Traditional Chinese medicine

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Traditional Chinese Medicine (or TCM) refers to the theories and practises of diagnosis and healing developed historically in China. Its influence spread to neighbouring countries such as Korea and Japan, and largely shaped their traditional medicine. More recently, TCM has become popular as an alternative medicine in Europe and North America.

Like much Chinese lore, such as feng shui and the martial arts, Chinese medicine is based on the qi (or chi) principle of energy. Qi is said to be channelled through a complex system of meridians in the body, and illnesses are believed to be related to blocked or unbalanced flow of qi.[1] Common treatments include acupressure, acupuncture, acupuncture bloodletting, reflexology, and herbal medicine, though treatments can also be of inorganic or animal origin. In one study, 260 TCM products sold in California were analyzed for adulterants: 32% contained drugs and/or heavy metals.[2]

Contents

[edit] Mythical origins

The first pharmacopoeia in traditional Chinese medicine was said to have been written by the god Shennong, who also used his own transparent flesh to test the effects of medical and poisonous plants on himself. [3] In addition, he was said to have discovered, or invented, tea, the hoe, the plow, the axe, wells, irrigation, preserving seeds in boiled horse urine, the 24 hours of the day, the calendar, the weekly farmers market, the harvest festival, pulse measuring, moxibustion and acupuncture.[4] In addition he was said to have known the secret to immortality and the transmutation of substances into gold.

[edit] Controversial ingredients used in TCM

TCM ingredients can range from common plants, such as dandelion, persimmon, and mint, to weird or even dangerous stuff. Some of the more revolting things found in TCM include genitals of various animals (including dogs, tigers, seals, oxen, goats, and deer), bear bile (commonly obtained by means of slow, inhumane extraction methods), snake oil.[5][6] It is worth noting that the sale and use of all of these animal ingredients is illegal in many parts of Asia, Europe, North America and almost everywhere else. New methods of combating the use of these illegal animal parts are currently being discussed.[7] Urine, feces, placenta and other human-derived medicines were traditionally used but some may no longer be in use.[8]

Some of the dangerous ingredients include lead,[9] calomel (mercurous chloride), cinnabar (red mercuric sulfide),[10] asbestos,[11] realgar (arsenic),[12] and birthwort (Aristolochia spp.).[13] Bloodletting is also practiced. Bizarrely, lead oxide, cinnabar, and calomel are said to be good for detoxification.[14][15][16][17][18] Lead oxide is also supposed to help with ringworms, skin rashes, rosacea, eczema, sores, ulcers, and intestinal parasites, cinnabar allegedly helps you live longer,[16][17] and asbestos is used for impotence. Admittedly, the amounts of cinnabar and calomel used in TCM are small enough that the damage they cause is usually reversible.[18]

[edit] In China

Traditional medicine was standardised in mainland China under the People's Republic of China, and earlier medicine is sometimes referred to as Classical Chinese Medicine. TCM continues to be widely practised, supported and studied in China, and is often integrated with scientific (or "Western") medicine. There are many universities of Chinese medicine in China, some being regarded as among the best medical universities of any kind in the country.

[edit] In the West

Traditional Chinese medicine has become popular in North America and Europe during recent decades, largely due to the growing popularity of CAM (Complimentary and Alternative Medicine) and the New Age preoccupation with other Eastern woo such as feng shui, Chinese astrology, Reiki and Zen Buddhism. As with most of these fads, the most common variants of TCM popularised in the west tend to be simplified and bastardised versions of authentic TCM, and are often bundled with other forms of CAM. For example, Chinese medicine centres in the UK and USA often offer non-Chinese complementary therapies such as hypnotherapy and homeopathy, alongside Chinese herbalism and acupuncture.

[edit] Environmental impact

In TCM, endangered species such as rhinos, sharks, seahorses, manta rays, and tigers are highly prized; rhino horns are considered panaceas which can cure everything from arthritis to cancer, even though studies have shown they do nothing.[19][20][21][22][23] Because of this demand, poachers hunt these animals for their body parts in order to sell them to TCM users. Since the 1970s, rhino populations have dropped 90%;[19] while this number may not be entirely due to TCM, it can plausibly be said that TCM is significantly contributing to the extinction of endangered species.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] Footnotes

  1. http://www.amfoundation.org/tcm.htm#BASIC%20PRINCIPLES
  2. A U.S. Perspective on the Adverse Reactions from Traditional Chinese Medicines, J Chin Med Assoc2004;67:109-116
  3. Jane, Reynolds, Phil; Gates, Gaden Robinson; "365 Days of Nature and Discovery"; page 44; Harry N Adams
  4. Yang, Lihui; Handbook of Chinese Mythology; New York: Oxford University Press; pages 190-199
  5. Freeing China's caged bile bears / Animal activists aim to curtail trade in traditional remedy, SFgate.
  6. Media Releases for 2003, Medsafe.
  7. [1]
  8. "The Treatment of 75 Cases of Pediatric Oral Thrush with the Sweet, Cold, Protecting Yin Method" by Wang Le-ping, Shang Hai Zhong Yi Yao Za Zhi (The Shanghai Journal of Chinese Medicine & Medicinals), #5, 1994, p. 22
  9. Mi Tuo Seng - 密陀僧 - Lithargyrum
  10. Cinnabar, Acupuncture Today.
  11. Actinolite, TCMwiki.com.
  12. Realgar (xiong huang), Acupuncture Today.
  13. Yin Yang House: Guang Fang Zi (Aristolochia Root, Stephania) — Chinese Herbal Medicine
  14. Cinnabar (zhu sha), TCMtreatment.com.
  15. Qian Dan, TCMAssistant.
  16. 16.0 16.1 Galena, Acupuncture Today.
  17. 17.0 17.1 Mercury and Chinese herbal medicine,Issue: BCMJ, Vol. 46, No. 9, November 2004, page(s) 442 Letters H.C. George Wong, MD.
  18. 18.0 18.1 Mercury in Traditional Medicines: Is Cinnabar Toxicologically Similar to Common Mercurials?, doi: 10.3181/0712-MR-336 Exp Biol Med (Maywood) July 2008 vol. 233 no. 7 810-817.
  19. 19.0 19.1 World Rhino Day ~ 22nd September 2012, Michael Evans, The Earth Times.
  20. How a myth is killing the rhino, Atul Sethi, Times of India, Mar 4, 2013.
  21. Chinese Medicine Driving Rhinos to Extinction, Yahoo! News.
  22. Alternative Medicine Threatans Beasts with Extinction, LiveScience.
  23. Unproven Chinese Medicine Killing Manta Rays, Discovery News.
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