Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Research Articles

Situating biologies of traditional Chinese medicine in Central Europe

Since the concept of ‘local biologies’ was proposed in the 1990s, it has been used to examine biosocial processes that transform human bodies in similar and different ways around the globe. This paper explores understandings of biosocial differentiation and convergence in the case of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in the Czech Republic. Specifically, it examines how Czech TCM practitioners view TCM as universally applicable while fine-tuning it to situated biosocial conditions, experimenting with the compatibilities of various human and plant bodies as part of their generalised, clinical practice. Drawing upon ethnographic research among TCM practitioners in the Czech Republic, it suggests that in addition to the individualization of TCM therapeutics to suit particular patients, Czech TCM is characterised by collective particularization, shaped by local concerns over ethnic, environmental and cultural differences. By looking critically at TCM practitioners’ sensitivities to localised biological similarities and differences it aims to contribute to understandings of the expansion of TCM in Central Europe, as well as more broadly to current social science debates over the risks and opportunities inherent in abandoning the assumption of a universal human body and biology.

Society for Acupuncture Research 2019: Putting the Whole Acupuncturist Back Together Again-To Set Them to Work!

Society for Acupuncture Research 2019: Putting the Whole Acupuncturist Back Together Again-To Set Them to Work!

A Competency Model for Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners: A Cross-Sectional Study in China

A Competency Model for Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners: A Cross-Sectional Study in China

Evaluating the feasibility of pangolin farming and its potential conservation impact

Pangolins are threatened by overexploitation for local and international use. They are subject to an international commercial trade ban, and are also the focus of other interventions, including attempts at commercial captive breeding. The impact that the latter could have on the conservation of wild populations deserves consideration. We critically evaluate the feasibility of commercial captive breeding (or farming) of pangolins to displace wild collection and assess its potential conservation impact on pangolin conservation using a recently published framework developed for this purpose. Of the 17 conditions posited that need to be met for supply-side interventions to displace wild collection, we find that pangolins meet a maximum of only six conditions. This analysis suggests that pangolin farming will not displace wild collection in the near future. Major barriers include an inability to breed pangolins on a commercial scale and available data suggest that it would be unprofitable. The immediate impact of pangolin farming on conservation of the species’ is unclear, but it is unlikely to benefit the conservation of wild populations. If commercial captive breeding were possible, it is uncertain how it would affect economic incentives for poaching, interactions between legal and illegal markets, stockpile policies, and how consumers and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners would respond. To understand better the potential overall impact of pangolin farming on wild populations there is a need for further research on these uncertainties. The framework used has utility in analysing the potential impact of wildlife farming but there remains a need for a more robust approach to evaluate potential impacts of supply-side interventions.

Evaluation Tool for Traditional Chinese Medicine Students in China: A Competency Perspective

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an important component of China’s medical system. How to educate TCM practitioners in China, therefore, has become a crucial issue. To contribute to this issue, the current research identified the competency model of TCM practitioners in China and developed an evaluation for TCM students. We combined Bloom’s taxonomy with our model construction to examine the current TCM practitioners’ requirements. Following the protocol of developing a measurement, we interviewed 20 TCM practitioners, conducted two rounds of surveys in China ( n = 220/ n = 489), ran exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and examined the correlation between the measurement and self-rated outcomes. The evaluation tool of TCM students consists of five factors: modern medical knowledge and skills, TCM medical knowledge and skills, professional ethics, communication and cooperation skills, and clinical practices. The reliability and validity of our evaluation tool were testified. Our work may contribute to TCM education in China.

