Guest guest Posted July 4, 2000 Report Share Posted July 4, 2000 Prescribing on the basis of biochemistry is outside my scope of practice and training. I think current accredited naturopathic training provides a good solid foundation for prescribing chinese herbs that are well elucidated according to their pharmacology. But TCM training does not. I would argue that medical doctors and perhaps even pharmacists are better able to make use of this type of information in a clinical fashion than we are. But we need to be aware of these things as they are controversial. So when someone expresses concern about the synephrine in your herb formula, you can provide them with contemporary data that their physician can evaluate if need be. To reiterate, I do not think this information should be used to make TCM clinical judgments. Most natural substances contain dangerous compounds if concentrated sufficiently; we need to be able to distinguish our use of crude substances from research on what are essentially drugs. -- In , " Joseph Balensi " <jlb@t...> wrote: > If you prescribe based on biochemistry are you practicing TCM or western medicine? > If the answer is western medicine then what kind of qualifications are necessary? > > JOE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 4, 2000 Report Share Posted July 4, 2000 I have no argument with accumulation of knowledge; more is better. Knowledge never hurt, mis-using it has but that's a different discussion. I live in AZ which just finished the process of enacting an acupuncture law so I'm considering this from a public relations and political perspective. The specific reason I pose the question is that the criticism which allopaths level at TCMers is that our lack of biomedical training coupled with the paucity of western scientific research about Chinese herbs endangers the patient. IMHO If a TCMer prescibes herbs based on biochemistry and has only the training required by the ACAOM curriculum the criticism is accurate. It seems to me that we're on thin ice with public if we claim to be the more trustworthy experts if we using a paradigm in which our knowledge is 1:10 - ours to competitor. For instance, I feel on much thicker ice defending our ability to prescribe Ma Huang by pointing out that it's traditionally used short term and has no TCM history of use for weight loss or low energy and is in fact contraindicated for these conditions. My chemistry and physics are 20+ years behind me. JOE If you prescribe based on biochemistry are you practicing TCM or western medicine? If the answer is western medicine then what kind of qualifications are necessary? >>>>>knowledge never hurt anybody Alon Marcus - cha Tuesday, July 04, 2000 3:11 PM synephrine/reply to #1859 Prescribing on the basis of biochemistry is outside my scope of practiceand training. I think current accredited naturopathic training providesa good solid foundation for prescribing chinese herbs that are wellelucidated according to their pharmacology. But TCM training does not.I would argue that medical doctors and perhaps even pharmacists arebetter able to make use of this type of information in a clinicalfashion than we are.But we need to be aware of these things as they are controversial. Sowhen someone expresses concern about the synephrine in your herbformula, you can provide them with contemporary data that theirphysician can evaluate if need be. To reiterate, I do not think thisinformation should be used to make TCM clinical judgments. Most naturalsubstances contain dangerous compounds if concentrated sufficiently; weneed to be able to distinguish our use of crude substances from researchon what are essentially drugs.Todd-- In , "Joseph Balensi" <jlb@t...> wrote:> If you prescribe based on biochemistry are you practicing TCM orwestern medicine?> If the answer is western medicine then what kind of qualifications arenecessary?>> JOEChinese Herbal Medicine, a voluntary organization of licensed healthcare practitioners, matriculated students and postgraduate academics specializing in Chinese Herbal Medicine, provides a variety of professional services, including board approved online continuing education. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 5, 2000 Report Share Posted July 5, 2000 For instance, I feel on much thicker ice defending our ability to prescribe Ma Huang by pointing out that it's traditionally used short term and has no TCM history of use for weight loss or low energy and is in fact contraindicated for these conditions. My chemistry and physics are 20+ years behind me. >>>>>First, the problem is we live in the Yr. 2000 and all new information about any of our medicines is information we must understand as use for the protection of our patients. Second the fact that TCM history of use has not recorded something does not mean it does not exist (including sideeffects). 3ed understanding Ephedrine for example, gives us ammunition fighting theFDA. for example are they going to take all cold medicines off the shelves, and if not, how can they justify it since the dangers are the same. We need to understand the sciences so that we can represent our interest. Saying that TCM history claims something means absolutely nothing tothe FDA. Alon Marcus - Joseph Balensi Tuesday, July 04, 2000 8:58 PM Re: synephrine/reply to #1859 I have no argument with accumulation of knowledge; more is better. Knowledge never hurt, mis-using it has but that's a different discussion. I live in AZ which just finished the process of enacting an acupuncture law so I'm considering this from a public relations and political perspective. The specific reason I pose the question is that the criticism which allopaths level at TCMers is that our lack of biomedical training coupled with the paucity of western scientific research about Chinese herbs endangers the patient. IMHO If a TCMer prescibes herbs based on biochemistry and has only the training required by the ACAOM curriculum the criticism is accurate. It seems to me that we're on thin ice with public if we claim to be the more trustworthy experts if we using a paradigm in which our knowledge is 1:10 - ours to competitor. For instance, I feel on much thicker ice defending our ability to prescribe Ma Huang by pointing out that it's traditionally used short term and has no TCM history of use for weight loss or low energy and is in fact contraindicated for these conditions. My chemistry and physics are 20+ years behind me. JOE If you prescribe based on biochemistry are you practicing TCM or western medicine? If the answer is western medicine then what kind of qualifications are necessary? >>>>>knowledge never hurt anybody Alon Marcus - cha Tuesday, July 04, 2000 3:11 PM synephrine/reply to #1859 Prescribing on the basis of biochemistry is outside my scope of practiceand training. I think current accredited naturopathic training providesa good solid foundation for prescribing chinese herbs that are wellelucidated according to their pharmacology. But TCM training does not.I would argue that medical doctors and perhaps even pharmacists arebetter able to make use of this type of information in a clinicalfashion than we are.But we need to be aware of these things as they are controversial. Sowhen someone expresses concern about the synephrine in your herbformula, you can provide them with contemporary data that theirphysician can evaluate if need be. To reiterate, I do not think thisinformation should be used to make TCM clinical judgments. Most naturalsubstances contain dangerous compounds if concentrated sufficiently; weneed to be able to distinguish our use of crude substances from researchon what are essentially drugs.Todd-- In , "Joseph Balensi" <jlb@t...> wrote:> If you prescribe based on biochemistry are you practicing TCM orwestern medicine?> If the answer is western medicine then what kind of qualifications arenecessary?>> JOEChinese Herbal Medicine, a voluntary organization of licensed healthcare practitioners, matriculated students and postgraduate academics specializing in Chinese Herbal Medicine, provides a variety of professional services, including board approved online continuing education. Chinese Herbal Medicine, a voluntary organization of licensed healthcare practitioners, matriculated students and postgraduate academics specializing in Chinese Herbal Medicine, provides a variety of professional services, including board approved online continuing education. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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