Western healers in traditional Chinese medicine.

In recent years, some in the West have begun to recognize traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as a potential source of new drug candidates (Corson & Crews, 2007; Efferth et al , 2007; Li & Zhang, 2008; Schmidt et al , 2007). At the same time, the practice of TCM in Western countries has been increasing (Institute of Medicine, 2005). As TCM is usually thought to have evolved independently of Western medical practices, the two systems are considered to be distinct from one another, with only a few weak connections between them (Food and Drug Administration, 2006). Nevertheless, by analysing both the history of TCM and the compounds used in TCM, we find that TCM and Western medicine are not quite so different after all. In fact, there have been frequent exchanges of ideas and culture between China and its …