Integration of traditional,complementary,and alternative medicine with modern biomedicine:the scientization,evidence,and challenges for integration of traditional Chinese medicine

Traditional medicine has garnered significant global recognition,with an estimated 80%of the global population using it.Therefore,it is essential to fully understand the integration of traditional medicines into current healthcare systems.This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the standard process to modernize traditional medicine scientifically in the context of modern biomedicine,further termed here as“scientization”.Specifically,we aim to summarize the advancements made in understanding the efficacy,effectiveness,and underlying mechanisms of herbal medicine.We also examined the transition from experience-to evidence-based medicine during acupuncture.Furthermore,we explore the development of universal safety and quality control standards.Finally,we discuss international trade and export markets for Chinese medical products.The development and integration of traditional medicine have allowed it to further improve human health,resulting in a more comprehensive health solution for the global population.

Placebo Effects and Research in Alternative and Conventional Medicine

Abstract The placebo effect is a very powerful and unpredictable aspect of any medical treatment. Assuch, it dramatically complicates efforts at convincingly demonstrating the effectiveness of specitic effects inmedicine, conventional or alternative. This review provides a tlieoretical overview of tlie placebo effect toassist researchers in designing trials, controlled or otliereise, so that more convincing demoiistrations of spe-cific effects can be achieved.

Efficacy and safety of Guipi Decoction combined with conventional Western medicine in the treatment of insomnia with deficiency of heart and spleen:a meta-analysis

Objective:To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of Guipi Decoction combined with Western medicine in the treatment of insomnia with deficiency of heart and spleen.Methods:English databases(PubMed,Web of Science,The Cochrane Library,EMBASE)and Chinese databases(CNKI,Wanfang database,China Biomedical Literature Service System,VIP database)were searched by computer.Randomized controlled trials of Guipi Decoction on insomnia with deficiency of heart and spleen were searched from the database construction to November 2021.After the first and second authors independently screened the literature,extracted the data and evaluated the risk of bias in the included studies,meta-analysis was performed using RevMan5.3 software.Results:A total of 9 RCTS were included after screening,including 914 patients.Meta-analysis results showed that:Total effective rate[RR=1.22,95%CI(1.16,1.30),P<0.00001],total PSQI score[MD=-3.05,95%CI(-3.96,-2.14),P=0.008],number of night awakening times[[MD=-1.18,95%CI(-1.42,-0.94),P<0.00001],adverse reaction rate[RR=0.32,95%CI(0.21,0.51),P<0.00001]were better than the control group,and the differences were statistically significant.Conclusion:The current evidence shows that,compared with pure using conventional western medicine,belongs to the spleen decoction combined western medicine therapy,cases both deficiency type of insomnia in the total effective rate,reducing the total PSQI score(improve sleep quality,sleep efficiency,sleep disorder,daytime function,etc.),reducing frequency of nighttime awakening,security,have more advantages.However,due to the limitation of the quality and quantity of articles included in the study,more randomized,double-blind,large-sample clinical studies are needed to confirm the above conclusions.

The therapeutic efficacy and safety of Gongxuening capsule in dysfunctional uterine bleeding:a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:Gongxuening capsule is a Chinese patent medicine for treating the dysfunctional uterine bleeding.We report a meta-analysis of the combination efficacy between conventional medicines with Chinese patent drug Gongxuening in the treatment of dysfunctional uterine bleeding.Materials and methods:Seven databases were used to retrieve the relevant research of Chinese patent drug Gongxuening treatment for dysfunctional uterine bleeding from the databases establishment to 2020.The data were extracted independently by 2 researchers according to the described selection research.The meta-analysis was performed using RevMan5.3 software.Results:This study included 23 randomized trials,with a total of 1,836 dysfunctional uterine bleeding patients.Chinese patent drug Gongxuening could significantly improve the effective rate,and reduce endometrial thickness,control bleeding time,complete hemostasis time and sex hormone level,and no serious adverse events.Based on sensitivity analysis and subgroup analysis,the heterogeneity sources of endometrial thickness,complete hemostasis time and sex hormone level were found.In follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone,there was no significant difference between the two groups when Chinese patent drug Gongxuening combined with desogestrel ethinylestradiol.Conclusion:Conventional medicines combined with Chinese patent drug Gongxuening can make patients with dysfunctional uterine bleeding achieve better effective rate,and no serious adverse events occurred.

