Traditional Chinese medicine

{{bronze}}
[[File:NanningTianchiShanPharmacy.jpg|thumb|right|225px|A prescription section of a pharmacy in Nanning, Guangxi, China selling prepackaged Chinese and Western medicine (left) and Chinese medicinal herbs (right).]] 
{{cquote|…But that didn't matter to me, eventually went to Nanjing to attend school K. In this school, I knew natural sciences, math, geography, history, art, and physical health for the first time. Biology was not included, but we saw books like ''On the Whole Body'' and ''On Chemical Hygiene''. I remembered arguments and prescriptions of the old doctors, compared them with that of today's, '''and slowly realized TCM is [[deceit]], willful or not''', but also felt great pity for the patients and their families scammed. From translated history I also knew Japanese Reformation has much roots in Western medicine. …|||{{wpl|Lu Xun}}, in the preface of ''{{wpl|zh:呐喊|Nahan}}(1922)''(emphasis added)<ref>[https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E5%90%B6%E5%96%8A 呐喊] by Wikisource</ref>}}
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'''Traditional Chinese medicine''' (or '''TCM''') refers to the theories and practices of [[diagnosis]] and healing developed historically in [[China]]. Beginning in ancient times, its influence spread to neighbouring countries such as [[Korea]] and [[Japan]], and largely shaped their traditional medicine. More recently, TCM has become popular as an [[alternative medicine]] in [[Europe]] and [[North America]].

Like much Chinese lore, such as [[feng shui]] and the [[martial arts]], Chinese medicine is based on the [[qi]] (or chi, 氣) principle of [[Subtle energy|energy]]. Qi is said to be channelled through a complex system of [[meridians]] in the body, and illnesses are believed to be related to blocked or unbalanced flow of qi.<ref>[http://www.amfoundation.org/tcm.htm#BASIC%20PRINCIPLES Chinese Traditional Medicine: An Alternative and Complementary Medicine Resource Guide] Alternative Medicine Foundation</ref> Common treatments include [[acupressure]], [[acupuncture]], acupuncture [[bloodletting]], [[reflexology]], and [[herbalism|herbal medicine]], though treatments can also be of inorganic, animal or even mythologic origin (clawed human, one-footed monster, sprite/[[elf]]/naiad, and dryad).<ref name=read>''Chinese Materia Medica: Animal Drugs'' by Bernard E. Read (1931). Peking Natural History Bulletin. Based upon the "''Pen Ts'ao Kang Mu''" [''Bencao Gangmu''] by Li Shih-Chen [Li Shizhen].</ref> In one study, 260 TCM products sold in [[California]] were analyzed for adulterants: 32% contained drugs and/or heavy metals.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150412184455/http://health120years.com/cn/pdf/TCM_US_Adverse.Reactions.pdf A U.S. Perspective on the Adverse Reactions from Traditional Chinese Medicines] by Richard J. Ko (2004) ''J. Chin. Med. Assoc.'' 67:109-116.</ref>

==History==
===Alleged mythical origins===
[[File:Anonymous-Fuxi and Nüwa.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Fuxi (right) with his sister, Nüwa]]
Fuxi (or Paoxi, 伏羲) was a legendary ruler to whom many fundamental aspects of domestic life (animal domestication, cooking, etc.) have been ascribed, including medical philosophy and the ''[[I Ching]]''.<ref name=wong>''History of Chinese Medicine: Being a Chronicle of Medical Happenings in China from Ancient Times to the Present Period'' by K. Chimin Wong & Wu Lien-Teh (1936) National Quarantine Service.</ref>{{rp|6}} One of the {{wpl|Three Sovereigns||,}} who is variously considered as [[deity]] or a god-emperors is considered by the Chinese to be the founder of Chinese medicine: Shennong (神農 or 神农) is claimed to have discovered [[herbalism]] and to have written the first treatise on herbs, the {{wpl|Shennong Ben Cao Jing|''Shennong Pen-tsao Ching''}} (神農本草經).<ref name=wong/>{{rp|6-7}} In addition, he was said to have discovered, or invented, [[tea]], the hoe, the plow, the axe, wells, irrigation, preserving seeds in boiled horse urine, the 24 hours of the day, the calendar, the weekly farmers' market, the harvest festival, pulse measuring, [[moxibustion]] and acupuncture.<ref>''Handbook of Chinese Mythology'' by Lihui Yang & Deming An (2008) Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195332636.</ref>{{rp|190-199}} Additionally, he was said to have known the secret to [[immortality]] and the [[Alchemy|transmutation of substances into gold]].

