Clipping Board » Medical Myths ─ The truth about healthcare is often different from what you intuitively think.
(Author Li Zongen holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford and an MBA from UC Berkeley.)
What is "science"? Most people would think of systematic doctrines and theories. If asked to give examples, many would use figures like Newton and Einstein to explain what "science" is. The "science" in people's minds mostly revolves around physics, such as Newton's classical mechanics and Einstein's theory of relativity, which are theories based on mathematics. This extends outward to chemistry, biology, and further to applied sciences like economics. The core of this so-called "science" can be said to embody the spirit of physics, which involves systematic observation, proposing hypotheses to explain phenomena, and then using these hypotheses to predict and alter future phenomena. If a hypothesis withstands the test of time without error, it becomes a law. New hypotheses can then be built upon this law to explain other phenomena, continuously constructing a framework that can explain and alter various phenomena.
Laws are usually very simple. Newton's three laws of motion are as simple as they come, yet for three hundred years, they have allowed scientists to explain a vast array of phenomena and have driven rapid scientific progress. Maxwell, originally a history student, switched to physics and earned his Ph.D. in just one year. His doctoral thesis was only one page long, and the four simple equations on that page laid the foundation for the entire field of electromagnetism, which is the fundamental reason we have wireless communication today. Einstein's E=MC2 is another excellent example; a single equation can create an atomic bomb, capable of destroying a large city of millions in seconds.
When it comes to traditional Chinese medicine, many people might consider it merely as Chinese folk remedies, unscientific, unmodern, or even superstitious. Let's not use the theories of traditional Chinese medicine or any familiar terms to explain. Instead, let's take a different approach. Suppose we have observed the human body for a long time and noticed that there seems to be a special connection between various phenomena. To explain these phenomena and connections, we propose a hypothesis that different parts of the human body can be divided into "states": A, B, C, D, and E. These five states each have their unique properties and certain specific relationships with each other. We can further subdivide them into A+, A-, B+, B-, C+, C-, D+, D-, E+, E-, where the "+" state and the "-" state have some differences. Additionally, these states are influenced by external factors such as temperature and pressure. Suppose we establish this set of hypotheses and find that it can explain various phenomena within the human body. We then push this hypothesis further to see if it can predict and alter future phenomena, such as predicting the metastasis of cancer cells or altering a certain disease to achieve our desired outcomes. In other words, we use the aforementioned spirit of physics to test our hypothesis. If, over time and through many tests, our hypothesis remains valid and error-free, it can, like hypotheses in physics, become a true and useful law and theory. This method is as scientific as it gets.Someone might ask how we initially came up with the five states A, B, C, D, and E and their interconnections. This is akin to asking how Einstein conceived the simple yet profound equation E=MC². It might have been through continuous observation and contemplation, countless hypotheses and revisions, or perhaps due to intellect far surpassing that of ordinary people. In any case, the process of proposing hypotheses, continuously verifying them, and establishing laws is not only scientific but also fully aligns with the spirit of physics.
Returning to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), we represent the aforementioned five states with Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. We explain that each of these five states has its unique characteristics and that they interact through generation and restriction cycles. Yang represents "+" and Yin represents "-", with their own special relationships. For example, the gallbladder is associated with Yang Wood, the liver with Yin Wood, the small intestine with Yang Fire, the heart with Yin Fire, the stomach with Yang Earth, the spleen with Yin Earth, the large intestine with Yang Metal, the lungs with Yin Metal, the bladder with Yang Water, and the kidneys with Yin Water. Furthermore, we emphasize that this hypothesis of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water has been validated over thousands of years without error and can predict and cure various diseases based on this framework. Would you then consider this hypothesis a highly scientific law, or would you dismiss it as unscientific simply because TCM doesn’t use the labels A, B, C, D, and E? You might compare it to years of Western medical training and argue that the human body is far too complex to be explained by such a simple law in TCM. At this point, you should consider how NASA receives information from satellites at the edge of the solar system—such a complex engineering feat ultimately boils down to Maxwell’s four simple equations. Of course, Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water are just one of TCM’s laws. TCM has many other laws that have been validated over millennia, all of which align with the spirit of physics. Therefore, TCM is, in fact, highly scientific.
