By outdoor-nature-child.com Recently, the inaugural “China Respiratory Health Conference,” themed “Guarding Health, Creating the Future,” was held in Hengqin, Guangdong. This event was jointly organized by numerous prestigious institutions, including the Guangzhou National Laboratory, National Respiratory Medicine Center, Clinical Medicine Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, National Key Laboratory for Modern Traditional Chinese Medicine Development, the Executive Committee of the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao Deep Cooperation Zone, as well as local medical associations focusing on chest diseases and respiratory health in Guangdong.
During the conference, a parallel forum on integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Western medicine for respiratory health attracted leading figures in the field from across China. Notable attendees included Academicians Zhong Nanshan, Zhang Boli, and Yang Baofeng, who were joined by experts and scholars from various regions, all gathering to discuss the latest advancements and future directions of TCM and Western medicine integration in respiratory health.
Academician Zhang Boli, in his address, highlighted the growing trend of integrating TCM and Western medicine, asserting that both have unique strengths that complement rather than replace each other. He shared successful case studies of this integration in treating severe pneumonia, emphasizing the crucial role of TCM during recovery and advocating for the holistic principles of TCM in treatment.
Academician Zhong Nanshan echoed this sentiment, stressing the unique value of TCM in disease management. He discussed the remarkable effectiveness of Chinese herbal medicine in clinical practice and mentioned the necessity for a review system tailored to the characteristics of traditional medicine to better leverage its therapeutic benefits.
Professor Yang Zifeng, the forum’s chair, underscored the significant role of integrated medicine in advancing China’s healthcare system, particularly in the realm of respiratory health. He noted that merging the wisdom of traditional Chinese medical practices with modern medical technology could provide patients with more comprehensive and personalized treatment options.
Yang elaborated on China’s rich history of epidemic response, noting the wealth of traditional remedies that have historically played vital roles in disease prevention and management. He recounted his experience as a doctoral student under Academician Zhong, where he worked on the country’s first national key laboratory for the quality research of traditional medicine at the Macau University of Science and Technology. This experience instilled in him the understanding that modern scientific methods should be used to elucidate TCM theories and guide herbal research. Thus, traditional medicine has confidently entered the realm of evidence-based clinical trials, with many TCM researchers increasingly embracing modern scientific approaches, including evidence-based medicine.
Moreover, he believed that in the clinical treatment of acute infectious diseases like influenza and COVID-19, this integrated approach not only alleviates symptoms but also improves bodily functions. Practice has shown that TCM plays a crucial role in treating acute infectious diseases. However, to articulate the effects of TCM clearly, we must employ modern pharmacological techniques and evidence-based clinical research methods, such as cohort studies. The integration of foundational and clinical research methodologies can capitalize on the advantages of both TCM and Western medicine, ultimately supporting the vision of Healthy China 2030.
The forum also invited well-known experts, such as Professors Xu Xiaodong from Guangzhou Medical University, Zhang Junhua from Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Luo Xiaodong from Yunnan University, and others, to discuss the collaborative promotion of respiratory health through integrated medicine.
This conference provided an invaluable platform for professionals in relevant fields to exchange ideas and foster innovation in the integration of TCM and Western medicine within respiratory health. Its rich content and scholarly atmosphere are expected to significantly enhance research and practice in this vital area.