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Cited by 167Traditional Chinese Medicine StudiesMedical Research and TreatmentsComplementary and Alternative Medicine Studies

Developing Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Era of Evidence-Based Medicine: Current Evidences and Challenges

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Fung, Foon Yin, Linn, Yeh Ching·2015·Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
DOI 10.1155/2015/425037PMC PMC4407626
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Abstract

Evidence-based medicine (EBM), by integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available clinical evidence from systematic research, has in recent years been established as the standard of modern medical practice for greater treatment efficacy and safety. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), on the other hand, evolved as a system of medical practice from ancient China more than 2000 years ago based on empirical knowledge as well as theories and concepts which are yet to be mapped by scientific equivalents. Despite the expanding TCM usage and the recognition of its therapeutic benefits worldwide, the lack of robust evidence from the EBM perspective is hindering acceptance of TCM by the Western medicine community and its integration into mainstream healthcare. For TCM to become an integral component of the healthcare system so that its benefits can be rationally harnessed in the best interests of patients, it is essential for TCM to demonstrate its efficacy and safety by high-level evidence in accordance with EBM, though much debate remains on the validity and feasibility of applying the EBM model on this traditional practice. This review aims to discuss the current status of research in TCM, explore the evidences available on its efficacy and safety, and highlight the issues and challenges faced in applying EBM to TCM.

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  • Many mainstream scholars of Chinese medicine consider the evidence-based framework reductionist, but they believe it can be tailored to suit the epistemology of Chinese medicine.

    “Many mainstream scholars of Chinese medicine consider the evidence-based framework reductionist, but they believe it can be tailored to suit the epistemology of Chinese medicine.”

    From Indian Imaginaries of Chinese Success in the Global Herbal Medicine Market (2019) · cites this paper as Fung and Linn 2015

    Section 8 (Future Directions; page not provided) says EBM should be adapted flexibly to TCM rather than rigidly imposed. Section 3 gives an example of accommodating individualized TCM treatment within an EBM trial. The paper does not establish that many mainstream Chinese-medicine scholars regard EBM as reductionist or hold this view. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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Authors
Fung, F. Y., & Linn, Y. C.
Affiliations
Singapore General Hospital (SG)
Corresponding author
Linn, Yeh Ching
ORCID
Venue
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Publisher
Hindawi Limited
Published
2015
Volume
2015
Pages
1-9
ISSN
  • 1741-427X (ISSN-L)
  • 1741-4288
DOI
10.1155/2015/425037
PMC
PMC4407626
OpenAlex
W1964853364
Cited by
167
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 4
FWCI
2.08
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • National University of Singapore (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
Ministry of Health Healthcare Quality Improvement & Innovation Fund
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Traditional Chinese Medicine Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Medical Research and Treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies
Keywords
traditional Chinese medicine, evidence-based medicine, complementary and alternative medicine

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