How to Identify a Good Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Doctor?

Choosing a good TCM doctor for healing is a pressing desire for many people who are unwell. However, recent years have seen a proliferation of “masters” and “miracle doctors” in the field of TCM, which has led to a lot of skepticism about the ethics and standards in TCM. In reality, China, being a vast country, has no shortage of highly ethical and highly skilled TCM practitioners. However, it requires us to sharpen our discernment, think independently, and make judgments based on our own wisdom to distinguish between genuine and unqualified practitioners, rather than being influenced by overwhelming advertising. Only then can we discover the true “saviors of the people.”

Reference 1 for a Good TCM Doctor: High Moral Integrity and Detached from Fame and Wealth

Regardless of TCM or Western medicine, having high moral integrity is a fundamental requirement for all healthcare practitioners. Embracing high moral standards and remaining detached from fame and wealth is an essential quality for a good TCM doctor. When choosing a TCM practitioner, many patients tend to check their titles and administrative ranks. They often believe that only those with titles like “professor,” “director,” or “expert” can effectively treat illnesses. With nearly a decade of experience in the medical field, I would like to advise that China’s current medical administrative ranks and titles often do not reflect the true competence of healthcare professionals. Often, only those who are skilled at producing academic papers to appease superiors or those with strong connections can advance in rank. Therefore, a TCM practitioner with higher administrative ranks and numerous administrative duties may have lower clinical expertise. Imagine a doctor whose time is mostly occupied by endless meetings and research topics, how could they find the energy to study TCM classics?

TCM is a practical medical discipline that doesn’t rely on laboratory experiments like Western medicine. It has been developed over thousands of years through careful clinical exploration and validation of effectiveness based on patients’ subjective experiences. This practice has remained unchanged, and therefore, TCM practitioners with lower titles and fewer administrative duties often have more time to study ancient medical texts, understand the principles, and improve clinical efficacy. Those with a plethora of titles and various administrative roles are often the real charlatans, and even some folk TCM practitioners who lack proper medical licenses can achieve better clinical results than many current experts and professors.

Reference 2 for a Good TCM Doctor: Meticulous Diagnosis and Slower Patient Appointments

Some say that TCM doctors are “slow healers.” This “slowness” doesn’t refer to TCM taking a long time to work; rather, it indicates that TCM practitioners carefully examine patients’ conditions, meticulously consider herbal formulations, and often take around ten minutes to complete an assessment. For experienced patients, the time might be slightly shorter, but it should never be as short as two or three minutes. Ancient Chinese physician Zhang Zhongjing, a pioneer in TCM, criticized some doctors of his time, saying they “didn’t even reach the wrist when feeling the pulse” and “quickly prescribed herbal formulas.” However, today, some so-called “famous doctors” astonish us with their rapid patient turnover. They merely go through the motions of pulse-taking and tongue diagnosis and, in their minds, have already decided on a prescription the moment they see the patient, without carefully considering the patient’s unique symptoms. These rushed prescriptions are unlikely to be effective, as opposed to the practices of the ancients. Zhang Zhongjing, a renowned physician from the Ming Dynasty, would see over fifty patients in one day, but he knew his limits and wouldn’t see one more. This was a matter of responsibility to both himself and the patients. Therefore, when selecting a good TCM doctor, it is recommended to observe their clinical practices and assess how much time they spend on each patient.

Reference 3 for a Good TCM Doctor: Precise and Cost-Effective Medication

Some patients, due to the urgency of their conditions, wish for the fastest recovery and, therefore, insist that the doctor prescribe expensive or potent medications. There’s a subconscious belief that expensive drugs are better. Such thoughts are quite humorous because the price of a drug is not directly related to its effectiveness. The quality of healthcare primarily depends on the TCM practitioner’s accurate diagnosis and precise medication. It’s not the case that more expensive herbs lead to better results. Drug prices are market-driven; for example, Cordyceps, which was once an ordinary herb for nourishing the lungs and kidneys, has increased in price over the years due to media and market hype, transitioning from a modest herb to a cure for all ailments. This drives the common people to want to try it, while the wealthy and influential seek it eagerly. Some profit-driven TCM practitioners don’t consider whether patients are suitable for it but prescribe Cordyceps in large quantities. This results in significant resource wastage. In fact, the effects of Cordyceps can be fully replaced with other cost-effective herbs. A TCM doctor with high moral standards and detachment from fame and wealth would never intentionally use expensive herbs. Instead, out of concern for the patient’s financial situation, they would make an effort to use lower-cost medications. If you encounter a TCM practitioner with this “simple, effective, and affordable” prescription philosophy, consider yourself fortunate.