Religion was deeply intertwined with Chinese medicine, particularly in the earliest years, and it included sorcery, divination (''I Ching''), [[astrology]]<ref name=wong/>{{rp|12-14}} In ancient times, doctors were referred to as priest-doctors (''Wu I'').<ref name=wong/>{{rp|13}} [[Spirituality]] remains an important part of Chinese medicine<ref>[https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11089-012-0480-x Spirituality in Traditional Chinese Medicine] by Lin Shi & Chenguang Zhang (2012) ''Pastoral Psychology'' 61(5–6):959–974. doi.org:10.1007/s11089-012-0480-x.</ref>

The Chinese have a reverence for [[Argument from authority|authority]],<ref name=wong/>{{rp|86}} in large part due to the "Five Relationships" of [[Confucianism]]. This likely is a source of resistance to change and acceptance of [[evidence-based medicine]].

===Pre-modern history===
Chinese medicine is based upon four ancient, mutually-contradictory classics:<ref name=taylor>''Chinese Medicine in Early Communist China, 1945-1963: A Medicine of Revolution'' by Kim Taylor (2005). Routledge. ISBN 041534512X.</ref>{{rp|142}}
#{{wpl|Huangdi Neijing|''Huangdi Neijing''}} (黃帝內經) or ''Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor'' or ''Inner Canon'' (c. 100 CE)
#{{wpl|Shanghan Lun|''Shanghan Lun''}} (傷寒論) or ''Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases'' or ''Book of Cold Damage'' (c. 200 CE)
#{{wpl|Jingui Yaolüe|''Jingui Yaolüe''}} (金匱要略) or ''Essential Prescriptions from the Golden Cabinet'' or ''Golden Casket''{{efn|''Caveat emptor''!}} (c. 200 CE)
#Various texts of 'warmth-factor diseases' (known as wenbing, 温病) (17<sup>th</sup>-19<sup>th</sup> centuries CE)

===Proto- and Pseudo-Science===
[[Image:Magical penis wine.jpg|thumb|right|Why drink ordinary [[wine]] when you can have magical penis wine?<ref>[https://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=52177 Magical Penis Wine] by Victor Steinbok (September 23, 2021 @ 11:15 am) ''Language Log, University of Pennsylvania''.</ref>]]
While today, what has worked in the 'fields' of herbalism has been added to pharmacology and what hasn't worked has been discarded, prior to the [[scientific method]], there really wasn't a good way to gather reliable information. Various medicine men and priests and the like would have made an observation and passed it on to other healers, but not have the resources or education to actually test these observations. Some of the herbs and such would work (for example, willow bark tea), others did not. But without the resources of a modern university research department, better forms of acquiring knowledge weren't really practical. Various herbal and [[Folk remedy|folk remedies]] that relied on limited observation and lacked rigorous testing were [[protoscience]]s rather than pseudo-sciences.  That is, "not yet sciences", rather than "never sciences".

There were indeed some important discoveries made by Chinese medicine. The most important of which was "variolation" (vaccination); exposing someone to a weak form of [[smallpox]] (or cowpox) to prevent that person succumbing later on to a deadlier form of smallpox. This folk remedy happened to work, and spread to [[India]], then to the [[Ottoman Empire]] and then to Europe. This makes [[vaccine denial]]ists that adhere to other forms of TCM a rather strange breed.