In contrast, Western medicine is quite different. It is built on microbiology and chemistry, focusing on understanding cells, viruses, and the effects of chemical drugs on various cells and viruses. In the microscopic world, it is scientific, with numerous hypotheses, validations, and laws. However, significant issues arise in clinical practice. The laws that are highly effective in the microscopic world encounter problems when applied to the macroscopic human body. The complexity of the entire human body is not the original subject of explanation or validation for these microscopic laws. As a result, Western medicine relies on inductive statistics to address human diseases. For example, a pharmaceutical company develops a chemical drug believed to treat hypertension. After 6 to 7 years of animal and human trials, they find that 70% of cases show improvement in hypertension, albeit with some side effects. Through extensive communication, explanation, and compromise, influenced by the pharmaceutical company and its legal team, the U.S. FDA approves the drug. Once approved by the FDA, other national drug regulatory agencies follow suit. The pharmaceutical company then heavily markets the drug, and hospitals and doctors prescribe it to millions of hypertension patients.Is the aforementioned process scientific? First, pharmaceutical companies have a hypothesis that a certain chemical substance can treat hypertension. But has this hypothesis been scientifically validated to become a law? No, this chemical substance only improves hypertension in 70% of cases. What about the remaining 30%? Is "improving hypertension" equivalent to "eliminating the root cause of the disease," or is it merely "suppressing the symptoms"? What about the side effects? Clearly, the original hypothesis only targets a small part of the human body rather than the whole, otherwise, how could there be side effects? Can 6 to 7 years of animal and human trials rule out long-term harm to the human body? These questions reveal that Western medicine does not align with the spirit of physics but leans more toward inductive statistics—70% effective, 30% ineffective, 15% experiencing side effect A, 8% experiencing side effect B, and so on. If you carefully read the drug descriptions provided by pharmaceutical companies, you will find that many state "may cause cancer, and in rare cases, may lead to death." When taking Western medicine, do you ever think that you might be one of those "rare cases"?
Now, compare traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine. Is TCM, with its concise and powerful principles validated over thousands of years, more scientific? Or is Western medicine, with its inductive statistics that focus on the trees but miss the forest, more scientific? Remember, Einstein's theory of relativity remains at the forefront of science, capable of explaining black holes and many other important astrophysical phenomena. The mathematical formulation of relativity is exceedingly simple, and the fact that most people do not understand it is not Einstein's fault, nor does it change the correctness of the theory. The depth and scientific nature of TCM follow the same logic.
Source: http://www. hantang. com/ chinese/ ch_Articles/ scientist1. htm
In physics lies the true "science" — the beautiful mathematical forms behind all things!
F=MA, such a simple formula, can derive almost the entire content of a general physics textbook and propel human society into the Industrial Revolution. "Science" is about delving into the principles behind things, mastering complexity with simplicity. Does modern medicine have this? It completely lacks a holistic, applicable theory or theorem, treating only parts of the body while ignoring the principles governing the entire human body. Compared to physics, modern medicine can only be considered a jumble of miscellaneous experiences, resembling a pseudo-"science".
Physics has already told us that different scales of the world have different laws . Thus, the microscopic world has quantum physics, the macroscopic world has classical physics, and the cosmic scale has relativity, each law applicable to its respective scale. Similarly, the human body has its own scale of laws, and delving into the molecular scale is a dead end. Although these laws of traditional Chinese medicine may seem simple, like F=MA, those who know how to use them can achieve wonders, invent steam engines, car engines, and even fly into space; those who don't, see them as just four insignificant symbols.
Traditional Chinese medicine established various usable models and laws for the human body scale over two thousand years ago, applicable for derivation and operation, mastering complexity with simplicity. In terms of foundational theory, traditional Chinese medicine has been far ahead of modern medicine by centuries. If Western medicine continues to delve into the microscopic world of molecular biology, it will never construct a macroscopic model of human physiology. However, judging from the current mainstream medical trends, it may take more than half a century for them to realize this.
People belittle traditional Chinese medicine because it uses wood, fire, earth, metal, water, and the heavenly stems to describe, rather than α, β, γ, A, B, C; because the term "Chinese medicine" already evokes too much prejudice in people's minds; because its true essence has long been lost in the chaos of war . Just as few electronic products today are marked with Chinese characters, because Western script looks more "scientific". After losing wars a century ago, Easterners have long lost confidence in their own culture.
