Abstract
Many traditional and complementary and alternative healthcare systems or practices, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine, taijiquan, or acupuncture, are easily found in many North American and European cities. For the most part these practices are not accredited, and their validation remains limited. This is primarily the result of the lack of modern scientific research. Additionally, the studies that are performed rely on evidence and research designs that often negate the true features of these practices with a loss of authenticity. Is it possible or even desirable for these systems to acquire accreditation and inclusion? If so, given the apparent, subjective nature of these practices, can a pluralistic approach to healthcare that retains the Western values of science and medicine be developed that yet respects the diversity of different concepts about life, health and services while permitting these practices to maintain their authenticity? And is it possible to develop a regulatory framework that practitioners can use? The current paper examines questions concerning the uses of non-Western healthcare practices without the loss of their authentic nature. The process of integration is here examined using the inclusion of taijiquan as a health-promoting martial art as the model.
Highlights
“No attempt to refine our present medical system will prove successful unless they address the deficiencies of the most basic assumptions on which the system rests.”
This is primarily the result of the lack of modern scientific research or clarity about what constitutes evidence in the modern scientific sense. Is it possible that this mode of understanding used in conjunction with practices such as taijiquan, for example, is not a viable way to understand the effectiveness of these practices? Further, the studies that are performed rely on research designs that often negate the true features of these practices with an attendant loss of authenticity. Is it possible or even desirable for these practices to acquire accreditation? If so, given the often apparent subjective nature of these practices, can a pluralistic approach to healthcare that retains the Western values of science and medicine and yet respects the diversity of different concepts about life and health be developed while permitting these practices to maintain their authenticity? And, is the development of a regulatory framework that practitioners can use even possible? The current paper will examine these and related questions concerning the uses of non-Western healthcare practices, their accreditation and the possibility for incorporation into today’s healthcare systems without the loss of their authentic nature
As other alternative and complementary practices, has the potential to contribute novel therapeutic and diagnostic modalities to biomedicine (Kidd, 2013) but how we get that information is crucial to fully understanding the mechanisms leading to safety and efficacy and, validation and accreditation
Summary
For the most part these practices are not accredited, and their validation remains limited. This is primarily the result of the lack of modern scientific research. The studies that are performed rely on evidence and research designs that often negate the true features of these practices with a loss of authenticity. Is it possible or even desirable for these systems to acquire accreditation and inclusion? The current paper examines questions concerning the uses of non-Western healthcare practices without the loss of their authentic nature.
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