===Modern times===
[[File:Xi'an traditionnal medecine market (18).JPG|thumb|right|250px|What? It's just an ordinary ginseng liquo-OH MY GOODNESS!]]
====In China====
Access to Western medicine in China was especially difficult in China up through the first half of the 20<sup>th</sup> century due to [[poverty]] and wars (particularly the [[World War II#Second Sino-Japanese War|Second Sino-Japanese War]] and the Chinese [[civil war]]). During the [[Chinese Civil War]], the People's Liberation Army used Chinese medicine by necessity for lack of reliable access to anything else. Following the victory of the People's Liberation Army, [[Mao Zedong]] saw the importance of maintaining the employment of the hundreds of thousands of people involved in various aspects of Chinese medicine, so as to assure social stability.<ref name=taylor/>{{rp|35,43}} Mao laid out abstract  goals (or slogans) for the integration of Chinese and Western medicine, the details of which were left to Chinese Communist Party officials:<ref name=taylor/>{{rp|11-13}}
*1945-50: The Co-operation of Chinese and Western Medicines
*1950-58: The Unification of Chinese and Western Medicines
*1950-53: Chinese Medicine Studies Western Medicine
*1954-58: Western Medicine Studies Chinese Medicine
*1958-: The Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine

Evidence suggests that as early as 1954, Mao had doubts about the effectiveness of Chinese medicine.<ref name=taylor/>{{rp|43}} Both Mao and Li Zhisui, Mao's personal physician, were very [[skeptical]] of the usefulness of Chinese medicine.<ref name=li>''The Private Life of Chairman Mao'' by Li Zhisui (1996) Random House. ISBN 0679764437.</ref>{{rp|84,548,551}} Mao was also ignorant of modern medicine.<ref name=li/>{{rp|99}}{{efn|Although Mao falsely claimed that Chinese medicine was responsible for China's large population,<ref name=li/>{{rp|83-84}} Mao is also quoted as saying, "Even though I believe we should promote Chinese medicine, I personally do not believe in it. I don't take Chinese medicine. Don't you think that is strange?"<ref name=li/>{{rp|84}}}}{{efn|There has been some dispute about the veracity of the source of this information, Li Zhisui's biography of Mao,<ref name=li/> but the disputed information seems to be more focused on dates and political aspects.<ref>歷史的真實: 毛澤東身邊工作人員的證言 (''Li shi de zhen shi: Mao Zedong shen bian gong zuo ren yuan de zheng yan'') by 林克 (Ke Lin) et al. (1995) 利文出版社 (Liwen Publishing House). ISBN 9627766534.</ref><ref>Book Review: "''Mao's Last Revolution'' by Roderick Macfarquhar, Michael Schoenhals" by Wai Kit Choi (2009) ''Science & Society'' 73(2):261-263.</ref>}} Because Mao was privately skeptical of Chinese medicine and ignorant of modern medicine, his promotion of integrative medicine was entirely a political maneuver, meaning that his strong and continuous promotion of Chinese medicine was intentionally promoting [[nationalism]] while sacrificing the physical health of the nation. The nationalist aspect Chinese medicine was made explicit by:
#Mao's use of the slogan, "China's medicine and pharmacology is a great treasure-house!!" (中国药学是一个伟大的宝库!! zhongguo yiyaoxue shi yige weida de baoku)<ref name=taylor/>{{rp|120-121}}
#{{wpl|He Cheng||,}} a Western medicine trained physician in the revolutionary army who eventually became director of the People's Government Ministry of Health,<ref name=taylor/>{{rp|32}} endorsed the idea of nationalist-based sciences. He Cheng was particularly interested in [[Soviet]] [[science]].<ref name=taylor/>{{rp|53}}
The problem with relying on nationalist science is that there is no such thing. Science is based on a universal, the [[scientific method]]. Soviet science, while excellent in some regards, was deficient in others due to reliance on [[ideology]] and [[dialectical materialism]].<ref>[http://blogs.bu.edu/guidedhistory/russia-and-its-empires/katherine-ruiz-diaz/ Soviet Science] ''Guided History: History Research Guides by Boston University Students''.</ref> Soviet ''biology'' under Stalin was even worse, as he actively persecuted evolutionary science in favor of [[Lysenkoism|Lysenkoist bullshit]], because it told him what he wanted to hear, not what would actually work.

