Is It Time to Take Chinese Medicine More Seriously?
This year's Nobel Prize went to three Chinese
scientists. It was the first time China won a Nobel in science.
The committee emphasized it was not
giving the award to traditional Chinese medicine, just the scientist who
applied her knowledge of it to her research.
The award raises the question of how
we judge the legitimacy of medicine, rewarding narrow aspects that satisfy
a Western definition. Chinese medicine for some is about acupuncture or herbal
medicine. The tradition encompasses a holistic philosophy with a mind-body
connection at its core.
Some people use Chinese medicine to
alleviate chronic conditions that have not responded to mainstream medical
treatment, such as pain. But it's not easy to prove effectiveness of these
treatments, so many insurance policies won't cover it. Does the lack of
research-based proof mean these treatments don't work?
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