Resurgence of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
a. Government Strongly Promoted TCM
The real impetus for the popularity of Asian herbal medicine came after the establishment of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) in 1949. The PRC government recognized that a vast majority of the masses could never ever afford profit driven allopathic medicine and that it would be unwise to reject Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that served hundreds of millions of people for centuries.
b. TCM and Allopathic Medicine accorded Equal Status
So, the PRC encouraged the TCM and allopathic medical practitioners to work together. Allopathic medical doctors were trained in TCM and TCM practitioners were trained in allopathic medical research methods. If it is proved that an herb has a desired effect on a given disease or diseases, time and money were not wasted in isolating the active principles. Production of synthetic drugs for exorbitant profits, imitating such active principles, was not encouraged.
c. Simple to Prepare and Easy to Use
TCM medicines are simple to prepare and easy to use. TCM medicine is usually administered to the patient as powder, infusion, decoction, pill, or ointment that does not involve lengthy and laborious processes of production like in Ayurveda. There usually are one or two main herbs, one or two supporting herbs, and one or two herbs that make the effects of main herbs gentle on the human body. TCM now is well and truly peoples’ medicine that all people can afford. Western governments and health insurance companies now recognize TCM, acupuncture etc as valid therapeutic treatments.
d. Promotion of Traditional Chinese Medicine
In China it was the government which encouraged, promoted, and supported Traditional Chinese Medicine. With the aim of making cheap and effective medicine available to the masses, the government literally forced TCM and allopathic medical practitioners to work together and to learn from each other. Thus TCM was officially integrated into mainstream medicine. Consequently, TCM became popular all over the world.