[[File:Apothecary mixing traditional chinese medicin (中药房) at Jiangsu Chinese Medical Hospital in Nanjing 南京, China (34326619184).jpg|thumb|right|300px|Preparing a Traditional Chinese remedy in Nanjing, 2017.]]

It was during this period (roughly mid-1950s to mid-1960s) that Chinese medicine became standardized, resolving or glossing over the contradictory elements of the four ancient texts.<ref name=taylor/>{{rp|79,127,142}} In 1955, the term 'Traditional Chinese Medicine' (in capital letters){{efn|The term "traditional Chinese medicine" (lower case 't' and 'm') in contrast can refer to Chinese medicine more broadly, to one that is not based on the Chinese Communist Party's standardization, though this capitalization is not strictly followed.}} began to be used to refer to this standardized version to the English-speaking world; notably, it was first used as a ''political'' term.<ref name=taylor/>{{rp|79,84-86}} The term in Chinese however remained the same as it was in pre-revolutionary China, 中医 (''zhongyi'') as it always had, which just translates to 'Chinese medicine', a term that was used starting in the 19<sup>th</sup> century to contrast it with Western medicine (西医, ''xiyi'').<ref name=taylor/>{{rp|79}} It was also during this period that the idea of [[Integrative medicine|integrated medicine]] developed, based on Mao's sloganeering, the mixing Chinese and Western medicine.<ref name=taylor/>{{rp|11-13,68,135-136}} Other non-standardized forms of Chinese medicine are still practiced both within the People's Republic of China (PRC) and in [[Singapore]], Hong Kong and Taiwan.<ref name=taylor/>{{rp|86-87}}

Despite the death of Mao, the rise of [[capitalism]], the general lack of evidence supporting TCM, and the preference of Chinese citizens for TCM only for minor ailments,<ref name=taylor/>{{rp|152-153}} the Chinese government continues to actively promote TCM within China and abroad,<ref>[http://www.china.org.cn/china/2016-12/26/content_39982656.htm China adopts law on traditional medicine] ''Xinhua'' (December 26, 2016).</ref><ref>[https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/traditional-chinese-medicine-gets-a-boost/ In the tradition of Chairman Mao, traditional Chinese medicine gets a new boost by the Chinese government. Despite a lack of evidence for its efficacy and safety, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has made major inroads into US medical centers, both academic and community. I’ve told the story of how Chairman Mao Zedong created the myth of TCM and promoted it to credulous Westerners to facilitate the "integration" of TCM and "Western medicine." Over the holiday break, I learned that this process continues apace, even in today’s China.] by David Gorski (January 2, 2017) ''Science-Based Medicine''.</ref> likely based on a sense of nationalism.

====In the West====
[[File:TCM Center Den Haag, The Hague (2018) 02.jpg|thumb|right|275px|TCM in the [[Netherlands]].]]
TCM became more widely noticed in the West beginning in the 1970s.<ref name=taylor/>{{rp|137-138}}<ref>''Traditional Medicine in Modern China: Science, Nationalism, and the Tensions of Cultural Change' by Ralph C. Croizier (1968) Harvard University Press.</ref> The biggest [[Public relations|publicity generator]] for China at this time was acupuncture analgesia for surgery, which was publicized by James Reston, a ''[[New York Times]]'' reporter who accompanied Secretary of State [[Henry Kissinger]] to China in 1971, in preparation for President [[Richard Nixon]]'s visit in 1972. Reston had an emergency appendectomy while in China using conventioanal anesthesia,<ref name=taylor/>{{rp|138}} and received post-surgical acupuncture analgesia, which he described as causing diversionary pain.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140501205357/https://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/health/1971acupuncture.pdf Now, About My Operation in Peking] by James Reston (July 26, 1971) ''The New York Times''. Pages 1 and 6. The acupuncture "sent ripples of pain racing through my limbs and, at least, had the effect of diverting my attention from the distress in my stomach."</ref> Acupuncture analgesia has been portrayed elsewhere as occurring ''during'' surgery,<ref name=taylor/>{{rp|138-140}} but this has largely been debunked: when acupuncture has been used during surgery, it has been used ''in addition to'' chemical sedatives.<ref>[https://journals.lww.com/anesthesia-analgesia/pages/articleviewer.aspx?year=2013&issue=06000&article=00025&type=Fulltext Acupuncture Is Theatrical Placebo] by David Colquhoun & Steven Novella (2013) ''Anesthesia & Analgesia'' 116(6):1360-1363.</ref><ref name=novella>[https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/acupuncture-doesnt-work/ Acupuncture Doesn't Work] by Steven Novella (June 19, 2013) ''Science-Based Medicine''.</ref><ref>"Acupuncture Anesthesia": A Proclamation from Chairman Mao: [https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/acupuncture-anesthesia-a-proclamation-of-chairman-mao-part-i/ Part I], [https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/acupuncture-anesthesia-a-proclamation-from-chairman-mao-part-ii/ Part II], [https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/acupuncture-anesthesia-a-proclamation-from-chairman-mao-part-iii/ Part III], and [[https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/acupuncture-anesthesia-a-proclamation-from-chairman-mao-part-iv/ Part IV] by Kimball Atwood (May 15, 2009 - June 26, 2009) ''Science-Based Medicine''.</ref><ref>[https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/acupuncture-anesthesia-redux-another-skeptic-and-an-unfortunate-misportrayal-at-the-nccam/ 'Acupuncture Anesthesia' Redux: another Skeptic and an Unfortunate Misportrayal at the NCCAM] by Kimball Atwood (July 24, 2009) ''Science-Based Medicine''.</ref>

