FDA has acknowledged that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is
part of an efficacious and complete medical system as involving
"whole systems of theory and practice that have evolved
independently from or parallel to allopathic (conventional)
medicine."
The newly-released Guidance for Industry on Complementary
and Alternative Medicine Products and their Regulation by FDA
had not included traditional medicine in its compilation of
complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) but now traditional
medicine including TCM has finally gained the same level of respect
as conventional Western medicine.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
(NCCAM) in association with FDA said that complete medical systems
such as TCM reflect cultural diversity and the innate healing
properties of the body, and represents healing techniques which tap
the mind, body and spirit.
Chen Keji from the Chinese Academy of Traditional Chinese
Medicine applauded FDA's acceptance of TCM theory and of its
curative function, adding that this had come after the popularity
of CAM in the US.
(China.org.cn by Huang Shan, August 3, 2007)