Relegated to the realm of alternative medicine in the West, TCM is often viewed as a system based more on ancient superstition than science. Trying to understand TCM from the viewpoint of 20th century science is akin to trying to decipher Old English without a modern translation. There is a methodical approach at work; it’s just difficult to understand.

Couched in the ancient language and philosophy of the time, with references to qi, the five elements and yin and yang, that approach is often misinterpreted as being overly philosophical. However, the applications are actually quite practical. Qi refers to a physiological process; yin and yang to balance. The five elements (wu xing) are in fact a system used to describe the interactions and relationships that connect the various systems in the body to each other and to the environment–the flow of energy or fluids, for example. These systems are further confused by the Western understanding of anatomy.

When a TCM doctor refers to the Lung, this is not the same as its anatomical counterpart. The Chinese organs are interrelated systems. “An organ has its own qi , and delivers that to another organic system which gets its energy from another system and so forth,” explains Doris Rathgeber, general manager of Body & Soul Medical Clinics. As such, “A cough might actually be related to a problem with the Kidney,” explains Dr. Shao Lei, head of the acupuncture department of Huashan Hospital Fudan University. “This is often hard for patients to understand.”

Western studies on TCM have focused particularly on the workings of acupuncture and herbology, although explanations are not easily forthcoming. Many of the world’s pharmaceuticals come from herbs, but “it’s still hard to measure why the combination of one herb with another herb works,” Rathgeber says. Herbal prescriptions alter according to changes in the patient’s constitution and environment, making herbal remedies harder to test in isolation.

The healing effects of acupuncture, though not fully explained, are strongly linked to the nervous system. Piercing the skin with a needle triggers the sensation of injury. The brain generates an immune response, stimulating the area and strengthening the immune system in one fell prick. “The nervous system is interconnected,” adds Shao. “One point affects another.”

Despite its strengths in preventative and palliative medicine, neither Shao nor Rathgeber believes TCM needs to be practiced in isolation. Acute conditions requiring antibiotics or other Western treatments should not be avoided if necessary. Neither doctor shies from using Western diagnostic tools such as X-rays, MRIs or lab tests to more clearly pin-point the exact cause of a perceived deficiency. “Western medicine is more concerned with exact measurements, whereas TCM focuses on the overall result,” says Shao.

“For me, it’s not important if TCM is proven scientifically,” states Rathgeber, “more that it’s proven to work for the patient.”

By Trista Baldwin

Consultation: ¥500 at Huashan Hospital (¥300 after), ¥680-850 at Body & Soul Medical Clinics