Notably, the first three Western textbooks on TCM following Reston's article<ref>''Theoretical Foundations of Chinese Medicine: Systems of Correspondence'' by Manfred Porkert (1978) The MIT Press. ISBN 0262660407.</ref><ref>''Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine'' by Ted Kaptchuk (1983) Congdon & Weed. ISBN 0865531099.</ref><ref>''Traditional Medicine in Contemporary China: A Partial Translation of "Revised outline of Chinese medicine'' by Nathan Sivin (1987) IAnn Arbor Center for Chinese Studies. ISBN 0892640731.</ref> were based on a 1958 PRC textbook, ''The Outline of TCM'' (中医学概论, ''Zhongyixue Gailun'')<ref>''中医学概论'' (''Zhongyixue Gailun'') by Jingchun Meng (1958) 人民衛生出版社.</ref> that was filtered through revolutionary communist fervor.<ref name=taylor/>{{rp|144-147}}<ref name=novella/>

TCM has become popular in North America and Europe during recent decades, largely due to the growing popularity of [[CAM]] (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) and the [[New Age]] preoccupation with other Eastern [[woo]] such as feng shui, [[Chinese astrology]], [[Reiki]] and [[Zen|Zen Buddhism]]. As with most of these fads, the most common variants of TCM popularised in the west tend to be simplified and bastardised versions of authentic TCM, and are often bundled with other forms of CAM. For example, Chinese medicine centers in the [[UK]] and [[USA]] often offer non-Chinese complementary therapies such as [[hypnotherapy]] and [[homeopathy]], alongside Chinese herbalism and acupuncture.

However, just because one remedy works does not mean all the others work. Each remedy or herb gets tested; those that work become part of medicine, while those that don't get discarded. Keeping the remedies that are unproven or have been proven not to work is instead pseudoscience.

==Materia medica==
[[File:Baby mice wine (老鼠崽酒) - 2.jpg|thumb|right|250px|You've heard of rice wine; now try ''mice'' wine!]]
The {{wpl|Bencao Gangmu|''Bencao Gangmu''}} (本草綱目) or ''Compendium of Materia Medica'' was first published in the 1578 by {{wpl|Li Shizhen}} (李時珍). An early book was written in 1505 by the physician Liu Wentai under orders from Emperor Xiaozong, titled ''Bencao Pinhui Jingyao'' (Collection of the Essential Medical Herbs of Materia Medica), but this book was not available to the general public and is not now well-known.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150608164015/http://www.wdl.org/en/item/13513 Collection of the Essential Medical Herbs of Materia Medica]</ref><ref>''A Brief History of Chinese Medicine and Its Influence'' by Peng Yoke Ho & F. P. Lisowski (1999). World Scientific, 2<sup>nd</sup> ed. ISBN 9810228031.</ref>

