types of research

[Guest guest]

Unfortunately TCM doesn't lend itself nicely to the scientific method, and that's why I'm interested in research design development.

>>>>Pam I do not agree. You can do good research and still preserve TCM methodologies. One can design good acupuncture placebo with/or without skin penetration. Herbal studies are not difficult at all

Alon

[Guest guest]

Ok, Stephen. Sounds like you're saying it ( " academically oriented " ) is

research that doesn't provide evidence. That sounds like observation

reporting without asserting a hypothesis. That's not research. I'm not

trying to be picayune, but I think it behooves us to understand the

scientific method if we want to pursue research. Unfortunately TCM doesn't

lend itself nicely to the scientific method, and that's why I'm interested

in research design development. However, I believe herb protocols can

provide clearer evidence of efficacy than acupuncture protocols can.

-pz

 

> >>>>outcomes research, clinical trial, or an " academically oriented " protocol

>although I'm not certain I understand what

>this r means by that. Qualitative?

>

> >>>>>Subscriber Pamela, By " academically oriented " I am merely referring to

>research that does not necessarily provide evidence of the value of a

>specific commercially available product, such as one particular herbal

>formula or a proprietary processing method, etc.

>

>Stephen

[Guest guest]

Pamela Zilavy [yinyang]

 

>Ok, Stephen. Sounds like you're saying it ( " academically oriented " ) is

>research that doesn't provide evidence. That sounds like observation

>reporting without asserting a hypothesis. That's not research.

 

Pamela, I have been traveling and just received your email. It seems

you've misunderstood the part of my post that stated: by " academically

oriented " I am merely referring to research that does not necessarily

provide evidence of the value of a specific commercially available product,

such as one particular herbal formula or a proprietary processing method,

etc.

 

There are an infinite number of other types of statistically significant

evidence that can be obtained in TCM herbal research studies other than the

limitations that I mentioned. " not necessarily " and " commercially " are

important words to notice. An academically oriented study could be, for

example: A study assessing the comparative value of using TCM differential

diagnosis to prescribe herbal formulas vs. using a pharmacological approach

to prescribing TCM herbs for the treatment of cluster migraines...would be

an example of what I am referring to as academically oriented research. If

the two approaches (in real life) yield a different result, then, depending

on the size of the difference of the therapeutic effect, you could determine

the number of subjects required in the study in order to achieve statistical

significance, assuming the study results reflected real world treatment

outcomes. However, knowing the size of the difference of the therapeutic

benefit of either approach, which would allow you to properly gage the

population size required for the study, is not easy information to get to.

You can either guess, or you can undertake some pilot studies that might

include dose ranging assessments as well as to assess herbal safety

profiles, especially for the pharmacological approach, and then start over

with a new study that enrolls the number of subjects (plus a few for

cushion) that is estimated to be necessary to achieve significance to prove

or disprove an outcome. If the pharmacological approach showed better

results in pilot studies, then I doubt the TCM community would cough up

funds to continue the study. But you might be able to get some funding from

zealots in the medical community. Failure is always a possibility in

research studies. And, it is not infreqently related to study design flaws

that may or may not have been easily predictable. Identifying study design

flaws is one of the many good reasons for implementing pilot studies as a

starting point.

 

Stephen

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

If the pharmacological approach showed betterresults in pilot studies, then I doubt the TCM community would cough upfunds to continue the study. But you might be able to get some funding fromzealots in the medical community.

 

Stephen

>>>I would think the product manufacture might still be interested

Alon

[Guest guest]

If the pharmacological approach showed betterresults in pilot studies, then I doubt the TCM community would cough upfunds to continue the study.

 

 

Stephen

>>>I would think the product manufacture might still be interested

Alon, I was partly being facetious but also just warning of the possibility that study results may not correlate with many people's real world experience. And, yes you are correct in suggesting that a manufacturer may be interested in providing financial support for a study that uses their ingredients. Although I have been surprised at how many companies are not willing to fund research. There are quite a few people on the marketing side of the herbal industry that will tell you that research does not sell products. But that's a different conversation.

 

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.

[Guest guest]

Although I have been surprised at how many companies are not willing to fund research.

>>>I am willing to bat that it is because of fear of results. Good research sell products. Look at ginco st jhons etc

alon