than 100 herbal formulae have been developed in China, Japan, Korea and
Vietnam over a period of 2000 years. These formulae range from single-
herb to multiherb formulae with up to 40 or more different component
herbs. All of the formula titles are expressed in the Chinese alphabet with
ideographic meanings. If an attempt had been made to translate the mean-
ings of the formula titles into English, it probably would have been impos-
sible for western scientists to understand them. Another option would
have been for western scientists to learn the Chinese alphabet, but this feat
would take an inordinate amount of time. Therefore, we opted for a new
approach. To start, the naming patterns of the formula titles were sorted
into seven groups, and then we developed the English coding system which
comprises:
(one or two Principal component herbs with major pharmacological
action) (Pharmacological indication) (Dosage form)
(Numbers of component herbs)By preparing this type of code, it was possible to construct the English
version of the TradiMed database. This coding system is currently under
further study to match the Anatomy Therapeutic Code (ATC) drug system
of the WHO, with the interested groups including Tokyo University and
Uppsala University’s WHO collaborating centre. In addition to the afore-
mentioned research organisation, a newly created organisation, the Korea
Institute of Oriental Medicine (KIOM), was founded in 1994 to promote
the research capabilities in TKM through a governmental research organi-
sation. KIOM has mainly conducted basic research and has collaborated
widely with many domestic TKM schools and foreign schools through
government-funded support.^6
Perspectives
There is no possibility that TKM can substitute for mainstream western
medicine and fulfill all the requirements of the national health system.
However, it can make a significant and important contribution in a comple-
mentary and alternative role. When a combination therapy of western medi-
cine and TKM is practised for certain groups of diseases, there are frequently
superior outcomes in terms of effectiveness, tolerability and cost. In order to
develop the cooperative treatments between the two medicines, called ‘inte-
grative medicine’, it has been agreed to develop methods to verify the effec-
tiveness of TKM therapy based on scientific evidence. Thus many TKM
hospitals have begun to try to implement the global standard for clinical
trials, commonly referred to as good clinical practice (GCP of ICH), into
TKM therapies. In addition, one of the ‘modernising’ steps has been to move
268 | Traditional medicine