Evidence-Based Medicine: Applicablity and Value for Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (Part 1).

While Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) does not lack well-conceived, empirically- and time-tested diagnostic and therapeutic treatment methodologies, these may be insufficient to support its fuller integration with the dominant Western health care system. Western medicine continues to discount, ignore, or even dismiss, many of the fundamental theories of TCM. Moreover, there continues to be widespread criticism of the the methods, and therefore the findings, of TCM-related research. Although questions increasingly arise as to the appropriateness of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for studying certain types of medical research questions, including many pertaining to TCM, RCTs remain the gold standard for scientific research and strongly inf luence evidence-based medicine (EBM). Aspects of EBM have been an informal component of TCM dating back to the time of Zhang Zhong-Jing, and the Shang Han Lun certainly ref lects key elements of formal EBM. A deeper understanding and greater use of EBM among TCM professionals would improve the overall perception and credibility of TCM and contribute to its fuller integration with the conventional Western healthcare system, including among those who provide, pay for, and utilize TCM services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]