By Darren Kan
The NIH defines traditional Chinese medicine as “an alternative medical practice drawn from traditional medicine in China”, it often includes certain alternative treatments or approaches such as acupuncture, diet, herbal therapy, meditation, physical exercise, and massage. Due to the wide range of the types of treatment in traditional Chinese medicine, I’ll be focusing on Acupuncture, Meditation/ physical exercise (in the form of Tai Chi), and Herbal therapy (in the form of chinese herbal remedies)
Acupuncture:
A form of Chinese medicine in which practitioners use small needles to stimulate specific spots on the body. Some trials suggest that real acupuncture and sham acupuncture are equally effective, indicating a placebo effect. Studies suggest that acupuncture stimulates the release of the body's natural painkillers and affects areas of the brain involved in pain processing; however, some trials suggest that real acupuncture and sham acupuncture are equally effective, indicating a placebo effect. However, findings from a number of studies suggest that actual acupuncture can help with chronic pain conditions such low back pain, neck discomfort, osteoarthritis/knee pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome. It may also help prevent migraine headaches and reduce the incidence of tension headaches.
Tai Chi:
A type of exercise that incorporates a variety of postures, gentle motions, mental focus, breathing, and relaxation. Tai chi may improve balance and stability in older individuals and those with Parkinson's disease, lessen discomfort from knee osteoarthritis, aid persons with fibromyalgia and back pain, and increase quality of life and mood in people with heart failure, according to research findings.
Chinese herbal remedies:
Many medical problems have been examined using Chinese herbal remedies, including stroke, heart disease, mental disorders, and respiratory ailments (such as bronchitis and the common cold), and a nationwide survey revealed that one in every five Americans uses them. Because many studies were of poor quality, no definite conclusions concerning their effectiveness could be drawn.
The Risks:
Some Chinese herbal products have been discovered to contain undeclared plant or animal material, drugs (such as the blood thinner warfarin and the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac), heavy metals (such as arsenic, lead, and cadmium), pesticides or sulfites, which can cause asthma or severe allergic reactions, or incorrect herbs, some of which have caused organ damage.
Acupuncture has been linked to a small number of side effects. Despite this, difficulties have arisen as a result of the use of nonsterile needles and poor treatment delivery. Acupuncture can have dangerous side effects if it isn't done correctly, including infections, pierced organs, collapsing lungs, and central nervous system harm.
Tai chi and a related method known as qigong appear to be harmless. While tai chi is unlikely to cause significant harm, it is possible that it will cause minor aches and pains. Pregnant women should consult with their doctors before commencing tai chi, qigong, or any other fitness regimen.
The Evidence:
Critics from the medical field say that there is no physiological proof for the existence of qi or meridians, and that traditional Chinese medicine is ineffective. Only a few occurrences of Chinese herbal medicines proving beneficial in randomized controlled clinical studies have been documented. Artemisinin is a significant substance that has arisen from traditional Chinese medicine. Youyou Tu of the China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Beijing first isolated the chemical, which is now a strong malaria medication and earned Tu the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2015.
Scientists, on the other hand, have spent millions of dollars on randomized trials of other traditional Chinese medicine medications and therapies, with mixed results. Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore evaluated 70 systematic evaluations examining the effectiveness of traditional therapies, including acupuncture, in one of the most comprehensive studies. Because the evidence was either insufficient or of poor quality, none of these investigations could make a firm conclusion. "For most disorders, there is not enough rigorous scientific evidence to know if traditional Chinese medicine procedures perform for the conditions for which they are utilized," the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health in Bethesda, Maryland, concluded.
https://www.news-medical.net/health/The-Efficacy-of-Traditional-Chinese-Medicine.aspx
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