The ''Bencao Gangmu'' has remained in use continuously since its publication, and was replaced in China by the 10-volume ''Zhong Hua Ben Cao (中华本草, Encyclopedia of Chinese Materia Medica)'' in 1999.<ref>Health Department and National Chinese Medicine Management Office (ed.). ''Zhong Hua Ben Cao'', 3–460–509. Shanghai Science Technology Publication. 1999. ISBN 7532351068.</ref> The now-official ''Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China'' was published in 2005.<ref>''Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China'' (2005). Chemical Industry Press, 2 volumes: ISBN 7502520627 and ISBN 7502520635.</ref>

===Controversial and dangerous ingredients used in TCM===
TCM ingredients can range from common plants, such as dandelion, persimmon, and mint, to weird or even dangerous stuff. Some things found in TCM include genitals of various animals (including [[dog]]s, tigers, seals, oxen, [[goat]]s, and deer), bear bile (commonly obtained by means of slow, inhumane extraction methods), and [[Irony|(genuine)]] [[snake oil]].<ref name=read/><ref>[http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Freeing-China-s-caged-bile-bears-Animal-2677503.php Freeing China's caged bile bears / Animal activists aim to curtail trade in traditional remedy], SFgate.</ref><ref>[http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/hot/media/media2003.asp Media Releases for 2003], Medsafe.</ref> It is worth noting that the sale and use of all of these animal ingredients is illegal in many parts of [[Asia]], [[Europe]], [[North America]] and almost everywhere else. New methods of combating the use of these illegal animal parts have been discussed.<ref>[http://naturalreactions.wordpress.com/2013/11/06/combatting-the-illegal-use-of-endangered-animals-in-traditional-medicine/ Combatting the illegal use of endangered animals in traditional medicine] (November 6, 2013) ''Natural Reactions''.</ref> [[Urine therapy|Urine]], [[Feces therapy|feces]], [[Placentophagy|placenta]] and other human-derived medicines were traditionally used<ref name=read/> but some may no longer be in use.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120321084050/http://www.bluepoppy.com/cfwebstorefb/images/features/rr_45.pdf "The Treatment of 75 Cases of Pediatric Oral Thrush with the Sweet, Cold, Protecting Yin Method" by Wang Le-ping, Shang Hai Zhong Yi Yao Za Zhi (''The Shanghai Journal of Chinese Medicine & Medicinals''), #5, 1994, p. 22]</ref>

[[File:Snake oil jug in Macau.jpg|thumb|right|275px|Literal snake oil (liquor actually) in Macau. These poor things had been drowned alive.]]

