Understanding Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine is an ancient medical model. Its theories are rougher than modern medicine, but they still contain some genuine insight.

People who are calm can often see that there is something interesting in it, but in today’s internet environment too many people approach it with prejudice. I hope this article helps more people understand it a little better.

TCM Theory

Traditional Chinese medicine is often described with the phrase “treating head pain by working on the foot, and foot pain by working on the head.” Many people think this is absurd, but in fact they misunderstand what it means. It reflects another medical way of thinking. Some people also say, “Western medicine treats the symptoms, Chinese medicine treats the root.” That statement is also questionable. The distinction between symptoms and root causes is often itself a bias about treatment methods. TCM’s “treating the root” can also be useful in a framework that includes modern medicine.

For example, because TCM developed in a far more primitive environment with much lower medical technology, it naturally could not rely on major surgery or direct intervention at critical sites. Direct treatment of the affected area was often difficult. So TCM theory tried to work through still-healthy parts of the body. If a patient has a headache, for instance, the cause may be congestion, fluid buildup, high blood pressure, high blood lipids, and so on. In TCM terms, one might use massage, acupuncture, or herbal medicine to speed up blood circulation and metabolism so that symptoms are relieved.

Recently many netizens have criticized TCM. In reality, many of them simply encountered frauds, and many also approach TCM with strong prejudice. A recent example is the claim that “pangolins are good at burrowing, so TCM believes they can treat diseases that require ‘unblocking’, such as stopped menstruation or poor lactation.” That really is wrong.

The medicinal logic of TCM took shape more than a thousand years ago. Traditional medicines in other Asian countries, such as Tibetan medicine in China, Kampo medicine in Japan, and Korean traditional medicine, are either descendants of or students of Chinese medicine. A medical tradition capable of being passed down for so long must contain something worthwhile. But we also cannot deny that traditional medicine contains many mistaken and even harmful things. Modern practitioners have often failed to correct them. Worse, people seeking huge profits promote them aggressively for money. That is one of the tragedies of TCM.

This is deeply depressing. Many Chinese people do not understand TCM; fake “TCM practitioners” use the label to cheat people; criminals exploit it for profit. At root, the problem is that TCM has not had good public explanation, modern academic progress, or a well-formed standard system. Compared with modern medicine, the problem is more serious. Diagnosis in TCM depends heavily on the four methods of observation, listening/smelling, questioning, and pulse-taking. There is no strict numerical standard, and judgment depends greatly on a doctor’s experience and intuition. That naturally increases the chance of misdiagnosis. Veteran doctors may be able to judge much more accurately because of their experience.

Second, TCM still lacks strict proof in terms recognized by modern medicine. Although cutting-edge physiology has discovered some subtle and intriguing phenomena that seem to echo old TCM ideas, in the eyes of the public TCM is still often seen as wizardry or superstition. Western science also tends to conservatively grant it only a limited health-care effect. In China, many practitioners have failed to push the field forward and instead make money under the banner of “TCM wellness”. As a result, many branded TCM products are sold more like supplements. And the endless safety scandals surrounding supplements have led the public to distrust both health products and TCM by association. But is that really TCM’s fault? In my view, it is not. That is simply the wrongdoing of those merchants. I do not think TCM theory is pseudoscience, nor do I think it is something that “cannot be explained by science”. TCM is a science in its own right. One might call it “Chinese medical science”. The theory of yin-yang and the five elements is not magical mysticism but a very old kind of model-making, much like ancient atomic theories or electronic theories. TCM simply projected hidden and microscopic relationships onto a macroscopic framework. That is how TCM came into being.

Third, does TCM still have a place in the era of modern medicine? I believe the answer is yes. Western medicine is naturally stronger in potency and speed of effect. Chinese herbal medicine relies more on natural plant ingredients, which are usually gentler and have fewer side effects. But today some illegal merchants process herbs with pesticides, sulfur, and similar substances, which can make the products toxic. TCM may play a larger role for patients with fragile constitutions. Modern medicine often treats major illnesses mainly through surgery, but some patients cannot bear the trauma of an operation. TCM methods are relatively milder and can therefore be more suitable.

Fourth, TCM methods are simple and easy to apply. In situations without sophisticated medical equipment, they can still function as a useful preliminary treatment method. At the very least they may ease symptoms and buy time for later treatment. For example, TCM-style questioning and observation can help quickly estimate a condition and avoid harmful mistakes. Massage techniques in TCM can be especially effective in easing pain, slowing blood flow, and reducing blood loss.

Original Intention

After thinking through all this, I hope practitioners of TCM can work harder, observers can become a little more rational, and more people can learn about Chinese medicine seriously.