Differing Spontaneous Brain Activity in Healthy Adults with Two Different Body Constitutions: A Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners assess body constitution (BC) as a treatment basis for maintaining body homeostasis. We investigated patterns in spontaneous brain activity in different BC groups using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) and determined the relationship between these patterns and quality of life (QOL). Thirty-two healthy individuals divided into two groups (body constitution questionnaire (BCQ)-gentleness [BCQ-G] and BCQ-deficiency [BCQ-D]) based on the body constitution questionnaire (BCQ) underwent rsfMRI to analyze regional homogeneity (ReHo) and the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF). The World Health Organization Quality of Life Instruments (brief edition) scale was used to evaluate the QOL. The BCQ-G group (n = 18) had significantly greater ReHo values in the right postcentral gyrus and lower ALFF values in the brainstem than the BCQ-D group (n = 14). In the BCQ-D group, decreased ReHo of the postcentral gyrus correlated with better physiological functioning; increased ALFF in the brainstem correlated with poor QOL. BCQ-subgroup analysis revealed a nonsignificant correlation between ReHo and Yang deficiency/phlegm and stasis (Phl & STA). Nonetheless, the BCQ-D group showed a positive correlation between ALFF and Phl & STA in the parahippocampus. This study identified differences between BCQ-G and BCQ-D types of healthy adults based on the rsfMRI analysis. The different BCQ types with varied brain endophenotypes may elucidate individualized TCM treatment strategies.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Explanatory Models of Depressive Disorders: A Qualitative Study

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an alternative medical system utilised by many Chinese. However, the knowledge of TCM concepts of depression is limited amongst clinicians with training in Western biomedicine. The purpose of this study was to obtain a better understanding of the conceptualisation of depression from a group of TCM practitioners. Semi-structured interviews in Chinese were carried out with 10 TCM practitioners in Hong Kong. A case description of major depression disorder (MDD) was used as a basis. Interview texts were transcribed, translated and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Most informants identified the case as a depression pattern, a term that lacked clear definition and standardised criteria. The mechanism of disease for MDD symptoms were regarded to be liver-qi dysregulation and an imbalance of yin and yang. The TCM practitioners implemented individualised diagnosis, treatment, and a holistic concept without clear distinction between the mind and the body. This contrasted with the biomedical tradition of separating psychologisation and somatisation. The meanings given to the concept of depression did not correspond with current DSM or ICD definitions, and the TCM normativity can result in variations in explanatory models.

Diagnosis of traditional Chinese medicine constitution by integrating indices of tongue, acoustic sound, and pulse

IntroductionInspection, auscultation, and pulse-taking are the three physical examinations used by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners to diagnose constitution. The aim of this study was to integrate biological signals extracted from these three examinations, including tongue image, waves of acoustic sound, and pulse waveforms, into the same model in order to identify TCM constitutions. MethodsTongue images, acoustic sound, and pulse waveforms were abstracted from 274 subjects, and indices of biological signals were extracted. Constitution scores were measured using the Nine-Constitution Scale questionnaire. Association between indices and constitution scores were analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. For each of the eight abnormal constitutions, indices significantly correlated to the abnormal constitution were further used as arguments in a linear regression model to build an equation for predicting the constitution score. ResultsTongue indices that were identified to be associated with abnormal constitutions included the G, B, S and b color values, maximum width of tongue body, number of red spots on the tongue surface, and proportion of scalloped tongue margin. Acoustic sound indices included intensity, average number of zero-crossing, high spectral energy ratio, and pitch of the acoustic sound. Pulse waveform indices included the height of the main wave, unsmooth wave, single systolic area, and rapid ejection time. ConclusionsThis study identified indices that are associated with scores of abnormal constitutions. Indices having a larger correlation coefficient can be considered to have larger relative weight in determination of the corresponding constitution. The equations make it possible to predict constitution scores based on biological signals of the tongue, acoustic sound, and pulse.

Research rules of famous veteran traditional Chinese medicine practitioners in treating infertility

