Feb 15, 2007
Does Traditional Chinese Medicine work
Many of the health claims of herbal medicine bear fruit for the pharmaceutical industry, leading to new drugs that are more potent and more targeted than the original remedy. In Traditional Chinese medicine there are many health claims for the likes of Ginkgo biloba and many other remedies that might bear closer scrutiny. Now, pharmaceutical chemist David Barlow and colleagues Peter Hylands and Thomas Ehrman at King’s College London have undertaken the biggest study yet of the active ingredients in TCM and used an analytical system known as a multiple decision tree technique, called Random Forest, to unearth the root of the activity of the natural products in TCM.
Their study seems to vindicate many of the claims of TCM as well revealing several compounds that might be indicated for diseases and symptoms not treated with in the traditional system.
The team built a database containing well over 8000 compounds from 240 of the most commonly used TCM herbs and used a second database of almost 2600 known active plant chemicals and other natural products as a training set for the Random Forest computer algorithm. The team found that about 62% of the herbs they tested in silico against various drug targets (mostly enzymes associated with pathogens or problems in the body) contained candidate drug compounds that might be isolated for treating a single disease without the associated issues of a TCM approach. They also found that more than half of these compounds worked against at least two diseases and so might have multiple applications.
You can read more about this research today on SpectroscopyNOW news round up from David Bradley. I asked Barlow about the wider application of this research and he said it might be applied equally well to other databases. “The same methodology might also be applied in screening other similar databases, constructed, for example, with reference to herbs used in Ayurvedic medicine,” he said.
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Jacob said,
February 16, 2007 at 9:22 am
I think that it is really great that these traditional Chinese medicines are being proven to help in the fight against diseases. There are a lot of great forms of medicine, but sometimes, it’s the most simple thing that can save someone’s life.
David Bradley said,
February 16, 2007 at 9:47 am
I’m not sure TCM practitioners would describe what they do as simple, nor that the components of any particular herbal blend, or even individual herb, are simple, but I get your point. There is an argument that isolating the so-called “active” ingredient from such remedies in order to make a marketable pharmaceutical product actually reduces any synergistic effects between other chemical components of the remedy, that either improve transport of the active to the target site in the body and/or reduce the potential of side-effects.
Andrew Sun said,
February 18, 2007 at 3:17 pm
In China, TCM is an official alternative to modern (or to Chinese, western) medicine. Recently it has become heated debate whether we stop TCM practice before its effect is scientifically proved. Fang Zhouzi, an active figure in science literacy in China, said that most herbals in TCM are poisonous containing heavy metal elements. However, in a country where TCM was born, many people cannot accept that their own medicine which help them for thousands of years should leave its place to western medicine (something nationalistic here).
It is a complex issue and I haven’t form my view yet. But I am delight to see that western friends attach enough importance on TCM (for instance by noting the possibility of synergistic effects, a point that Fang Zhouzi may overlook).
Chris said,
January 4, 2008 at 4:04 pm
There is also some deliberation on the effects brought about by isolating certain parts of a plant for use as a medicine. Particularly with regard to side effects that are present in almost all Western pharmaceuticals that are derived from plants and the way that when, instead, the whole plant is utilized natural buffers are present that prevent side effects. Generally herbal remedies work more slowly than do Western medicines but the benefit of herbal compounds are derived from their gentle action and their potential to correct imbalances and not just suppress symptoms.
Thank you for the interesting post.
David Bradley said,
January 4, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Chris, yes, I’ve heard and read discussions of the “buffering” of active components in herbal remedies, but as with much of complimentary medicine there are few double-blind placebo-controlled trials around that can extract (pardon the pun) the cause from the effect.
susanna said,
January 13, 2008 at 9:39 am
i was googling and found this blog. impressed is all i want to say. i also have great interest in chinese medicine and have been reporting on studies on TCM. just in case you might want to check out my articles: http://chinesemedicinenews.com/
thx for the great site! i’ve subscribed to it! :)
David Bradley said,
January 13, 2008 at 9:44 am
Susanna, thanks for the comment and the link to your own website, I am sure readers of this article will be interested in taking a look.
db
susanna said,
January 14, 2008 at 4:22 am
thx for the nice comments :)
Alison said,
January 18, 2008 at 6:34 am
Chinese medicine is wonderful, It does help a lot.
