Exploring the Necessity and Significance of Constructing "Social and Health Studies of Traditional Chinese Medicine" for Developing Overseas Traditional Chinese Medicine Practice.

This article explores the necessity and significance of constructing "Social and Health Studies of Traditional Chinese Medicine (SHSTCM)" for developing the overseas traditional Chinese medicine practice. With the increasing attention and recognition of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) globally, the overseas TCM practice also faces numerous challenges, including cultural differences, regulatory restrictions, medical insurance policies, qualification certification, and limited research resources. To compensate for the lack of research on the biomedical level in the overseas TCM practice and to find pathways suitable for its development conditions, this article proposes the concept of "SHSTCM" as a new interdisciplinary field. SHSTCM focuses on the application and development of TCM in non-biomedical fields such as social, cultural, and psychological aspects. By employing mixed-method research designs to study the practices and effects of TCM in the interdisciplinary fields of social and health sciences, it provides new possibilities and systematic support for the development of overseas TCM practice. The article also discusses the scope, research methods, significance, and value of SHSTCM proposes its development direction and challenges, and calls for strengthening research and practice in this field to inject new vitality and momentum into the sustainable development of the overseas TCM practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]