Traditional Chinese Medicine and Science by Dr. Li Zongen
What is "science"? Most people would think of systematic doctrines and theories. If asked to give examples, many would use figures like Newton and Einstein to explain what "science" is. The "science" in people's minds mostly revolves around physics, such as Newton's classical mechanics and Einstein's theory of relativity, which are theories based on mathematics. This extends outward to chemistry, biology, and further to applied sciences like economics. The core of this so-called "science" can be said to embody the spirit of physics, which involves systematic observation, proposing hypotheses to explain phenomena, and then using these hypotheses to predict and alter future phenomena. If a hypothesis withstands the test of time without error, it becomes a law. New hypotheses can then be built upon this law to explain other phenomena, continuously constructing a framework that can explain and alter various phenomena.
Laws are usually very simple. Newton's three laws of motion are as simple as they come, yet for three hundred years, they have allowed scientists to explain a vast array of phenomena and have driven rapid scientific progress. Maxwell, originally a history student, switched to physics and earned his Ph.D. in just one year. His doctoral thesis was only one page long, and the four simple equations on that page laid the foundation for the entire field of electromagnetism, which is the fundamental reason we have wireless communication today. Einstein's E=MC2 is another excellent example; a single equation can create an atomic bomb, capable of destroying a large city of millions in seconds.
When it comes to traditional Chinese medicine, many people might consider it merely as Chinese folk remedies, unscientific, unmodern, or even superstitious. Let's not use the theories of traditional Chinese medicine or any familiar terms to explain. Instead, let's take a different approach. Suppose we have observed the human body for a long time and noticed that there seems to be a special connection between various phenomena. To explain these phenomena and connections, we propose a hypothesis that different parts of the human body can be divided into "states": A, B, C, D, and E. These five states each have their unique properties and certain specific relationships with each other. We can further subdivide them into A+, A-, B+, B-, C+, C-, D+, D-, E+, E-, where the "+" state and the "-" state have some differences. Additionally, these states are influenced by external factors such as temperature and pressure. Suppose we establish this set of hypotheses and find that it can explain various phenomena within the human body. We then push this hypothesis further to see if it can predict and alter future phenomena, such as predicting the metastasis of cancer cells or altering a certain disease to achieve our desired outcomes. In other words, we use the aforementioned spirit of physics to test our hypothesis. If, over time and through many tests, our hypothesis remains valid and error-free, it can, like hypotheses in physics, become a true and useful law and theory. This method is as scientific as it gets.Someone might ask how we initially came up with the five states A, B, C, D, and E and their interconnections. This is akin to asking how Einstein conceived the simple yet profound equation E=MC². It might have been through continuous observation and contemplation, countless hypotheses and revisions, or perhaps due to intellect far surpassing that of ordinary people. In any case, the process of proposing hypotheses, continuously verifying them, and establishing laws is not only scientific but also fully aligns with the spirit of physics.
Returning to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), we represent the aforementioned five states with Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. We explain that each of these five states has its unique characteristics and that they interact through generation and restriction cycles. Yang represents "+" and Yin represents "-", with their own special relationships. For example, the gallbladder is associated with Yang Wood, the liver with Yin Wood, the small intestine with Yang Fire, the heart with Yin Fire, the stomach with Yang Earth, the spleen with Yin Earth, the large intestine with Yang Metal, the lungs with Yin Metal, the bladder with Yang Water, and the kidneys with Yin Water. Furthermore, we emphasize that this hypothesis of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water has been validated over thousands of years without error and can predict and cure various diseases based on this framework. Would you then consider this hypothesis a highly scientific law, or would you dismiss it as unscientific simply because TCM doesn’t use the labels A, B, C, D, and E? You might compare it to years of Western medical training and argue that the human body is far too complex to be explained by such a simple law in TCM. At this point, you should consider how NASA receives information from satellites at the edge of the solar system—such a complex engineering feat ultimately boils down to Maxwell’s four simple equations. Of course, Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water are just one of TCM’s laws. TCM has many other laws that have been validated over millennia, all of which align with the spirit of physics. Therefore, TCM is, in fact, highly scientific.