Furthermore, the use of a minimal number of herbs is a long-standing approach in TCM to maximize effectiveness. When too many herbs are combined in a prescription, their effects can counteract each other, leading to an ineffective treatment. Most prescriptions in the classic TCM text “Shang Han Lun” consist of no more than ten herbs, and some even have only two or three. The widespread practice among modern TCM doctors of prescribing more than twenty herbs with a mix of flavors is often unhelpful and even harmful to the patient. Doctors hold the power over life and death and should not exploit their role for profit. Therefore, when you encounter a TCM practitioner who prescribes excessively expensive or complex formulas, it’s advisable to steer clear.

Reference 4 for a Good TCM Doctor: Simplicity, Sincerity, and Avoiding Boastfulness

The Huangdi Neijing, an ancient Chinese medical text, states, “Appreciate their food, wear their clothing, enjoy their customs, and do not expect people to admire you; therefore, the people will say you are simple.” Simplicity and sincerity are not only the external expressions of moral refinement, as defined by classical TCM literature, but also the conduct that a good TCM practitioner should adhere to and uphold. A TCM doctor who passionately pursues luxury cars, power, extravagance, and grandiosity doesn’t align with the graceful demeanor expected of a TCM doctor. Such characteristics may compromise the purity of their TCM practice. TCM is not only a branch of medicine but also a way of life and self-cultivation. A good TCM practitioner brings an aura of tranquility and harmony to their work. As the ancient saying goes, “One who uses clever words and an attractive appearance is rarely virtuous.” The legendary physician Zhang Zhongjing, when young, had his face read by a physiognomist named He Yong. He Yong commented, “Your thinking is profound, but you are not high-spirited. You will become a good doctor.” Zhang Zhongjing’s remarkable career later confirmed this prediction

, showing that deep thinking and wisdom are often found in those who don’t boast or exhibit extravagant behaviors.

TCM is both a branch of medicine and a way of life, a path of self-cultivation. A good TCM doctor emanates an aura of serenity and equanimity. Ancient wisdom suggests, “Those who are quick-witted and charming are rarely benevolent.” Zhang Zhongjing’s story highlights that eloquence and verbosity are not qualities that align with traditional TCM practitioners. Zhuangzi, the Daoist philosopher, stated, “Heaven and Earth have great beauty but do not speak.” TCM embodies the wisdom of the cosmos, and its profound beauty does not require excessive words. Similarly, the competence of a doctor and their medical practice does not necessitate many words. It’s the results of the treatment, as measured by the patient’s improvement, that matter most. A TCM practitioner who exudes a quiet, composed presence usually has a higher level of clinical competence.

Reference 5 for a Good TCM Doctor: Does Not Actively Recommend Simultaneous Use of Western and Chinese Medicine

TCM and Western medicine represent two distinct and non-intersecting theoretical systems. At present, a unified theory that combines the two has yet to be developed. Medicine, both Western and Chinese, is vast and profound, and mastering both systems and integrating them cohesively remains a challenge. Under these circumstances, it is essential for TCM to be used for TCM-related conditions and Western medicine for ailments within its domain. This separation is a sensible approach as it avoids conflicting treatments.

Many TCM practitioners, due to limitations in their skill levels and the absence of clear effects in their treatments, often recommend that patients undergo both TCM and Western medicine concurrently. This approach, even if it leads to some improvement, makes it difficult to discern whether it was TCM or Western medicine that was effective, thus preventing an accurate assessment of the practitioner’s competence. Therefore, a dedicated TCM practitioner, aspiring to achieve excellence in TCM, generally hopes that patients will exclusively follow their TCM prescriptions. Simultaneously using both TCM and Western medicine can be risky as it involves two different treatment approaches that may not complement each other.

In conclusion, the characteristics mentioned for a good TCM doctor serve as references. The ultimate standard for assessing a good TCM practitioner is their clinical effectiveness. Seeking medical advice and wisdom is not an easy task. This article aims to provide you with insights to distinguish a good TCM doctor before your visit. We hope that by gleaning some insights, you can look beyond appearances and find the ideal TCM practitioner.