Traditional Chinese Medicine and Pharmacology is time-honored; and history has proven its value and curative properties. It is well-documented in many histories and biographies of famous, ancient TCM doctors that TCM was effective in the prevention and control of plagues. Twenty-four periods of history (Dynastic histories from remote antiquity to the Ming Dynasty) recall that TCM prevented countless plagues from spreading widely, and came up with proper treatments in a short time. On the contrary, the plague raging in Europe during the First World War became one of the main reasons the war ended. Most of China lies in a temperate zone, and consists of farming societies with more access to animals and plants; thus making it more susceptible to plagues. It, however, has never been as plague-ridden as Europe. It is Traditional Chinese Medicine and Pharmacology that kept the Chinese nation strong and saw it through 5,000 years. Time elapsed and TCM eclipsed. TCM is now on the decline.
The decline is primarily due to the current boom in the use of Western medicine. TCM occupies a lesser position in the medical and health care system. Secondly, the number of famous TCM doctors are shrinking, and most of them are advancing in age.
In addition, medical and academic studies of TCM have long been stagnant. Some diseases are more quickly cured by surgical operations and Western medicines – heavily shaking confidence in TCM doctors. The TCM sector has suffered years of this vicious cycle: from stagnation to the loss of confidence, further aggravating the situation.
Currently, there is a tide emerging from ideological and academic circles that opens up 200-plus-years of traditional ideas perpetuating western society to doubt and criticism.
The ensuing two events might call for reflection. The first took place in 1988, when the 66 Nobel Laureates rallied in Paris: they concluded that mankind needed to go back 25 centuries and seek wisdom from Confucius for survival. The second case lies in the growing tolerance of TCM in the American medical sector: its attitude has shifted from considering TCM to have "no scientific basis," to medicine that "in theory, defies any scientific explanation." The backdrop to these two incidents is Western criticism of its own traditions stemming from Postmodernism in the middle of the last century.
The doubts posed by Westerners toward their ideas and routes over the 200 years have been dubbed the ‘Ideological Revolution' amid which many Westerners also point out an important trend: China is coming. This coincides with the conclusion drawn by the Nobel Laureates. ‘China is coming' indicates that Dualism and Analytic Theory in Western philosophy have lived out their usefulness. To further acknowledge the relationship between human and nature, and present existence and future; mankind must turn to Chinese civilization, and the combination of both Chinese and Western civilizations.
On that basis, I would like to offer some advice on the revitalization of TCM; although I am a lay person myself.
First, the TCM sector needs to boost confidence in the obvious advantages of TCM. Admittedly, TCM is not a cure-all method: it can be integrated into system, and build up its own confidence accordingly.
Secondly, the development of TCM must follow the principles of TCM in itself, and step up research work. When China fell into a semi-colonial society in the days gone by, TCM was shackled and confined to obscurity. China's national strength is greatly enhanced now. In other words, China is now rising. TCM will have to advance with time: research must be improved, and its competitiveness sharpened.
Thirdly, the TCM sector must persevere. The complexity of current problems will take time to straighten out. The most striking ones lie in mentality, mechanism, structure and ideology: this may take generations to find resolve. However painstaking the process is, TCM will definitely improve Chinese people's health. In the long run, it contribute more to the world as a whole.
<i>By People's Daily Online</i>
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