Traditional and modern Chinese medicine Healthcare in China

china has 1 of longest recorded history of medicine records of existing civilization. methods , theories of traditional chinese medicine have developed on 2 thousand years. western medical theory , practice came china in nineteenth , twentieth centuries, notably through efforts of missionaries , rockefeller foundation, founded peking union medical college. today chinese traditional medicine continues alongside western medicine , traditional physicians, receive western medical training, primary care givers in clinics , pharmacies of rural china. various traditional preventative , self-healing techniques such qigong, combines gentle exercise , meditation, practiced adjunct professional health care.

although practice of traditional chinese medicine promoted chinese leadership , remained major component of health care, western medicine gained increasing acceptance in 1970s , 1980s. example, number of physicians , pharmacists trained in western medicine reportedly increased 225,000 1976 1981, , number of physicians assistants trained in western medicine increased 50,000. in 1981 there reportedly 516,000 senior physicians trained in western medicine , 290,000 senior physicians trained in traditional chinese medicine. goal of china s medical professionals synthesize best elements of traditional , western approaches.

in practice, however, combination has not worked smoothly. in many respects, physicians trained in traditional medicine , trained in western medicine constitute separate groups different interests. instance, physicians trained in western medicine have been reluctant accept unscientific traditional practices, , traditional practitioners have sought preserve authority in own sphere. although chinese medical schools provided training in western medicine provided instruction in traditional medicine, relatively few physicians regarded competent in both areas in mid-1980s.

the extent traditional , western treatment methods combined , integrated in major hospitals varied greatly. hospitals , medical schools of purely traditional medicine established. in urban hospitals, pattern seemed to establish separate departments traditional , western treatment. in county hospitals, however, traditional medicine received greater emphasis.

traditional medicine depends on herbal treatments, acupuncture, acupressure, moxibustion (burning of herbs on acupuncture points), cupping (local suction of skin), qigong (coordinated movement, breathing, , awareness), tui na (massage), , other culturally unique practices. such approaches believed effective in treating minor , chronic diseases, in part because of milder side effects. traditional treatments may used more serious conditions well, particularly such acute abdominal conditions appendicitis, pancreatitis, , gallstones; traditional treatments used in combination western treatments. traditional method of orthopedic treatment, involving less immobilization western methods, continued used in 1980s.