Thursday, June 28, 2007

Classical Chinese medicine does not share a scientific basis with Western medicine – it has its own foundations, its own systems and its own conclusions. The obsession with “proving” Chinese medicine concepts with Western methods is misguided at best. As a profession, Chinese medicine is deeply different. The classical texts urge Chinese medicine physicians to be devoted to their own cultivation, to the rigorous study of the medical classics and to the full understanding of nature. In a way, then, “keeping up with our profession” means a very different set of things. We must still constantly seek to improve our diagnostic skills, must constantly seek to deepen our understanding of the principles of our medicine – but instead of using the future as our standard, we must use the past and – most importantly – the present. The present state of our own personal growth and the present state of the improvement of our patients and our ability to care for them.