中 醫 邁 向 科 學 化
IS CHINESE MEDICINE SCIENTIFIC ?
Dr. Robert Yin
一、 原理科學化
中醫理論博大精深，但玄妙難明，傳統中醫只知其然而不知其所以然，近幾十年來不少中醫學科學家探索中醫科學原理，已經取得可觀的成果；譬如研究者已經確認針灸對生理上的幾個反應；(一)、每個穴位都有較低的電阻，即導電性較其周圍組織大，證明這些穴位不是隨意選出的；(二)、針灸能增加體內自然止痛物質的產生，例如Beta-內啡呔及腦啡呔；(三)、針灸能增加司管痛覺的腦部血流量調節痛感並提高免疫力。
二、 診斷科學化
現代中醫除採用傳統望、聞、問、切、做為診斷依據之外，已能利用各種科學儀器輔助診斷；例如電腦化經絡分析診斷儀及電腦化脈象診斷儀，同時配合西醫各種檢驗做為診斷參考。
三、治療科學化
針灸針具品質改良，採用無菌一次性針，安全可靠，中藥科學化分析，除已採用吞服之科學中藥外，許多草藥化學成份已經掌握；例如已知人參成份含二十九種人參皂甙、十六種以上氨基酸、九種糖類、三種脂肪酸、七種維生素、二種揮發油、三種黃酮類物質、十二種無機元素、三種酵素和葡萄糖甙、人參奎酮、膽鹼等。又已知當歸成份含二十九種成份的揮發油及脂肪油、維生素類物質、維生素B12、維生素E、菸酸及40%蔗糖，而根部含棕櫚酸、硬脂酸、肉豆蔻酸及不飽和油酸、亞油酸及阿魏酸、丁二酸尿嘧啶腺票呤等及二十三種金屬元素。另外現代中醫也使用電磁波神燈治療，以代替以往熱敷的治療，同時也使用電針的治療代替以手行針的需求。
1. SCIENTIFIC THEORY
While Chinese Medicine theory is too difficult、complicated and mystery to be understood、many scientists have researched Chinese Medicine and have discovered that its theory is scientific. For example、researchers have identified several physiological reactions that validate the effects of Acupuncture. First、each Acupuncture point has been shown to have lower electrical resistance、proving that these are not random sites. Second、Acupuncture has shown to measurably increase the body’s own production of natural painkiller such as beta-endorphins and enkephalins. It also increases blood flow to the area of the brain that processes pain and alters immune markers.
2. SCIENTIFIC DIAGNOSIS
In addition to traditional Chinese diagnosis: (「Looking」、」Hearing」、「Asking」、「Feeling」)、now the modern Chinese Medicine also uses some devices to assist diagnosis、such as Computerized Meridian Analyzer、Computerized Pulse Analyzer and laboratory data for reference.
3. SCIENTIFIC TREATMENT
The quality of needles for Acupuncture has improved. Now Acupuncturists use one-time-use-only sterilized needles. Also the ingredients in many herbs have become known. For example、The ingredients of GINSENG include 29 kinds of ginsenosides、over 16 kinds of amino acids、9 kinds of carbohydrates、3 kinds of fatty acids、7 kinds of vitamins、12 kinds of non-organic elements、3 kinds of enzymes and inosital. Similarly、the ingredients of DANG GUI include 29 kinds of oils、vitamin E、vitamin B12、niacin and 40 % of disaccharides、coconut fatty acids、unsaturated fatty acids、linolenic acids and 13 kinds of metal elements. Chinese Medicine also uses Infrared Lump and Electronic Acupuncture for therapy.
