Alternative therapies and medical science: Designing clinical trials of alternative/complementary medicines - Is evidence-based traditional Chinese medicine attainable?

被引:42
作者
Critchley, JAJH [1 ]
Zhang, Y
Suthisisang, CC
Chan, TYK
Tomlinson, B
机构
[1] Chinese Univ Hong Kong, Dept Med & Therapeut, Div Clin Pharmacol, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Peoples R China
[2] Mahidol Univ, Fac Pharm, Dept Pharmacol, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
关键词
D O I
10.1177/00912700022009224
中图分类号
R9 [药学];
学科分类号
1007 [药学];
摘要
Evidence-based traditional Chinese medicine is attainable. With good planning and a positive attitude, the remedies used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Chinese proprietary medicines can be studied at a standard acceptable to modern science. The identification of an active principal should not delay the search for effective remedies fi om the TCM pharmacopoeia. Herbal mixtures can be validly tested to establish their efficacy. Problems with potential batch-to-batch variation can be circumvented by appropriate randomization. Subsequent independent screening and randomization to treatment and placebo arms can allow for the individualization of treatments by TCM practitioners. However, clearly defined treatments are required and should be re-corded in a manner that enables other suitably trained researchers to reproduce them reliably (e.g., using prescriptions in Chinese). Quality control of TCM is a prerequisite of credible clinical trials. Correct natural ingredients must be used without adulteration or erroneous substitution. Evidence of safety in man is essential, and in lieu of data from formal toxicity studies, clear convincing, and impartial evidence of safety is needed based on their long-term use in mainstream TGM practice backed up by publications in the Chinese medical/scientific literature. (C) 2000 the American College of Clinical Pharmacology.
引用
收藏
页码:462 / 467
页数:6
相关论文
共 10 条
[1]
CRITCHLEY OH, 1985, THESIS U LONDON
[2]
Alternative medicine meets science [J].
Fontanarosa, PB ;
Lundberg, GD .
JAMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, 1998, 280 (18) :1618-1619
[3]
Alternative medicine - Learning from the past, examining the present, advancing to the future [J].
Jonas, WB .
JAMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, 1998, 280 (18) :1616-1618
[4]
Li Y, 1998, Med Trop (Mars), V58, P9
[5]
Artemether for severe malaria: A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials [J].
Pittler, MH ;
Ernst, E .
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES, 1999, 28 (03) :597-601
[6]
A CONTROLLED TRIAL OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINAL-PLANTS IN WIDESPREAD NON-EXUDATIVE ATOPIC ECZEMA [J].
SHEEHAN, MP ;
ATHERTON, DJ .
BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, 1992, 126 (02) :179-184
[7]
ONE-YEAR FOLLOW-UP OF CHILDREN TREATED WITH CHINESE MEDICINAL HERBS FOR ATOPIC ECZEMA [J].
SHEEHAN, MP ;
ATHERTON, DJ .
BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, 1994, 130 (04) :488-493
[8]
EFFICACY OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE HERBAL THERAPY IN ADULT ATOPIC-DERMATITIS [J].
SHEEHAN, MP ;
RUSTIN, MHA ;
ATHERTON, DJ ;
BUCKLEY, C ;
HARRIS, DJ ;
BROSTOFF, J ;
OSTLERE, L ;
DAWSON, A .
LANCET, 1992, 340 (8810) :13-17
[9]
Toxicity of complementary therapies: An Eastern perspective [J].
Tomlinson, B ;
Chan, TYK ;
Chan, JCN ;
Critchley, JAJH ;
But, PPH .
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, 2000, 40 (05) :451-456
[10]
RAPIDLY PROGRESSIVE INTERSTITIAL RENAL FIBROSIS IN YOUNG-WOMEN - ASSOCIATION WITH SLIMMING REGIMEN INCLUDING CHINESE HERBS [J].
VANHERWEGHEM, JL ;
DEPIERREUX, M ;
TIELEMANS, C ;
ABRAMOWICZ, D ;
DRATWA, M ;
JADOUL, M ;
RICHARD, C ;
VANDERVELDE, D ;
VERBEELEN, D ;
VANHAELENFASTRE, R ;
VANHAELEN, M .
LANCET, 1993, 341 (8842) :387-391