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Yuan R, Lin Y. Globalizing the science curriculum: an undergraduate course on traditional Chinese medicine as a complementary approach to Western medicine. CBE Life Sci Educ. 2008 Summer;7(2):220-6. PMID: 18519613

Robert Yuan of the University of Maryland and Yuan Lin of Marco Polo Technologies report on a fascinating curriculum introducing Western science undergraduates to Asian approaches to medicine.

From their conclusion: 

"Philosophically, the course did not present TCM in opposition to modern Western medicine but as a complementary approach to it…. Western medicine identifies functions in relation to body structures or tissues, defines disease as malfunctions or infections of such structures, and uses invasive methods to eliminate the causes of the disease. The ideal is to find a “silver bullet” that will specifically remove the cause of the disease or its symptoms. The efficacy of the treatment or drug should be rapid and applicable to a large population of patients; it has generally been most successful for acute illnesses. The medical team comprises generalists, specialists, and laboratory technicians, each of whom examines the patient from his/her perspective. TCM perceives the body as a whole where health is defined as a balance between its many components and functions. Disease occurs when this balance is disrupted and treatment requires the restoration of this balance. Prevention through the use of specialized foods, Tai Chi, and acupuncture is critical, and treatment is by definition gradual because it requires bringing the body back into balance. The patient is seen as an individual (not a patient group), and wellness or therapy is customized. The basic relationship is that between the doctor and the patient because the former has to be familiar with the lifestyle and events of the patient’s life. These two systems of thought reflect differences in history, culture, and society."

Check out the textbook: The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine.

CAMWatch: Posts about free-access, peer-reviewed articles on aspects of complementary medicine theory, practice and policy (about the blogger). This blog is not a source for medical advice.

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