Genomics and traditional Chinese medicine

Document Type

Book Chapter

Publication Title

Genomics and Society

Publisher

Elsevier

Place of Publication

Amsterdam

Editor(s)

Kumar, D., & Chadwick, R.

School

School of Medical and Health Sciences

RAS ID

21468

Comments

Wang, W. (2016). Genomics and traditional Chinese medicine. In D. Kumar & R. Chadwick (Eds.), Genomics and Society (pp. 293-308). Available here.

Abstract

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a broad range of medicine practices sharing common concepts and an integrated theory system that has evolved through over 3000 years of clinical and pharmacological trails as one of the longest medical practices in China and Asia-Pacific areas. As the second most practiced medical system in the world, one-quarter of the world’s population uses one or more of TCM therapies including acupuncture, moxibustion, Chinese herbal medicine, Tui-Na massage, dietary therapy and physical exercise (Tai Chi and Qi Gong) to maintain health and wellness. In China, TCM shares equal status and has been integrated with Western medicine in the healthcare system to diagnose, prevent, and treat many types of diseases. Meanwhile, compared to Western medicine, TCM approach has not been recognized internationally as a lack of systemic research and evidenced investigation. Nevertheless, scientists have begun to provide novel insights into the essence and molecular basis of TCM, with globalization of life sciences (global health) and arrival of mega data mining (big data) and the progress of genomics research. In this chapter, the fast emerging integration of the science of genomics and the practice of TCM are reviewed with the emphasis on the genomic medicine.

DOI

10.1016/B978-0-12-420195-8.00015-X

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