Similarities and Differences in the Practice of Chinese Medicine in China and the United States
In the United States, acupuncture is likely the first and only
exposure many people have to Chinese medicine. Acupunctur- ists are licensed here, and some, may choose to add Chinese herbs to their list of therapeutic tools. While it is very rare to find someone who practices only herbal medicine in the United States, it is the norm in China. In China, herbal medicine is used to treat and manage serious health issues, both chronic and acute. Acu- puncture may also be used as an adjunct therapy, however, herbal medicine would be the primary therapy. Doctors in China might practice only herbal medicine, as in the case of the doctors we studied with who maintained private clinics outside the hospital or might practice integrated allo- pathic and herbal medicine, as in the case of the doctors we studied with from the hospital. In addition we spent a significant amount of time studying with private doctors who were unaf- filiated with the hospital and treated their patients solely with herbs. These included Dr. Feng, who was invited to Israel because his treatments were so effective, including the successful treat- ment of multiple sclerosis. We also studied with Dr. Jiang, a well regarded doctor of herbal medicine who had studied exten- sively one of 40 living masters of Traditional Chinese Medicine, also about whom we partially based a recently published article in the Journal of the American Herbalist Guild. Both of these doctors were notable in their capacity to produce impressive results with a wide range of clients using only herbs. The doctors trained in both allopathic and herbal medicine
all specialized in a specific area of care, such as gynecology, oncology, or endocrinology, although they would have to be
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prepared to treat a wide variety of conditions with herbs, in ad- dition to their area of specialty. Because of their training, Chinese doctors in the hospital would integrate both allopathic medicine and herbal medicine for each patient, deciding who would re- ceive pharmaceuticals and medical tests and procedures and who would receive herbs. Nearly every patient received herbs, however, not every patient received pharmaceuticals. It is important to note here that Chinese herbal medicine differs from the western herbal medicine many are accustomed to in the United States, in that herbal formulas, not single herbs or extracted herbal constituents, are used. In Chinese medicine, herbs are always combined in a formula. Formulas are structured to enhance certain effects of the herbs, while minimizing pos- sible side effects. The doctors we observed also often used Chi- nese herbs to minimize the side effects of pharmaceuticals that any given patient might be taking. Another major difference is the volume of patients that Chi- nese doctors see in their practices. Doctors would see a patient every 3-10 minutes in outpatient, averaging as many 40-50 pa- tients in a four hour morning clinic session. Literally, we would watch doctors feel the pulse with one hand and write the herbal prescription with the other hand, in a small room with as many as 20-25 other patients, students, or family members packed in at same time, with a line of waiting patients out the door. In the US, we typically spend one hour to 1.5 hours with one client.
Lessons Learned Our time in China reiterated and reinforced many important
lessons for us both about the utility and practicality of Chinese herbal medicine. It reaffirmed our confidence and trust to see herbal medicine used on such a wide scale. This confidence was supported by our observation of many return clients who were significantly better with each batch of herbs that they received. Below are some key lessons, along with examples from both our clinical practice. Please note that the following examples were patients that were also under the care of their allopathic doctors and often came to us with diagnoses from these doctors. Chinese medicine classics contain many herbal formulas
that can effectively treat common western health issues, like kidney issues, lymph issues, respiratory issues, flu and the com- mon cold, post-nasal drip, digestive issues, eye problems, der- matological problems, chronic fatigue, various pain disorders including fibromyalgia, as well as women’s health issues like endometriosis. Recently Andres used a modified version of an herbal formula for tonifying the kidneys authored 1800 years ago. He used this formula to treat a woman in her late 80s whose goal was to stay off of kidney dialysis. Her kidney function was at 16% and her doctor told her if her kidney function decreased to 15% she would have to be put on dialysis. Using this formula her kidney function increased to 26%. This shows one of many modern uses of the formulas in these texts which date back thousands of years.
Andres also used some of the knowledge of the classical formulas that he learned from the private herbal doctors in China to write a formula for an 11 year old girl with severe pso- riasis down her entire arm. With an internal herbal formula along with some topical treatment this affliction was improved to the point that her mother now describes her daughter’s skin as being as soft as that of a baby. In addition he used herbs for a client with an essential tremor who can now write and drink from
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