suggests that there is a much greater need to determine whether Chinese
medicinal herbs dowork rather than howthey might work.^20 As traditional
Chinese medicines are already in use, it would be better when studying them
to start with showing efficacy in humans by RCTs.
Joint research projects have been undertaken in the USA^23 involving
research institutes such as Stanford University, the College of Physicians and
Surgeons of Columbia University and the National Cancer Institute to eval-
uate the effectiveness of Chinese medicine and improve the classification
and selection/prescription of formulae.
In 2008 the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of the USA
and the Ministry of Health (MOH) of China concluded a Memorandum of
Understanding on Collaboration in Integrative and Traditional Chinese
Medicine research. (Full text available online at http://tinyurl.com/5tm79l –
accessed 31 August 2009.)
However, the process of integration has resulted in the loss of important
aspects of traditional theory and practice. Fewer acupuncture points are
taught than in the classic system, and aspects of the theory of TCM have
been de-emphasised.
Hospitals practising TCM still treat 200 million outpatients and almost
3 million inpatients annually. Overall, 95% of general hospitals in China
have traditional medicine departments, which treat about 20% of outpatients
daily.^24
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a technique involving the insertion of fine needles into the
skin at selected points over the body. Practitioners of acupuncture generally
follow one of two broad approaches to the discipline, using either TCM with
all its many ramifications for maintaining health, or the simpler symptom-
oriented western acupuncture. This section gives an outline of both.
Acupuncture is used widely in western Asia, Australia, Canada and parts
of Europe (Figure 6.5).
History
The theory that surrounds the practice of traditional acupuncture probably
dates back as many as 4000–5000 years, although there are no reliable
references in Chinese literature before the first century BC. Ancient works
were generally written on bamboo strips and silk, and have not survived.
The earliest physician reputed to be proficient in acupuncture techniques
was Bian Que in around 500 BC.
The names and reputed functions of all the acupuncture points were
established by about AD259 when The Classic of Acupuncture (Zhen Jiu Jia
Traditional Chinese medicine | 133