WHEN TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE MEETS MODERN TECHNOLOGY

For thousands of years, traditional Chinese medicine has been used for its wide range of unique health benefits. For that reason, the emergence of modern medical technology offers a unique opportunity to expand upon generations of ancient techniques. Our scientific understanding of the human body has shed new light on exactly what these practices can do. Techniques such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, and other treatments have been shown to yield genuine scientific results and in some cases have been improved by today’s technology.

One of the most exciting and interesting innovations had been the merging of TCM and computer technology. By using computers to screen more than 61000 TCM databases, researchers have been able to identify specific proteins in the body that respond to these treatments. Important cell processes such as protein synthesis, cell growth, stress responses, and other functions are now known to be influenced by these techniques. Other computer processes such as high-speed simulations have given us new insights as well. By analysing the cellular processes on screen, researchers are better able to understand what effects TCM really has on the body. Results from these simulations have made a good case in supporting the benefits of these practices on certain bodily receptors. Experiments like this are still new and evolving, meaning that there are still many things left to discover. We may only be just beginning to learn how TCM truly benefits the body.

The use of herbs in TCM has long been a subject of fascination for medical researchers. Their importance is still widely recognised today, as the development of new drugs requires new innovations in pharmacology. Another way modern technology has helped out is in the scientific analysis of these herbs. One new approach is known as Cerebrospinal Fluid Pharmacology, has given researchers a new strategy to broaden their study of traditional Chinese herbs. With new developments like these, the integration of TCM into modern medical practices could very well become more widespread than ever before. 

At the Sydney Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, we believe in using the most advanced techniques alongside the wisdom sustained through millennia of Chinese medical tradition. We are an accredited institution providing first-class education and treatment. Visit us here to learn more and discover how TCM can change your life for the better. 

1. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2015/156581/