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Common images of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) include the use of herbal supplements, acupuncture, or the feeling of a pulse to diagnose illness. In fact, each of these images only scratches the surface of its true essence. More precisely, Chinese medicine embodies a lifestyle founded on a holistic approach to health and well being. Thousands of years of experience and philosophical tenets such as yin and yang and the harmony of the five elements (earth, wood, fire, water and gold) are the cornerstones of its practice. Adherence to specific methodologies, which involve herbal remedies and other treatments, is essential for restoring balance in the body and maintaining health.
Disease prevention is Chinese medicine's main focus. This principle centers around the belief that treating diseases or illness that have already caused damage in the body is much more difficult then preventing them from occurring in the first place. Not surprisingly, Chinese medicine practitioners who keep their patients healthy and disease free are considered to be the greatest doctors.
Traditional Chinese Medicine, which originated over 4,000 years ago, is deeply rooted in history and tradition. Today, the practice of Chinese medicine is on the rise as more people turn to other methods of healthcare to treat problems, which are not sufficiently cared for with Western medicine alone. Its use is expanding in Asian cultures and becoming more accepted in the West. In Hong Kong, approximately 60% of the population have consulted a TCM practitioner at some point in time and even more use herbal supplements on a regular basis.1 The number of adults in the United States using alternative medicine treatments increased from 34% in 1990 to 42% in 1997.2 Healthcare consumers paid these expenses out of pocket, as most insurance companies do not cover non-western medical treatments.
Because of inadequate scientific evidence and the presence of informal standards and regulations, Traditional Chinese Medicine has been criticized for not being as credible as Western medicine. However, this is rapidly changing. Both China and Hong Kong are establishing regulatory bodies and setting formal standards to govern the practice of modern Chinese medicine. The Hong Kong government is currently in the process of initiating an international Chinese Medicine center of excellence that is creating standards of practice, developing formal licensing and education requirements of TCM practitioners, expanding herbal research projects and supporting the manufacturing, distribution and export of Chinese herbal supplements both locally and internationally. With the establishment of such a center, healthcare consumers will be assured of getting quality care when choosing to see a Chinese medical specialist.
Increasingly, Chinese medicine is seen as complementary to Western medicine. Its holistic approach to health and disease prevention strategies make it attractive to Western doctors, who have exhausted all avenues of conventional treatment, especially when caring for patients who suffer from chronic diseases. In many institutions throughout China, both forms of medicine are practiced side by side giving patients access to the best of both worlds. Hong Kong's strategic location as a special administrative region of China means it has become an important player in the development of modern Chinese medical practice. First, through regular exchanges of information and research with Beijing, Shanghai and other major cities in China, Hong Kong has created a substantial network that links medical schools, research centers, clinics, and hospitals. This network serves to strengthen and enrich Chinese medicine as well as create an environment in which its practice can thrive and grow alongside Western medicine. Secondly, while Hong Kong has always had a strong Chinese cultural heritage, its Western ties and adherence to Western methodologies make it an ideal choice to develop the future of Chinese medicine without losing its essence.
Today, the practice of TCM has changed even though the fundamental principles have not. As already discussed, the use of formal licensing and educational programs will standardize the practice of Chinese medicine and increase the accountability of practitioners. In addition, Western research techniques are being employed to validate herbal supplement uses and product safety. These two major advances make Chinese medicine more acceptable to a public that uses Western medicine as the gold standard in healthcare delivery. Hong Kong continues to offer major advantages for its development and advancement in the world market.
Integrated Chinese Medicine Holdings Ltd. (ICM) is a recently established company that seeks to:
| 1. | Disseminate comprehensive information about important aspects of Chinese medicine. |
| 2. | Introduce quality herbal supplements which are based on the principles and heritage of Chinese medicine, yet manufactured according to stringent Western standards. |
| 3. | Develop a Chinese medicine clinical practice model that delivers Chinese medicine services to local and international communities. |
| 4. | Integrate Western and Chinese medicine practices to create a healthcare system synergy that offers the best medical care possible worldwide. |
Subsidiaries of Integrated Chinese Medicine (ICM) Holdings Ltd. include: Shen-Nong Ltd., HYY (BVI) Ltd., The House of Yin Yang Holding Ltd. and Integrated Chinese Herbal Nutraceuticals Ltd. The Hong Kong Health Care Centre Ltd. (HKHCC) is an important shareholder of ICM Holdings Ltd. and the Hong Kong Association for Health Care (HKAHC) has a strong affiliation with this company giving it access to important resources that benefit local and international communities. With the combined efforts of these companies, healthcare consumers not only have reliable information about Chinese medicine, but they are able to enjoy easy access to clinical consultations and can purchase quality herbal supplements. ICM Holdings Ltd. continually strives toward increasing public awareness of the benefits of Chinese medicine as well as furthering its advancement..
Shen-Nong Ltd. is named after the famous herbalist who tasted herbs in order to distinguish poisonous ones from those with medicinal value. This company was founded to disseminate important information about Chinese medicine to the public. The Internet is used as the main means to circulate this information. Topics developed under Shen-Nong Ltd. encompass the history of Chinese medicine, principles and practice of Chinese medicine, treatment methods using Chinese medicine, and understanding the differences between East/West medicine practices through various health care topics. A Chinese TCM glossary has been developed as a reference for both professionals and the lay public.
HYY stands for the "house of yin yang." Chinese herbal supplements such as I'm-YunityTM, EquiguardTM, Flo-RightTM and others have been developed for health maintenance and to enhance quality of life. They are made possible by the company's commitment to deliver premier quality products in accordance with good manufacturing standards and through credible research and ongoing clinical trials. HYY (BVI) Ltd. uses the web for educational marketing and distribution of these products. Educational marketing is essential in increasing the consumer's understanding and knowledge of herbal supplements and their relationship with Traditional Chinese Medicine.
The Hong Kong Association for Health Care Ltd. (HKAHC) is a non- profit association that was founded to promote public awareness of Chinese medicine, provide reliable public and community health information, and to fund and disseminate research related to TCM. The Hong Kong Health Care Centre Ltd. (HKHCC) offers quality Chinese medical consultations, which are complimentary to western medical practices. Specialty clinics have been formed in Hong Kong that focus on health maintenance and disease prevention. Diseases treated in the specialty clinics include cancer, arteriosclerosis and diabetes. Eventually, the specialty clinics will be expanded into a virtual clinic offering online appointment bookings and guidance from Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners.
Integrated Chinese Medicine Holdings Ltd. is very aware of the growing interest in self-care among health consumers. The need for health information is in great demand. Fortunately, through technology and the Internet, people can obtain vast amounts of data, but this data can be scattered and sometimes overwhelming. By providing accurate, concise and comprehensive information about Chinese medicine healthcare options, consumers are able to make educated choices about what best meets their health needs.
As time passes and Chinese medicine gains more international acceptance, it will be looked upon as more than just herbal supplements, pulse taking, or acupuncture. In order to move forward in this millennium, we must not forget the vital ingredients of Traditional Chinese Medicine but adapt its practices for use in today's society. Its complementary nature with Western medicine makes the provision of holistic healthcare possible. The above aspects are essential in delivering truly integrated Chinese medical services. With Integrated Chinese Medicine Holdings Ltd., good health and increased quality of life can be achieved. After all, health is wealth.
1 Fung, Sherman K.W., Herbal Medicine, Chemistry in Hong Kong, 21-26.
2 Eisenberg, D.M., Davis, R.B., Ettner, S.L. et al. (1998), Trends in Alternative Medicine Use in the United States, JAMA (280), 1569-1575.