A Survey of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Iran

Objective： To survey the use, capability and satisfaction of complementary and alternative medicine （CAM） in comparison with conventional medicine in Iran. Methods： In this national survey, a cross-sectional study was designed, 5,000 people were surveyed to identify predictors of Iranian traditional medicine （ITM） use compared with conventional medicine. Data were collected through a questionnaire that covered three different predictor categories： demographic information, patient＇s viewpoint, and patients＇ experiences. Results： Most of the participants preferred government owned hospitals rather than other places. Praying for one＇s own health was the most frequent and favorable ITM domain （P=0.017） based on patients＇ interests, both in low- （P=0.08） and high- level （P=0.011） educated subjects. Among the participants, 97.8% had previous conventional medicine history due to their chronic diseases Conclusions： Iranianpatients resort to ITM as a choice at the late stage of the disease. Current deficiency in integration of CAM and conventional medicine is in contrast to the increasing demand on patients＇ side. Health care organizers should be facilitating the CAM services by tuition of CAM practitioners and supporting eligible CAM centers for diagnosis and treatment of patients.

Cohort Study on the Effect of a Combined Treatment of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine on the Relapse and Metastasis of 222 Patients with Stage Ⅱ and Ⅲ Colorectal Cancer after Radical Operation

Objective： To evaluate the effectiveness of a comprehensive therapy of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） in reducing the relapse and metastasis of stage Ⅱ and Ⅲ colorectal cancer based on conventional Western medicine （WM） therapy. Methods： Two hundred and twenty-two patients in total, diagnosed as stage Ⅱ and Ⅲ colorectal cancer from February 2000 to March 2006, were recruited from Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences and the General Hospital of Beijing Military Area. They were followed-up once every 3-6 months. Twenty cases dropped out from the cohort. The remaining 202 patients were all treated with routine WM treatment [including R0 radical operation, or chemotherapy or/and radiotherapy according to national comprehensive cancer network （NCCN） clinical guidelines]. These patients were assigned to two groups based on whether or not they were additionally treated with TCM comprehensive therapy （orally administered with a decoction according to syndrome differentiation, combined with a traditional patent drug over one year）. Ninety-eight patients from Xiyuan Hospital were treated with WM and TCM （combined group）, and 104 patients from the General Hospital of Beijing Military Area were treated with WM alone （WM group）. The demographic data at baseline were comparable, including the operation times, age, sex, TNM staging, and pathological types. The patients were followed-up for one to five years. Up to now, there are 98, 98, 77, 64, and 47 patients with 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years of follow-up in the combined group, respectively; and 104, 104, 97, 81, and 55 patients in the WM group, respectively. The results of the 5-year follow-up of all the patients will be available in 2011. Results： The relapse/metastasis rate of 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year were 0 （0/98）, 2.04% （2/98）, 11.69% （9/77）, 14.06% （9/64）, and 21.28% （10/47） in the combined group, and were 4.80%（5/104）, 16.35% （17/104）, 21.65% （21/97）, 25.93% （21/81）, and 38.18%（21/55） in the WM group, respectively. A significant difference was found in the second year between the two groups （X^2=12.117, P = 0.000）. Median relapse/metastasis time was 26.5 months in the combined group and 16.0 months in the WM group. Conclusion： The combined therapy of TCM and WM may have great clinical value and a potential for decreasing the relapse or metastasis rate in stage Ⅱ and Ⅲ colorectal cancer after conventional WM therapy.