To explore the medication rules of famous veteran traditional Chinese medicine practitioners in treating infertility based on medical cases of infertility collected from book series of Hundred Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinicians of Hundred Years in China and Prescription Proven by Traditional Chinese Medicine Masters. Researchers extracted the information of prescriptions from these cases according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Then, Excel 2010, SPSS Clementine(ver.12.0) and SPSS(ver. 22.0) were adopted respectively for frequency analysis, association rules analysis, cluster analysis and factor analysis. Cluster analysis was carried out by Ochiai algorithm of binary variable data, which was a systematic clustering method. And principal component analysis was used for factor analysis. Besides, KMO test and Bartlett spherical test were used for factor adaptation test. Finally, 151 medical cases and 396 prescriptions were included in total. A total of 60 kinds of frequently used herbs were identified according to the results of frequency analysis for medication, they were mainly used for activating blood and resolving stasis, tonifying and clearing heat respectively. The association rules analysis found out 25 drug pair association rules and 14 3-drug combination association rules. A total of 15 medicine groups were extracted by cluster analysis. KMO test and Bartlett spherical test indicated that the method was suitable for factor analysis, and 21 common factors were respectively extracted by factor analysis. Association rules indicated the characteristics of the therapeutic methods, like tonifying Qi and replenishing blood. The famous veteran traditional Chinese medicine practitioners utilized modified Siwu Decoction for tonifying blood and preferred Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma(Baizhu) for tonifying Qi. The results of both cluster analysis and factor analysis demonstrated the characteristics of the therapies for tonifying kidney, activating blood, tonifying spleen and dispelling dampness. In addition, factor analysis could reflect the therapies for nourishing Yin, tonifying kidney, warming the meridian, dissipating cold, nourishing blood and dispelling blood stasis. These results of analysis comprehensively showed out the medication characteristics of famous veteran traditional Chinese medicine practitioners of strictly following the pathogenesis, making good use of classical formulas and providing proper compatibility. In conclusion, data mining techniques(including frequency analysis, association rules analysis, cluster analysis and factor analysis) were used to comprehensively analyze the medication rules of famous veteran traditional Chinese medicine practitioners in treating infertility, which is helpful for guiding the clinical practice of treating infertility with traditional Chinese medicine.

Study on the state of Chinese medicine practitioner in the middle and lower classes of Shanghai in the Republic of China: the case of Yao Xinyuan

During the period of the Republic of China, Shanghai, with its multicultural communities and a chaos medical market, gathered many traditional Chinese medicine practitioners from all over the country. In addition to a few numbers of famous Chinese medicine practitioners, there were a large number of middle and lower class Chinese medicine practitioners who were not famous in the communities at that time, Yao Xinyuan was most representative one. Although the history of their life is hard to find out in detail, we can dig out some fragments of their medical activities, relying on the many publications from that time's Shanghai. After studying the literatures, we found some characteristics. Although they are faced with fierce medical competition, and it was hard to for them in the long-term survival of Shanghai, they still cherish the ambition to make contribution to the country, and strive to carry the traditional Chinese medicine forward by studying the ancient and seeking the new, integrating Chinese and Western medicine.

Practicing in Both Worlds: Why two General Practitioners Decided to Become Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners.

In New Zealand, little is known about Western medicine practitioners, such as general practitioners (GPs), who have also trained in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The aim was to identify the reasons why two GPs decided to study TCM and become integrated health care practitioners. Data from two Auckland-based integrated (combined GP and TCM) health care practitioners were analyzed for the present study. Individual face-to-face interviews were conducted. An inductive thematic approach was used to analyze the data. One main theme emerged. Both participants discussed how they perceived certain limitations in relation to their practice within the Western medicine model and that TCM allowed them to provide a holistic form of treatment. Being an integrated health care practitioner was perceived by participants as allowing them to treat the whole person rather than just the symptoms of a condition. TCM was also perceived to be beneficial as it allowed participants to provide alternative methods in treating their patients.

Traditional Chinese Medicine in Malaysia: A Brief Historical Overview of the Associations

The increasing number of TCM practitioners and herbal suppliers, both of which accelerated by the formation of various TCM institutions, substantiated the creation of regional traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) associations in post-World War II Malaya. In response to the restrictions and levies imposed by the British colonial government, these regional associations united and formed a national organisation now known as the Federation of Chinese Physicians and Medicine Dealers Association of Malaya (FCPMDAM). The current designated TCM practitioner body, the Malaysian Chinese Medical Association (MCMA) were also originally established to nurture local talents in the face of import restrictions. Owing to difference with MCMA, a separate association named the Federation of Chinese Physicians and Acupuncturists Associations of Malaysia (FCPAAM) was setup in 2003 to absorb self-studied and patrimonial-educated TCM practitioners.

