中医中药及针灸在美国的发展概况

Briefly on Development of Chinese Medicine and Chinese Materia Medica as Well as Acupuncture and Moxibustion in USA

中医中药及针灸疗法在美国作为补充替代医学深受重视,针灸疗法在美国已得到普遍承认和广泛应用,美国科研机构积极支持中医中药科研活动。美国食品药品管理局(FDA)的相关政策对中药的应用提供了依据,作为食品添加剂的中药在美得到了广泛应用。当前,中医药在美国的发展仍有一些问题有待克服。

Chinese Acupuncture was first recognized by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1991.The term of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is used by US federal government and the White House.Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) including Acupuncture and herbal medicine was included in the final report of the White House CAM policy in 2002,and is considered an important component in CAM.Acupuncture has been widely accepted in US by both medical professionals and the public.NIH has established six collaborating centers to study CAM.A number of studies on TCM,including herbal medicine and acupuncture,have been sponsored by NIH.The emphasis of this research includes cancer,arthritis,allergy,asthma and autoimmune disease.An international cooperation on TCM study between US and China has been established and signed at NIH in April,2006.A new “Guidance for Industry:Botanical Drug Products” has been issued by FDA,which outlines how to apply for approval of a botanical drug,including Chinese herbal medicine.Chinese herbal products are frequently marketed and widely used as dietary supplements in the US.More and more physicians have become interested in using CAM therapies especially acupuncture for their patients in conjunction with conventional medicine.The future of TCM is certainly bright in the United States and worldwide,however,it will take time for optimal development.