In contrast, Western medicine is quite different. It is built on microbiology and chemistry, focusing on understanding cells, viruses, and the effects of chemical drugs on various cells and viruses. In the microscopic world, it is scientific, with numerous hypotheses, validations, and laws. However, significant issues arise in clinical practice. The laws that are highly effective in the microscopic world encounter problems when applied to the macroscopic human body. The complexity of the entire human body is not the original subject of explanation or validation for these microscopic laws. As a result, Western medicine relies on inductive statistics to address human diseases. For example, a pharmaceutical company develops a chemical drug believed to treat hypertension. After 6 to 7 years of animal and human trials, they find that 70% of cases show improvement in hypertension, albeit with some side effects. Through extensive communication, explanation, and compromise, influenced by the pharmaceutical company and its legal team, the U.S. FDA approves the drug. Once approved by the FDA, other national drug regulatory agencies follow suit. The pharmaceutical company then heavily markets the drug, and hospitals and doctors prescribe it to millions of hypertension patients.Is the aforementioned process scientific? First, pharmaceutical companies have a hypothesis that a certain chemical substance can treat hypertension. But has this hypothesis been scientifically validated to become a law? No, this chemical substance only improves hypertension in 70% of cases. What about the remaining 30%? Is "improving hypertension" equivalent to "eliminating the root cause of the disease," or is it merely "suppressing the symptoms"? What about the side effects? Clearly, the original hypothesis only targets a small part of the human body rather than the whole, otherwise, how could there be side effects? Can 6 to 7 years of animal and human trials rule out long-term harm to the human body? These questions reveal that Western medicine does not align with the spirit of physics but leans more toward inductive statistics—70% effective, 30% ineffective, 15% experiencing side effect A, 8% experiencing side effect B, and so on. If you carefully read the drug descriptions provided by pharmaceutical companies, you will find that many state "may cause cancer, and in rare cases, may lead to death." When taking Western medicine, do you ever think that you might be one of those "rare cases"?
Now, compare traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine. Is TCM, with its concise and powerful principles validated over thousands of years, more scientific? Or is Western medicine, with its inductive statistics that focus on the trees but miss the forest, more scientific? Remember, Einstein's theory of relativity remains at the forefront of science, capable of explaining black holes and many other important astrophysical phenomena. The mathematical formulation of relativity is exceedingly simple, and the fact that most people do not understand it is not Einstein's fault, nor does it change the correctness of the theory. The depth and scientific nature of TCM follow the same logic.
Source: http://www. hantang. com/ chinese/ ch_Articles/ scientist1. htm
Re: Traditional Chinese Medicine and Science
F=MA, such a simple formula, can derive almost the entire content of a general physics textbook and propel human society into the Industrial Revolution. "Science" is about delving into the principles behind things, mastering complexity with simplicity. Does modern medicine have this? It completely lacks a holistic, applicable theory or theorem, treating only parts of the body while ignoring the principles governing the entire human body. Compared to physics, modern medicine can only be considered a jumble of miscellaneous experiences, resembling a pseudo-"science".
Physics has already told us that different scales of the world have different laws . Thus, the microscopic world has quantum physics, the macroscopic world has classical physics, and the cosmic scale has relativity, each law applicable to its respective scale. Similarly, the human body has its own scale of laws, and delving into the molecular scale is a dead end. Although these laws of traditional Chinese medicine may seem simple, like F=MA, those who know how to use them can achieve wonders, invent steam engines, car engines, and even fly into space; those who don't, see them as just four insignificant symbols.
Traditional Chinese medicine established various usable models and laws for the human body scale over two thousand years ago, applicable for derivation and operation, mastering complexity with simplicity. In terms of foundational theory, traditional Chinese medicine has been far ahead of modern medicine by centuries. If Western medicine continues to delve into the microscopic world of molecular biology, it will never construct a macroscopic model of human physiology. However, judging from the current mainstream medical trends, it may take more than half a century for them to realize this.
People belittle traditional Chinese medicine because it uses wood, fire, earth, metal, water, and the heavenly stems to describe, rather than α, β, γ, A, B, C; because the term "Chinese medicine" already evokes too much prejudice in people's minds; because its true essence has long been lost in the chaos of war . Just as few electronic products today are marked with Chinese characters, because Western script looks more "scientific". After losing wars a century ago, Easterners have long lost confidence in their own culture.
Shen Yaozi said, "The sun bakes the earth, dissipating all things."