Alison
David Bradley said,
January 18, 2008 at 9:17 am
Alison, such an assertion requires evidence. Double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trials data. Can you point Sciencebase readers to some recent primary research results in the area of TCM. A link to a meta analysis review of such data would also be useful.
db
Vaughn said,
January 24, 2008 at 4:39 pm
David, I disagree, at least partially, with your “Double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trials data,” requirement. It is possible to measure results according to a person’s well-being before and after, without science chopping it up. There is plenty of “evidence” found in the fabulously rapid growth of alternative medicines such as TCM and homeopathy. Western medicine, and its science, is failing many people, making them sicker or doing little or nothing at all. This is the reason for such geometric growth in alternative therapies.
I agree that more studies need to be done, but Alison’s assertion doesn’t require science to be correct. Science is a great tool, however, it would be foolish to place all of your faith in this single Western system. Healing has taken place without science for a long time, and sometimes life requires us to be uncomfortable with the unknown. If the universe is ever-expanding it seems to follow that our little brains may never catch up, no?
David Bradley said,
January 24, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Interesting point, well made Vaughn. In one sense I’d have to agree, but the problem with the “measure results according to a person’s well-being before and after, without science chopping it up” perspective is knowing what’s having the before to after effect. If the healing is being approached holistically with lots of mopping of fevered brows and a caring bedside manner, who’s to say it’s not just that having the beneficial effects rather than the herbal infusion being imbibed, for instance. And, if it is, then a trial might extract that information and allow the holistic healer to mop the brow without the risk of prescribing a heady herbal brew that may be contaminated with heavy metals and other nasties that, in the long-term, may have more of a detrimental effect than a drug selected for its apparently direct action on the patient’s symptoms.
db
susan said,
January 25, 2008 at 2:30 am
Semen Cuscutae Is Used for in TCM
Today, Semen Cuscutae is used in Chinese medicine to invigorate the kidneys and consolidate kidney essence (jing), nourish the liver, improve eyesight, arrest diarrhea and soothe an unborn fetus.
1. It is used in syndromes caused by a kidney deficiency that exhibit symptoms such as lower back pain, erectile dysfunction, involuntary discharge of semen, urinary frequency and leucorrhea.
2. It is used for symptom treatment of blurred and dark vision and decreased visual acuity, which are caused by insufficient nourishment of the eyes due to liver and kidney deficiencies.
3. It treats diarrhea problems caused by spleen and kidney deficiencies.
4. It is used for cases of abnormal fetal movement caused by liver and kidney deficiencies.
5. It can also be used in increased thirst symptoms caused by a kidney deficiency.
Despite the fact that cuscuta is unpopular with farmers, it has a long history of folk use. In Western herbalism, cuscuta was traditionally used to treat liver, spleen, and gallbladder disorders such as jaundice ; and to support liver function. It is still used, although rarely, in that way by modern herbalists. It is also a mild laxative. Other traditional Western claims for cuscuta are that it is a mild diuretic, and that it can be used to treat sciatica and scurvy. Externally, it can be gathered fresh and applied to the skin to treat scrofuladerma. Extracts of the herb have a very bitter taste.
In traditional Chinese medicine, the seeds of cuscuta, called tu si zi, have been used for thousands of years. In the Chinese understanding of health, yin aspects inside the person and outside in the environment must be kept in balance with yang aspects. Ill health occurs when the energies and elements of the body are out of balance or in disharmony with nature. Health is restored by taking herbs and treatments that restore internal and external balance.
According to traditional Chinese healers, cuscuta seeds have a neutral nature and a pungent, sweet taste. They are associated with the liver and kidneys and are used in formulas that help both yin and yang deficiencies, depending on the patient’s condition and the other herbs in the formula. Cuscuta was considered both an aphrodisiac and a longevity herb because it slowed down the loss of fluids from the body.
