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Common images
of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) include the use of
herbal supplements, acupuncture, or the feeling of a pulse
to diagnose illness. In fact, each of these images only
scratches the surface of its true essence. More precisely,
Chinese medicine embodies a lifestyle founded on a holistic
approach to health and well being. Thousands of years of
experience and philosophical tenets such as yin and yang
and the harmony of the five elements (earth, wood, fire,
water and gold) are the cornerstones of its practice. Adherence
to specific methodologies, which involve herbal remedies
and other treatments, is essential for restoring balance
in the body and maintaining health.
Disease prevention
is Chinese medicine's main focus. This principle centers
around the belief that treating diseases or illness that
have already caused damage in the body is much more difficult
then preventing them from occurring in the first place.
Not surprisingly, Chinese medicine practitioners who keep
their patients healthy and disease free are considered to
be the greatest doctors.
Traditional
Chinese Medicine, which originated over 4,000 years ago,
is deeply rooted in history and tradition. Today, the practice
of Chinese medicine is on the rise as more people turn to
other methods of healthcare to treat problems, which are
not sufficiently cared for with Western medicine alone.
Its use is expanding in Asian cultures and becoming more
accepted in the West.
- In Hong Kong, approximately
60% of the population have consulted a TCM practitioner
at some point in time and even more use herbal supplements
on a regular basis.
- The number of adults in
the United States using alternative medicine treatments
increased from 34% in 1990 to 42% in 1997.
- Healthcare consumers paid
these expenses out of pocket, as most insurance companies
do not cover non-western medical treatments.
Because of
inadequate scientific evidence and the presence of informal
standards and regulations, Traditional Chinese Medicine
has been criticized for not being as credible as Western
medicine. However, this is rapidly changing. Both China
and Hong Kong are establishing regulatory bodies and setting
formal standards to govern the practice of modern Chinese
medicine. The Hong Kong government is currently in the process
of initiating an international Chinese Medicine center of
excellence that is creating standards of practice, developing
formal licensing and education requirements of TCM practitioners,
expanding herbal research projects and supporting the manufacturing,
distribution and export of Chinese herbal supplements both
locally and internationally. With the establishment of such
a center, healthcare consumers will be assured of getting
quality care when choosing to see a Chinese medical specialist.
Increasingly,
Chinese medicine is seen as complementary to Western medicine.
Its holistic approach to health and disease prevention strategies
make it attractive to Western doctors, who have exhausted
all avenues of conventional treatment, especially when caring
for patients who suffer from chronic diseases. In many institutions
throughout China, both forms of medicine are practiced side
by side giving patients access to the best of both worlds.
Hong Kong's strategic location as a special administrative
region of China means it has become an important player
in the development of modern Chinese medical practice. First,
through regular exchanges of information and research with
Beijing, Shanghai and other major cities in China, Hong
Kong has created a substantial network that links medical
schools, research centers, clinics, and hospitals. This
network serves to strengthen and enrich Chinese medicine
as well as create an environment in which its practice can
thrive and grow alongside Western medicine. Secondly, while
Hong Kong and Malaysia has always had a strong Chinese cultural
heritage, its Western ties and adherence to Western methodologies
make it an ideal choice to develop the future of Chinese
medicine without losing its essence.
Today, the
practice of TCM has changed even though the fundamental
principles have not. Formal licensing and educational programs
standardized the practice of Chinese medicine and increase
the accountability of practitioners in China, Hong Kong,
Taiwan and some of the western countries. In addition, Western
research techniques are being employed to validate herbal
supplement uses and product safety. These two major advances
make Chinese medicine more acceptable to a public that uses
Western medicine as the gold standard in healthcare delivery.
Hong Kong continues to offer major advantages for its development
and advancement in the world market.
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