Part
of the Introduction Chapter to the Book Written By Graham Player Ph.D.
‘Everybody’s
Health – Time to Reap the Benefits of East and West’
Hai
Feng Publishing, 1992
By
Graham Player Ph.D.
金
博 賢
There is
a growing demand worldwide for greater knowledge of Eastern traditional
philosophies and their practices of health and healing. The need to
develop and preserve this knowledge has become urgent, so much so that the
need for traditional studies forms part of the policies and concerns of
the World Health Organization.
Western
medical science and practice have provided major advances to contemporary
society, and continue to be the prime health care delivery system
throughout the developed world. However there is growing public interest
in, and demand for, complementary therapies to Western orthodox medicine,
particularly for the treatment of chronic disease and ongoing health
maintenance. A recent survey in the United Kingdom revealed that 80% of
those questioned requested alternative therapies be included in the
National Health Service.
This
situation has arisen due to increasing community concerns over the
efficacy and safety of some modern drugs and other procedures, the
apparent inadequacy of advancement in the key areas of chronic illness,
the soaring costs of increasingly complex technology, and the feeling that
medical treatment is becoming less human and out of reach for all but the
wealthy nations. It is also apparent that modern scientific medicine,
despite its comprehensive reservoir of knowledge, enormous financial
resources, economic expense to the community, and omnipotent drug
treatments, has failed to meet the advancing expectations of society.
At the
forefront of the search for complementary therapies is Chinese traditional
healing. Although some aspects of acupuncture are accepted by Western
orthodox medicine, Chinese medicine in general is considered only in terms
of its Western counterpart. The underlying principles of this traditional
therapy are not understood by orthodox medicine, apart from some specific
groups of practitioners.
The
demand for greater knowledge and use of Chinese traditional health and
healing practices, and its philosophies continues to increase throughout
the world. It is necessary that acupuncture and traditional Chinese
medicine be more accessible to Western science for further research and
studies, and to recognize and include this therapy as a complement to
optimum community health care programs throughout the world. It is well
known that traditional Chinese medicine has continued to serve and support
one-quarter of the world’s population for more than two millennia. In
most, if not all, contemporary Western societies traditional Chinese
medicine has found growing support, acceptance and favor throughout the
community. This has been due mainly to its apparent and alleged benefits
and efficacy as a therapeutic modality.
In
defiance of objections raised by some Western Medical Associations and
their apparent lack of support or recognition of traditional Chinese
medicine, a growing number of their own members today practice
acupuncture. This is an endorsement of the efficacy of acupuncture, and
its community demand and acceptance.
Given
the confused status of traditional Chinese medicine in many Western
societies and the lobbying for its control from various associations with
vested interests, it is inevitable that further controversy and
investigations will eventuate. A major part of, and indeed the impetus, of
these investigations and clarification should logically be accepted by
China and Hong Kong whose very cultural foundation and history will be
laid open to world-wide examination and judgment. To remain apathetic,
silent and complacent about an obvious and inevitable movement throughout
the Western world would not be sensible.
Clearly
it is time that the position was clarified, and adequate investigations
undertaken to establish the role of traditional Chinese medicine in
contemporary society. In the minds of people who have studied the subject,
and patients who have received benefits, there is no doubt that
traditional Chinese medicine is effective. As medical research is largely
commerce-driven, funds made available for research into traditional
therapies are miniscule compared to that of drug therapies. In the past
many investigations into traditional Chinese medicine have been improper
and incomplete, due in particular to lack of funds, cultural differences
and ignorance. However published findings, usually not supportive of
traditional Chinese medicine, have generally been accepted by default as
authoritative and thorough.
Apart
from funding, there is the question of research standards. For Western
scientists to accept research results experiments have to follow carefully
planned procedures, which eliminate all but the effects that are to be
observed. Unfortunately the country where much research has been done –
China – is not strong in the exacting culture of Western science. Whilst
this may not matter to those who understand and use the therapies, it does
mean that the orthodox medical scientist will not accept them. Thus, these
therapies are denied to the countries in which Western medicine is the
established lore.
I hope
that my small contribution, through the information and ideas I have
delivered to you in this book, serves to encourage and accelerate the
continued development of optimum health care delivery systems throughout
the world for the benefit of mankind.
Reproduction
without written permission is expressly forbidden. |
