TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE
(Investigator Magazine 197, 2021 March)
The corpus of Traditional Chinese Medicine includes acupuncture,
acupressure, moxabustion, Qi Gong and herbal medicine, all of which can
be referred to under those individual headings.
Unlike Western science-based medicine, traditional Chinese medicine has its roots in ancient cosmology — belief systems for which there is no empirical support.
The Taoists believed that the universe can be described by the
dualistic concept of yin and yang. All matter is supposedly made up of
yin and yang, including the human body. Yin (feminine and negative) and
yang (male and positive) are two powerful elements which it is alleged,
can destroy if out of harmony or balance. When either is out of
balance, illness results. These two potencies form the basis of many
Chinese healing modalities.
Also included and considered influential are the five elements (earth,
fire, water, wood and metal) and the planets Jupiter, Mars, Saturn,
Venus and Mercury. However, the qualities attributed to the planets are
different from those of Western astrology. To remain healthy, man must
attune himself to conform with the ever moving cycles of the heavenly
bodies and other diverse correspondences.
Prior to November 1994, China had no Truth in Advertising Law and
pseudoscientific scams proliferated. Although these have now been
contained to a certain extent and new medicines are required to pass a
clinical test, there are no rigorous controls.
Testing metaphysical theories such as measuring the flow of chi may not
be possible, although the assumptions based on its existence may be.
Acupuncture can be tested as can individual herbs. The big problem with
testing TCM herbology is that it is vast and the products are not
standardized — and in some cases nobody knows what chemicals they
contain. A good example of this is a Chinese herbal remedy Qian Ceng Ta,
traditionally used to treat fever and inflammation. It has recently
been claimed that it may prove to be the source of an effective
treatment for Alzheimer's Disease. An alkaloid, huperzine A, that acts
as a potent inhibitor of acetylcholineesterase (AChE), and which breaks
down acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter, has been isolated from the
herb. It is a shortage of this neurotransmitter that is believed to
contribute to memory loss in patients with Alzheimer's Disease.
Inhibiting AChE huperzine A, causes an increase in the amount of
acetycholine and therefore (it is assumed) slows the rate of memory
loss.
Although the isolation of a specific compound of this particular herb
may prove to be beneficial, scientific analysis of the herb per se has revealed that it has no identifiable antipyretic or anti-inflammatory action.
Sir William Keys, a former president of the RSL and prominent
Australian identity, undertook Traditional Chinese Medical treatment
for prostate cancer in 1995, notwithstanding that orthodox treatment in
Australia had seen his cancer in remission.
He later wrote a book Flowers in Winter
on his Chinese experience. In the book he tells how he spent US$10,000
on the herbal "cure" and confessed that "he had been done like the
proverbial dinner".
References:
Alcock, et aL 1988. Testing psi claims in China: Visit by a CSICOP delegation. Skeptical Inquirer, 12:364-74.
Basser, Dr. S. 1997. Medical News, Vic/Tas Skeptics Newsletter, May, No.19, p. 2.
Chan. 1993. Chinese herbal medicines revisited: a Hong Kong perspective. The Lancet, 1993, 342:1532-4.
Keys, Sir William. 1995. Flowers in Winter. Allen & Unwin Pty. Ltd. St. Leonards, NSW, Australia.
Wu Xianghong. 1995. Paranormal in China, Skeptical Briefs 5:(1):1-3.
From: Edwards, H. 1999 Alternative, Complementary, Holistic & Spiritual Healing, Australian Skeptics Inc.
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