Traditional Medicine in Communist China: Science, Communism and Cultural Nationalism

Abstract

In recent years a number of visitors to China have remarked on the rather surprising preservation and even revival of the country's ancient native medical tradition. To Westerners, so accustomed to associating modern medicine with progress and scientific advance, the continued existence of this obviously prescientific art has been one of the more curious anachronisms in the new society. Moreover, for a revolutionary government so firmly committed to science and modernisation, this support and encouragement of traditional medicine has seemed paradoxical indeed.

Rhino horn use by consumers of traditional Chinese medicine in China

“…The integration of TCM into the Chinese healthcare system and the active promotion of TCM by the Chinese government both domestically and abroad (Cheung et al, 2020) may affect the effectiveness of demand reduction campaigns that are centered on the message that rhino horn has no pharmacological efficacy or that TCM treatments are unscientific (Smith, 2018). Even though such messaging contributed to the reduction of rhino horn demand in Taiwan during the last few decades (Herbig & Griffiths, 2016), the design and implementation of behavior change interventions in China must consider the deep cultural roots of TCM and the complex political factors associated with its use and promotion in China (Cheung et al, 2020; Croizier, 1965; Manfredo et al, 2017).…”

“…Records of the use of rhino horn as a medicinal ingredient in China date back millennia (Liu, Wang, Duan, Guo, & Tang, 2010). Such use has continued into the modern era (But, Lung, & Tam, 1990), in which traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has experienced a revival through its integration into the healthcare system of the People's Republic of China for reasons that are both functional and politically motivated (Cheung et al, 2020; Croizier, 1965; Gross, 2018). Rhino horn is known in TCM as an ingredient that imparts potent “cool” or “cold” properties (But et al, 1990), and practitioners in China see it as a valuable treatment option for certain severe or critical conditions.…”

Factors Affecting Definitions of and Approaches to Integrative Medicine: A Mixed Methods Study Examining China’s Integrative Medicine Development

“…From 1950 to 1954, the government therefore emphasized teaching the rudiments of modern medicine and public health to traditional practitioners, bringing them into “united clinics/hospitals” where they officially worked alongside western biomedical practitioners. Many of these united clinics later became full-fledged CM or IM hospitals [ 17 ].…”

Traditional Korean medicine in the modernization process: institutional and attitudinal changes

“…But East Asian medicine has survived because of its therapeutic or adaptive value, although it lost its official status. In the post-World War II era, with the nationalist movements in Asia, there have been revivals of interest in and/or institutional reforms of East Asian medical systems in countries where it is practiced (Croizier, 1968(Croizier, , 1976Lee, 1974;Lock, 1980a;Otsuka, 1976).…”

“…Before the 1970s, except for the works of Croizier (1965Croizier ( , 1966Croizier ( , 1968), there were very few studies of East Asian medicine. In the early 1970s, a series of introductions to Chinese health services, based mainly on short travels to the People's Republic of China (PRC), stimulated the systematic research on East Asian medicine.…”