Chinese Medicine and Biomodulation in Cancer Patients (Part One)

摘要

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) may be integrated with conventional Western medicine to enhance the care of patients with cancer. Although it is normally implemented as a whole system, recent reductionist research suggests mechanisms for the effects of acupuncture, herbs, and nutrition within the scientific model of biomedicine. The health model of Chinese medicine accommodates physical and pharmacological interventions within the framework of a body-mind network. A Cartesian split does not occur within this model, but it is necessary to separate the components in order to allow scientific exploration within the restrictions of positivism, reductionism, and controls for confounding factors. Whole systems research is important to evaluate effectiveness when applying the whole model in clinical practice. Scientific analysis enables a mechanistic understanding of the processes that will improve the design of clinical studies and enhance safety. There is enough preliminary evidence to encourage good quality clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy of integrating TCM into Western cancer care.