【Doctors talk freely.Guanxinji】Orthodox Medicine

The entry points of Chinese and Western medicine pathology and treatment methods are completely different. Therefore, it is very difficult to master these two medical techniques. If we can find a system that is acceptable to both sides and discuss it with each other, I believe it will benefit more people.

On August 26, 2023, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC 2023) kicked off in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The highlight of the second day of the seminar was the research results of traditional Chinese medicine on heart disease.

The host of the conference announced: “The first research report, presented by Professor Li Xinli of Nanjing University, is titled “Application of Qili Qiangxin Capsule in Patients with Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction – QUEST Study”.

Sitting in the audience, I, along with thousands of cardiologists from all over the world, were curiously waiting for Professor Li to announce this strange research.

Transparent disclosure of side effects of Western medicines

“Qili Qiangxin Capsule is a combination of 11 kinds of traditional Chinese medicine.” Professor Li began to explain: “This medicine has been used to treat myocardial failure in China decades ago. In recent years, our government has encouraged us to use scientific methods to observe its efficacy… .”

Chinese and Western medicine have always seemed to be in a confrontational situation. Due to the vigorous development of Western medicine, Western medicine does not regard any “alternative medicine” as its opponent. Just looking at the four words “alternative medicine” shows that Western medicine is the mainstream of medicine. Other medical practitioners attack Western medicine as chemicals and baselessly state that they can damage the kidneys.

Western medicines are made after years of research by scientists. This process includes testing on biological cells and then observing their effects on living animals. After experiencing many failures, we constantly sorted out its weight and reused it on animals, healthy humans and patients.

After a drug is made, it is ultimately conducted into a randomized controlled trial. In this type of trial, patients are divided into two groups by computer, with one group taking the new drug and the other taking a placebo. If the efficacy was not satisfactory, the production of this medicine was cut in half. If the trial is successful and the main side effects are known, the new drug can be marketed. The efficacy or side effects of this drug will be announced to the world.

Everyone gave warm applause

Looking at other medicines, lacking such precise scientific data, it is difficult to compete with Western medicine. Science is a systematic knowledge system that accumulates, organizes and tests explanations and predictions about all things. Science emphasizes the specificity and falsifiability of predicted results. In other words, medical science conducts experiments in an objective manner, and the results can be repeatedly replicated. If other alternative medicines could be studied in the same way, the results would certainly be recognized by Western medicine.

Professor Li Xinli continued to report: “We divided patients with heart failure into two groups and conducted a randomized controlled trial. The results of the study were that the Qili Qiangxin group significantly reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events (MACE) by 22% compared with the placebo group. The risk of rehospitalization for worsening failure was reduced by 24%, and the risk of cardiovascular death was reduced by 17%. Qili Qiangxin Capsule was well tolerated. There were no significant differences in adverse events and serious adverse events between the two groups in terms of gastrointestinal symptoms, worsening of renal function, and elevated liver enzymes. difference.

This time, research conducted by Chinese Western medicine using orthodox scientific methods proved that traditional Chinese medicine can be used to treat heart failure. This shocked thousands of cardiac specialists in the audience and gave them warm applause.

I was very moved, not because I am Chinese, but because everyone selflessly shared their research results. Western medicine began to build a bridge with “alternative medicine”, that is, objective scientific research.

I look forward to seeing more interactions between Chinese and Western medicine in the future. In the future, there will be only one kind of medicine, called “orthodox medicine”!

(Guangming Daily/Doctor Column‧Author: Chen Changci)

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