Some of the dangerous ingredients include [[lead]],<ref>[http://www.americandragon.com/Individualherbsupdate/MiTuoSeng.html Mi Tuo Seng &mdash; 密陀僧 — Lithargyrum] ''American Dragon''.</ref> calomel ([[Mercury|mercurous]] chloride), cinnabar (red mercuric sulfide),<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100115050520/http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/herbcentral/cinnabar.php Cinnabar] ''[[Acupuncture Today]]''.</ref> [[asbestos]] (including asbestiform actinolite,<ref>[http://www.tcmwiki.com/wiki/actinolite ''Actinolite''], TCMwiki.com.</ref><ref>{{wpa|Actinolite}}</ref> sometimes erroneously called aconite<ref name=aconite>[http://www.askdrmao.com/natural-health-dictionary/aconite/ Aconite] ''Ask Dr. Mao''</ref><ref>{{wpa|Aconite}}</ref>) realgar ([[arsenic]]),<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090703171749/http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/herbcentral/realgar.php Realgar (xiong huang)] ''Acupuncture Today''.</ref> and [[birthwort]] (''Aristolochia'' spp.).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080819141921/http://www.yinyanghouse.com/theory/herbalmedicine/guang_fang_zi_tcm_herbal_database  Guang Fang Zi (Aristolochia Root, Stephania) — Chinese Herbal Medicine] ''Yin Yang House''.</ref> [[Bloodletting]] is also practiced. Bizarrely, lead oxide, cinnabar, and calomel are said to be good for [[detox]]ification.<ref>[http://www.tcmtreatment.com/herbs/0-zhusha.htm ''Cinnabar (zhu sha)''], TCMtreatment.com.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20061128031850/http://www.tcmassistant.com/herbs/qian-dan.html Qian Dan], TCMAssistant.</ref><ref name=at>[https://web.archive.org/web/20091203035303/http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/herbcentral/galena.php Galena], ''Acupuncture Today''.</ref><ref name=bcmj>[http://www.bcmj.org/letters/mercury-and-chinese-herbal-medicine Mercury and Chinese herbal medicine] by  H.C. George Wong (2004) ''BCMJ'' 46(9):442.</ref><ref name=ebm>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150412184450/http://ebm.sagepub.com/content/233/7/810.full Mercury in Traditional Medicines: Is Cinnabar Toxicologically Similar to Common Mercurials?] by Jie Liu et al. (2008) ''Experimental Biology and Medicine'' 233(7):810-817. doi:10.3181/0712-MR-336.</ref> Lead oxide is also supposed to help with ringworms, skin rashes, rosacea, eczema, sores, ulcers, and intestinal parasites, cinnabar allegedly helps you live longer,<ref name=at/><ref name=bcmj/> and asbestos is used (including in powder form) for treating impotence, spermatorrhea, premature ejaculation, colic, muscle cramps, prostatitis, endometritis, as well as for kidney-warming and yang-fortifying. Admittedly, the amounts of cinnabar and calomel used in TCM are small enough that the damage they cause is usually reversible.<ref name=ebm/>

A 1998 study of 260 imported Asian patent medicines collected in California found that 14 had labels with declared pharmaceutical ingredients.<ref name=Ko>[http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199809173391214 Adulterants in Asian Patent Medicines] by Richard J. Ko. (1998) ''N. Engl. J. Med.'' 339:847. doi:10.1056/NEJM199809173391214.</ref> Of 243 products that were chemically analyzed, 17 had undeclared pharmaceuticals (including ephedrine, chlorpheniramine, methyltestosterone, and phenacetin).<ref name=Ko/> Of the 251 products that were chemically analyzed, 24 contained lead in the range of 10 to 319 ppm, 35 contained [[arsenic]] in the range of 20.4 to 114,000 ppm, and 35 contained [[mercury]] in the range of 22.4 to 5070 ppm.<ref name=Ko/> By way of comparison, the United States Pharmacopoeia limits heavy metals in pharmaceuticals to 30 ppm in most cases.<ref name=Ko/>

Sites selling or promoting TCM remedies often lump all their products or recommended treatments under the generic term "herbs". However, many of these herbal products are really of mineral or otherwise non-herbal origin. These "herbs" are sometimes listed by their Chinese or mineral names (which people don't really recognize). Instead of listing "lead", they list a "herb" called ''mi tuo seng'' or "galena"; instead of listing asbestos, they list ''yang qi shi'', and so on.

===Lethal substitution===
[[File:Bilebear2.jpg|thumb|right|275px|Bear kept in captivity for bile extraction. We have nothing snarky to say here. This is just saddening.]]
TCM allows for the substitution of ingredients that have the same or similar names in Chinese.<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16863692 Complexities of the herbal nomenclature system in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM): lessons learned from the misuse of Aristolochia-related species and the importance of the pharmaceutical name during botanical drug product development] by K. M. Wu et al. ''Phytomedicine''. 2007 Apr;14(4):273-9. Epub 2006 Jul 24.</ref> In [[Belgium]], a weight-loss spa using TCM herbs gave its clients herbal supplements containing [[birthwort]], and as a result, more than 100 out of 1800 of its patients developed kidney failure, and several also developed urothelial and kidney cancers. In this case, the relatively safe ''Stephania tetrandra'' (漢防己, Han Fang Ji) was intended for the clients, but the lethal ''Aristolochia fangchi'' (廣防己, Guang Fang Ji) was given to them instead.