Contemporary Chinese herbalists use cuscuta in formulas to treat a range of conditions, including:
impotence;premature ejaculation;sperm leakage;frequent urination;ringing in the ears;lower back pain;sore knees;white discharge from the vagina (leucorrhea);dry eyes;blurred vision;tired eyes
Cuscuta is one of nine herbs included in the manufacture of Equiguard, a Chinese herbal medicine recommended for kidney and prostate disorders. Research performed at New York Medical College indicates that the combination of ingredients in Equiguard may well be effective in the treatment of prostate cancer. The preparation inhibited the growth of cancer cells, increased the rate of self-destruction (apoptosis) of cancer cells, and prevented the surviving cells from forming colonies.
Cuscuta is also used in the Indian system of Ayurvedic healing to treat jaundice, muscle pain, coughs, and problems with urination.
Little scientific research has been done in the West on cuscuta. A purgative compound has been isolated from the herb, however, that supports its traditional use as a liver and gallbladder tonic. Other research done at Asian universities indicates that cuscuta seeds contain a complex carbohydrate that stimulates the immune system and has some antioxidant properties as well.
http://www.tcmadvisory.com
tcmadvisory3@yahoo.com
David Bradley said,
January 25, 2008 at 8:31 am
Susan, I’m not in total disagreement with your comment, but one of the properties that unites many folk remedies and complementary medicines is that they all seem to have multiple effects that are highly non-specific, apparently have broad-spectrum physiological effects, and have curative effects with undefinable impact, such as “soothing”.
To some extent, the proponents of each one essentially claims some kind of limited panacea. Conversely, “western” treatments usually focus on a single issue. At least until the patent is about to expire and then a rapid reformulation for another indication can reinvigorate the market for a particular product.
db
Chris said,
January 25, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Several recent posts have been interesting and have me wondering about something slightly off topic.
If illness, in many cases, is the result of psychosomatic causes–and more specifically mental processes causing physical symptoms of disease–perhaps many holistic treatments address this problem more aptly than a strong symptom-suppressing pharmaceutical. Why does cancer resurface in so many people after having been eradicated? I would posit a misguided treatment, one that did not fix the “root” cause, at least in some of the instances where this occurs.
Of course, when talking as I have above, one must bring the placebo effect into the conversation. Fair enough. The placebo effect is present in all medicine East, West, or otherwise. All of these methods benefit from placebo, there is no contesting this, and if the point is healing, then placebo should be welcome if it works. It has been noted that placebo is more powerful in Eastern healing traditions with patients in the West, while placebo is more present in Western healing traditions with patients in the East. I find this very interesting.
I believe healing matches, or needs to address/match, current historical context. Our culture is sick in different ways than it was 300 years ago, and in some cases even 30 years ago. Advertising, information, technology, expectations, and the general speed of life, are all very different, which may give rise to different appearing illnesses. I feel Western medicine and science are beginning to–however slowly–catch on to emotion/mind causing illness in body and even vice versa.
My point here is basically one of direction. Science and Western medicine are wonderful in many ways; however, I think they are in need of redirection. Maybe after the Western worldview catches up with modern physics (e.g., energy/matter being interchangeable, etc.)–which will be a while, just look at how long it took the people of the world to stomach the earth not being the center of the universe–our treatments will begin to heal root causes instead of masking the symptoms they produce.
I apologize for the long-winded post, but I had to get this out. Thank you.
Chris
David Bradley said,
January 25, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Nicely put Chris. I think that probably encapsulates how I feel about the conventional-complementary dichotomy. There most certainly is a placebo effect, we have no idea how it works, we have no idea why many pharmaceutical drugs work, we certainly have no idea why some alternative treatments work. Equally, we have no idea why some proponents in both camps are adamant that their approach is the perfect solution to the problem of illness and cannot handle well evidence to the contrary.
db
David Bradley said,
May 1, 2008 at 2:58 pm
My latest science news column on SpectroscopyNOW.com discusses anti-arthritic compounds found in Chinese medicinal ants. Anyone tried this novel therapy for arthritis and want to share your experiences?
db