Diagnosing with Light

Acupoint Biophoton Emissions Testing (ABET), an alternative diagnostic technique used by practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine, illustrates a case of non-linguistic Delome-level semiosis that is understood to form an interface between endosemiotic and linguistic semiotic levels of human (bio-)communication. Performed manually, the technique employs an array of Hypoiconic and Indexical Symbols that, when used in combination, enable practitioners to “listen in” and learn with biocommunicational processes, re-embodying them in a manner that renders them available to conscious recognition and linguistic representation. The Delome formations of the ABET technique afford the gradual accumulation and transformation of practitioner understanding through sign co-performances that achieve triadic relationality mediationally—prefiguring fully representational forms of learning. They demonstrate embodied capacities for pattern recognition, coordination, exploration, articulation, explication and self-governance that may have evolved in advance of representational sign formations, setting the evolutionary stage for them.

Traditional chinese medicine in Malaysia: A brief historical overview of education and research

The education and research of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Malaysia started coincidentally circa Malaysia's independence movement. Before the independence, much of the development focused on establishing treatment centers and Chinese medical halls to provide TCM treatment. Periodicals and journals advocating TCM and its advancement were published between the 1940s and 1960s, but many did not survive after a few issues. The challenge posed by the Immigration Ordinance 1952 further united TCM practitioners and TCM associations to establish the Chinese Medical Institute of Malaya. The trend gained momentum, and many educational institutes were set up in each of Malaysia. From the 1970s, Malaysia started hosting regional and international TCM conferences. In 2000, TCM education in Malaysia had finally gained recognition from the government. A TCM program standard was thus released by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA). To date, there are seven private higher education institutions which offer TCM programs based on the MQA standards and have established international collaborations with other universities. It is projected that Malaysia's TCM education and research will grow further as a result of China's Belt and Road initiative.

Traditional Chinese Medicine in Malaysia: A Brief Historical Overview of the Institutions

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in British Malaya developed concurrently with the influx of Chinese immigrants. To cater for this growing community, Chinese medical halls which sell Chinese herbs were established in major townships. Consultation and various TCM treatments were also offered by contract TCM practitioners in some of these medical halls. As the needs for TCM services continued to grow, dedicated TCM institutions were set up subsequently. The establishment of these institutions marked the beginning of professional TCM services in the history of Malaysia.

Situation and suggestions for the service trade of traditional Chinese medicine in Singapore

With the establishment of the singapore college of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and the landing of the TCM Practitioners Act in 2000, TCM is booming in Singapore. At present, TCM service trade consumes less outside Singapore, but cross-border consumption, commercial existence and natural person flow have greater advantages. At the same time, the treatment of damp-heat disease, geriatric diseases and tourism of TCM in Singapore made the trade of TCM services show broad prospects for its development. This paper suggests that we should attach importance to the location of service agencies, integrate resources to treat special diseases, increase peer exchanges, take mobile payment as an entry point, and adopt a culture-first approach to develop trade in TCM services. Key words: Traditional Chinese medicine; Service trade; Singapore; Current situation

\u201cYellow-dragon Wonderful-seed Formula\u201d for hyperuricemia in gout patients with dampness-heat pouring downward pattern: a pilot randomized controlled trial

BackgroundIn Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theories, the typical clinical manifestations of gout are attributed to the “dampness-heat pouring downward.” Therefore, TCM practitioners always consider prescribing the formulae which are believed to clear heat and drain dampness for the management of gout. This clinical trial aims: (1) to determine the hypouricemic effect of “Yellow-dragon Wonderful-seed Formula” (YWF) decoction in gout patients with dampness-heat pouring downward pattern and (2) to determine if gypsum could provide additional significant benefits to YWF.MethodsA total of 72 hyperuricemic individuals with gout and dampness-heat pouring downward pattern were included with 62 of them completing the trial. Participants were randomly assigned to the YWF group, the YWF + gypsum group, or the allopurinol group. YWF and YWF + gypsum decoctions were orally administered for four weeks. Allopurinol was also orally administered for four weeks as the active control. Serum uric acid (sUA) level was the primary outcome measure. Urine urate level, scores on the SF-36 scale, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), X ray film, and C reactive protein (CRP) level were the secondary outcome measures.ResultsCompared with the values at week 0, YWF and YWF + gypsum did not significantly decrease the sUA level at each weekend reading. YWF, YWF + gypsum, and allopurinol decreased the urine urate levels and there were significant differences between the YWF group and the YWF + gypsum group. All the changes in the eight structures of SF-36 during the intervention period were not significantly different among the three groups and there was no significant difference in the CRP level among the three groups at each weekend reading.ConclusionsYWM, which modified on the basis of Two Wonderful Herbs Powder (2WHP), does not show significant hypouricemic effect. There is a possibility that Gypsum Fibrosum may provide additional effects to YWF in decreasing the urine urate levels but cannot add benefits to YWF in other outcome measures.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR-TRC-12001933. Registered on 10 February 2012.