===Environmental impact===
In TCM, [[endangered species]] such as rhinos, pangolins, [[shark]]s, seahorses, manta rays, lions, leopards and tigers are highly prized;<ref name=read/> rhino horns are considered [[panacea]]s which can cure everything from arthritis to [[cancer]], even though studies have shown they do nothing.<ref name=et>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121020054103/http://www.earthtimes.org/conservation/world-rhino-day-22nd-september-2012/2191/ ''World Rhino Day — 22nd September 2012''] by Michael Evans (22 Sep 2012 0:1:0 GMT) ''The Earth Times''.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130307075314/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-03-04/flora-fauna/37436634_1_rhino-horn-kaziranga-national-park-myths ''How a myth is killing the rhino''] by Atul Sethi (Mar 4, 2013) ''The Times of India''.</ref><ref>[http://www.livescience.com/1768-alternative-medicine-threatens-beasts-extinction.html Alternative Medicine Threatens Beasts with Extinction] by Benjamin Radford (August 10, 2007) ''LiveScience''.</ref> Because of this demand, poachers hunt these animals for their body parts in order to sell them to TCM users. Since the 1970s, rhino populations have dropped 90%;<ref name=et/> while this number may not be ''entirely'' due to TCM, it can plausibly be said that TCM is significantly contributing to the extinction of endangered species by encouraging the use of these clearly ineffective as well as illegally and unsustainably sourced substances.

===Here be dragons===
[[File:Chinese Materia Medica illustration, Ming; Dragon bone Wellcome L0039303.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"Dragon bones" (骨龍) from a reprint of a 1505 CE edition of the ''Materia Medica'' by Liu Wentai]] 
Some also grind up [[dinosaur]] [[fossil]]s (mistakenly thought by some to be "[[dragon]] bones") to be used as medicines.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20101017021505/http://sunstar-solutions.com/dragonbones.htm Chinese Medicine: "Dragon Bones"] by Sharon Cornet (February 15, 2010) ''SunStar Solutions''.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070716191823/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/07/070713-china-dinos.html Dinosaur Fossils Part of Longtime Chinese Tonic] by Kevin Holden Platt (July 13, 2007) ''National Geographic News'' (archived from July 16, 2007).</ref><ref>[http://www.itmonline.org/arts/dragonbone.htm Dragon's Bones and Teeth] by Subhuti Dharmananda. ''Institute for Traditional Medicine''.</ref> Given that dinosaur fossils have undergone complete mineralization, these "dragon bones" could not be any more effective than eating rocks.{{nofact}}

Bernard Read analyzed several dragon medicines used in TCM:<ref>''Chinese Materia Medica. VII. Dragons and Snakes'' by Bernard E. Read (1934) Peking Natural History Bulletin. pp. 8-9.</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Chinese name !! English translation !! Actual substance
|-
| 龍骨 (''long gu'') || Dragon bones || Prehistoric animal bones, fossilized
|-
| 龍齒 (''long chi'') || Dragon teeth || Prehistoric animal teeth, fossilized
|-
| 龍腦 (''long nao'') || Dragon brains || Type of limestone
|-
| 龍涎 (''long yen'') || Dragon saliva || {{wpl|Ambergris}}
|}

==See also==
*''[[Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica]]''
*[[Pulse diagnosis]]
*[[Traditional Korean medicine]]
*[[Imperial China]]

==External links==
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_traditional_Chinese_medicines List of traditional Chinese medicines] article in [[Wikipedia]]. ''Very'' interesting read.
*[http://scienceline.org/2011/06/from-beijing-to-new-york-the-dark-side-of-traditional-chinese-medicine/ ''From Beijing to New York: The dark side of traditional Chinese medicine''], Scienceline.
*[http://www.amfoundation.org/tcm.htm Alternative Medicine Foundation's TCM page] - A good overview with a fairly extensive list of other TCM resources.
*[http://www.orthomolecular.org/library/jom/1995/articles/1995-v10n01-p031.shtml Rock Medicines in TCM]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2|90%}}

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Categories: Alternative medicine, China, Chinese medicine, Energy therapy, Orientalist woo, Protoscience