The comprehensive opening of private traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practice is an urgent necessity; without it, the revitalization of TCM is challenging!
Private TCM practitioners constitute the backbone of TCM inheritance and innovation, often representing the forefront of clinical expertise. The success and innovation of TCM are deeply rooted in the practices of these private individuals. If private TCM practitioners thrive, TCM thrives; if they decline, so does TCM. If China genuinely wishes to rejuvenate TCM, the imperative is to facilitate the unrestricted practice of private TCM.
The reality is evident: Western countries treat TCM as a form of natural therapy, allowing anyone to practice it freely. They view Chinese herbal medicine as a food additive, making it accessible to everyone. This open environment has led to a proliferation of TCM talent and continuous development. In contrast, China has historically treated TCM as a specialized field within Western medicine, segregating TCM practitioners into legal and illegal categories based on academic credentials and licensing exams. This not only eliminated numerous proficient private TCM practitioners but also facilitated the rise of subpar practitioners, damaging the image of TCM and causing the public to gradually abandon it. Without effectiveness and market demand, the decline of TCM becomes inevitable.
Many fail to recognize the critical role private TCM practitioners play in the development of TCM. Firstly, they are the main force in TCM inheritance because a vast amount of clinical experience and TCM expertise resides within various private TCM schools rather than standardized textbooks at TCM universities. Restricting the free practice of private TCM will result in the loss of these invaluable clinical experiences and expertise with the passing of older TCM practitioners, dealing a devastating blow to the field.
Secondly, private TCM practitioners are the driving force behind TCM innovation. TCM thrives on diversity, with innovation stemming from the multitude of private TCM schools. Prohibiting the free practice of private TCM would leave only institutionalized TCM, dominated by Westernized ideologies, monopolizing TCM academia. This not only stifles innovation but erodes the very essence of TCM.
Thirdly, authentic expertise in TCM resides in the private sector, not among students at TCM universities. TCM grows primarily through clinical practice, not through formal education. True mastery in TCM requires insight gained from clinical experience or adversity—qualities absent in TCM university education. Only private TCM practitioners possess the necessary clinical exposure and challenges to ultimately become accomplished healers.
For thousands of years, TCM has thrived on apprenticeships and self-study, producing renowned practitioners and fostering continuous innovation. However, since Western medicine assumed a dominant role in China, TCM has been relegated to a specialized field within Western medicine, subjected to Western medical management. The consequence is stark: the efficacy of TCM has diminished with each passing generation, leading the public to rapidly abandon it, resulting in the ongoing decline of TCM.
The crux of the issue lies in the different scientific frameworks underpinning Chinese and Western medicine. Their disparate understandings of disease etiology, treatment methods, and pharmacology defy any attempt at uniform regulation. It is especially inappropriate to impose the same regulatory system used for Western medicine on TCM, undermining its essence at every turn.
Take the licensing system for practicing physicians as an example. TCM evolves primarily through clinical experience, and proficiency is attained through substantial clinical exposure. However, the current licensing system demands that physicians refrain from clinical practice until they are licensed, citing potential harm to public health. If practitioners are barred from clinical experience, even after obtaining a license, they may lack the practical skills to treat patients effectively. Doesn’t this system contribute to the decline of TCM by favoring theoretical knowledge over clinical prowess?
It’s time to wake up. The foundation of TCM is efficacy, and without it, TCM has no basis for existence. To revitalize TCM, establishing a mechanism that prioritizes efficacy and proficiency is fundamental. This requires the unrestricted practice of private TCM, fostering the emergence of genuine TCM talent. With talented practitioners, TCM can build the foundation for revival.