The corpus of Traditional Chinese Medicine includes acupuncture, acupressure, moxabustion, Qi Gong and herbal medicine, all of which can be referred to under those individual headings.

Unlike Western science-based medicine, traditional Chinese medicine has its roots in ancient cosmology — belief systems for which there is no empirical support.

The Taoists believed that the universe can be described by the dualistic concept of yin and yang. All matter is supposedly made up of yin and yang, including the human body. Yin (feminine and negative) and yang (male and positive) are two powerful elements which it is alleged, can destroy if out of harmony or balance. When either is out of balance, illness results. These two potencies form the basis of many Chinese healing modalities.

Also included and considered influential are the five elements (earth, fire, water, wood and metal) and the planets Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Venus and Mercury. However, the qualities attributed to the planets are different from those of Western astrology. To remain healthy, man must attune himself to conform with the ever moving cycles of the heavenly bodies and other diverse correspondences.

Prior to November 1994, China had no Truth in Advertising Law and pseudoscientific scams proliferated. Although these have now been contained to a certain extent and new medicines are required to pass a clinical test, there are no rigorous controls.

Testing metaphysical theories such as measuring the flow of chi may not be possible, although the assumptions based on its existence may be. Acupuncture can be tested as can individual herbs. The big problem with testing TCM herbology is that it is vast and the products are not standardized — and in some cases nobody knows what chemicals they contain. A good example of this is a Chinese herbal remedy Qian Ceng Ta, traditionally used to treat fever and inflammation. It has recently been claimed that it may prove to be the source of an effective treatment for Alzheimer's Disease. An alkaloid, huperzine A, that acts as a potent inhibitor of acetylcholineesterase (AChE), and which breaks down acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter, has been isolated from the herb. It is a shortage of this neurotransmitter that is believed to contribute to memory loss in patients with Alzheimer's Disease. Inhibiting AChE huperzine A, causes an increase in the amount of acetycholine and therefore (it is assumed) slows the rate of memory loss.

Although the isolation of a specific compound of this particular herb may prove to be beneficial, scientific analysis of the herb per se has revealed that it has no identifiable antipyretic or anti-inflammatory action.

Sir William Keys, a former president of the RSL and prominent Australian identity, undertook Traditional Chinese Medical treatment for prostate cancer in 1995, notwithstanding that orthodox treatment in Australia had seen his cancer in remission.
 
He later wrote a book Flowers in Winter on his Chinese experience. In the book he tells how he spent US$10,000 on the herbal "cure" and confessed that "he had been done like the proverbial dinner". 


References:  

Alcock, et aL 1988. Testing psi claims in China: Visit by a CSICOP delegation. Skeptical Inquirer, 12:364-74.

Basser, Dr. S. 1997. Medical News, Vic/Tas Skeptics Newsletter, May, No.19, p. 2.

Chan. 1993. Chinese herbal medicines revisited: a Hong Kong perspective. The Lancet, 1993, 342:1532-4.

Keys, Sir William. 1995. Flowers in Winter. Allen & Unwin Pty. Ltd. St. Leonards, NSW, Australia.

Wu Xianghong. 1995. Paranormal in China, Skeptical Briefs 5:(1):1-3.


From:  Edwards, H. 1999 Alternative, Complementary, Holistic & Spiritual Healing, Australian Skeptics  Inc.