regardless. Those in the middle will
be swayed by the media and their friends.
It's going to take some time for enough of us to have the degrees,
affiliations, and willingness to make statements loud enough to be
heard above the din of the prevailing winds.
About the Author
Acupuncturist, herbalist, and medical professor
Brian B. Carter founded 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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