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Peer review for traditional Chinese medicine?

Nature publishes a News story today (5 April) about China's plans to modernize traditional medicine. (Nature 446, 590-591; 2007; subscription or site licence required). The article describes China's plans to bring traditional medicine in line with modern standards, but reports scepticism among many about whether the research will reach "the scientific standards necessary for international recognition".

Some critics also worry that the plan doesn't set strict enough scientific standards. Although clinical research is listed as a priority, the plan doesn't specify whether there should be randomized, controlled trials in which neither practitioners nor patients know who is receiving active remedy and who is getting a placebo. And there is no requirement for TCM researchers to publish in internationally recognized journals. "Most research on TCM in the past is of poor quality, and is published only in Chinese medical journals without proper peer-review processes," remarks Wang [director of the National Centre for Drug Screening at the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica]. "Without a clear position from the government, it is unlikely that the situation will change."

Other similar concerns, and the question of whether traditional medicine is even susceptible to a mechanistic approach, are discussed in the News article.


Posted by Maxine Clarke on April 05, 2007
Categories: Systems | | Comments (2)

Comments

Sometimes I don't think this is a scientific issue. Anti-TCM camp in China is appealing the government to stop any TCM practise in hospital until it is scientifically proved valid. But to most Chinese, it sounds like something regarded true and reliable for ages is now in question as a whole. If the situation were to change, it should be a huge one, a revolution from the deepest mind of the each people. What's worse, Chinese are not as credulous to what's 'scientifically proved' as westerners because historically the Chinese people are not the founder of modern scientific approach.

Posted by: Andrew Sun | April 27, 2007 03:31 PM

For Chinese people it is more important what reputation certain chinese medicine has in society than the newest studies about it. Bringing TCM to "modern" standards will make it more recognizable for the rest of the world, kind of international license.

Posted by: Doctor Liem | January 22, 2008 02:59 AM

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