Chinese Medicine sans Chinese: The Unequal Impacts of Canada's “Multiculturalism within a Bilingual Framework”

This work presents a critical analysis of the unequal consequences that may arise in a multiculturalist state when language is conceptually divorced from the human rights protections afforded to ethnicity and national origin. Drawing on the results of twenty‐three qualitative interviews and a review of publicly available documents, our interpretive policy analysis examines the rationale, process, and impacts surrounding the controversial linguistic communication and policy approach taken by a regulatory body governing practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine in Canada's multiethnic province of Ontario within an English–French bilingual policy environment. Our findings suggest a conceptual foundation for more equitable policy making based on principles of demographics and demand in jurisdictions concurrently characterized by state multiculturalism policies, significant ethnocultural pluralism, and a commitment to the principle of substantive equality.

Effect of Liuzijue Qigong on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background:Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide with a substantial and increasing social and economic burden. Liuzijue Qigong is a kind of traditional Chinese Qigong exercises that Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners prescribe to individuals with COPD to strengthen the internal organs’ function. Liuzijue Qigong was recommended for use in COPD rehabilitation, and some clinical trials indicate that Liuzijue Qigong would produce better functional capacity and quality of life of individuals with COPD. The objective of this study is to conduct a systematic review of the existing studies to assess effectiveness and safety of Liuzijue Qigong for the prevention or treatment of COPD in patients.Methods:We will perform the comprehensive literature search in English and Chinese electronic database. The publication period will be from inception to the search date. In addition, the clinical trial registries, dissertations, informal publication, grey literature, reference lists of studies, systematic reviews, and conference abstracts will also be collected. Two reviewers will identify relevant studies, extract data information, and then assess the methodical quality by the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool. Only randomized controlled trials comparing Liuzijue Qigong against other intervention or nonintervention will be included. Data will be synthesized by either fixed-effect or random-effect model regarding to a heterogeneity test. The routine lung function, arterial blood gas tensions, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, functional capacity, 30 seconds sit-to-stand test, respiratory function, maximal inspiration pressure, maximal expiratory pressure, airway resistance, and specific airway conductance will be assessed as primary outcomes. The secondary outcomes involved dyspnea, and fatigue levels, respiratory muscle strength, upper and lower limb muscle strength, handgrip strength test, and health-related quality of life and safety. Meta-analysis will be performed by using Cochrane's Review Manager software (version 5.3.5).Results:This systematic review and meta-analysis will provide a high-quality synthesis and evaluate the efficacy and safety based on current relevant literature evidence of Liuzijue Qigong intervention for COPD patient.Conclusion:Our systematic review will provide evidence to determine whether Liuzijue Qigong is an effective and safe approach to prevention and treatment of COPD patients.

Implementing the medical and health care model of the integrated traditional Chinese medicine & western medicine in medical education of UCLA

Based on the holism, the medical and health care model of the Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine & Western Medicine is referred that the practitioners who work with the TCM & Western medicine, apply the methods combined western medicine with TCM to treat patients and health educationfrom the person-centric holism. Professor Ka-Kit Hui, who is the founder of the East and West Medical Center (CEWM) belonged to the University of California, Los Angeles vigorously advocate, and always adhere to the education and clinical. In this paper, we briefly introduced this model. Taking clinical case discussion of CEWM as an example, we focused on and summarized how the team of CEWM applied this model to train the clinical practitioners who would like to work in the Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine & Western Medicine. Through this paper, we hope we could get some useful references for the education of Chinese integrated traditional Chinese medicine & western medicine practitioners. Key words: Education, traditional Chinese medicine and pharmacy; Holism; Integrated traditional Chinese medicine & western medicine; Medical and health care model; Medical records