TCM must be cherished as part of traditional culture
Fei LiChina Daily  Updated: 2005-01-10 06:56

The Chinese Government's decision to apply for "world intangible heritage" status for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is certainly heartening news to its practitioners, and is a move expected to give a huge boost to the protection and promotion of TCM.

It is reported government bodies are now working to submit an application to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

UNESCO defines "intangible cultural heritage" as the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge and skills that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage.

As a practice that has existed for thousands of years, TCM has long been a part of Chinese culture, not simply a branch of medical science.

It has lost some of its lustre since Western-style medicine was introduced in China more than 100 years ago.

Infused with many Chinese philosophical thinkings such as stressing a harmonious relationship between man and nature, TCM is still viewed by some outsiders as superstitious or pseudo science.

The practice has, to some extent, given way to Western medicine and is seen as complementary to it, or alternative.

The lack of standards and accurate statistics on ingredients and the length of time it takes to see results are factors holding back the development of TCM.

Many people are turning their backs on the pracitce, once the only choice for Chinese when they fell ill.

The number of TCM clinics is dwarfed by their Western-style counterparts, a phenomenon more acute in cities.

But the above does not necessarily suggest a gloomy future for TCM.

TCM's remarkable track record in treating a number of chronic diseases and severe acute respiratory syndrome, as well as its role in combating AIDS, all indicate that TCM still has a niche.

The combination of TCM and Western-style medicines has been proven to be effective in treating some complex ailments which are hard to treat using just one or the other.

TCM has also become accepted in more foreign countries in recent years, with China now having TCM agreements with 67 countries.

And its TCM exports have grown by 5.5 per cent in the past five years.

In China, TCM holds another significance.

Generally, TCM is more cost-effective than Western-style medical treatment, which often requires expensive equipment.

Such a cost difference may be trivial in cities, but it is crucial in rural areas where farmers can be driven to poverty by medical burdens.

There is still much to be learnt from this centuries-old practice and more scientific research should be done on TCM in order to explain its seemingly magical effects in a more scientific way, thus making it more acceptable in medical terms.

It is hoped that government's bidding to add it to the list of intangible heritage will promote our awareness of this rich resource that we have long taken for granted.

TCM, as a part of our culture, should be cherished, be it listed or not.

But getting listed is not an automatic guarantee that this precious heritage will be well protected.

A case in point is the damage done to some world heritage sites after getting the much-coveted status.

The best way to protect TCM from being marginalized is to develop and popularize it.

The success of preserving this centuries-old traditional practice rests not only on its own development, but also on our sense of mission.

When knowing the possible loss of TCM is much more than just a loss of an alternative medical treatment, but a part of our cherished culture, we have every reason to care for its future.

Whether TCM will be listed or not, we are duty-bound to pass on this sometimes mysterious yet magic part of culture to following generations. 

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