Herbal medicine has been on a steady decline since the introduction of TCM. But any theory that cannot be applied, confirmed, and replicated in a clinical setting must be discarded.
Now is the time for people and practitioners of herbal medicine to know the original ancient evidence-based methods outlined by our ancient medical ancestors.
The natural decline of medical doctors has continued for more than two thousand years. Now doctors can be categorized into two groups – those who understand disease toxins and those who follow TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) theory.
Herbal medicine, once governed by the precise identification of disease toxins and the systematic application of formula structures, began to wane with the rise of religious ideals of immortality and prolonging life with herbs.
This shift away from understanding that herbs are actual toxins was not merely a change in practices but a fundamental transformation in the approach to the treatment of disease with herbal medicine.
TCM, with its roots deeply embedded in religious theoretical constructs, philosophical underpinnings, and spiritual beliefs, ventured into realms that are abstract and speculative. Central to TCM's methodology are the concepts of Yin-Yang, Five Elements, and the Six-Confirmations; philosophical frameworks that have also influenced CCM (Classical Chinese Medicine) and other forms of modern herbalism. Their treatment approach is based on “tonifying, nourishing, sedating, and regulating” with modified, and often made-up formula prescriptions, without the direct evidence of a disease toxin. This speculative approach seriously contrasts with the systematic medical model that ancient medical doctors employed; a model that demanded evidence to unsure the treatment outcome.
“For the past two thousand years, TCM has concealed the true art of medicine with fables and fairy tales. However, truth cannot remain buried forever. The ancient medical methods will one day rise up and the art of medicine will again prosper.”
Medical doctors and practitioners of ancient medicine strive to identify and treat disease presentations with conclusive evidence, relying on ancient formula-disease patterns that have been meticulously researched and applied for thousands of years. They understood that the nature of all herbs were toxic, and that their toxic nature should only be prescribed according to a very specific dosage and structure that aligns to the presenting disease pattern. Only then, can a disease toxin be removed, and natural function restored, only then, are toxic herbs safe to prescribe.
In comparison, TCM practitioners navigate the complexities of illness and disease through a lens that views health as a balance of unseen opposing and supporting forces, employing treatment methods formed more by imagination and speculation than by tangible evidence. Such an approach, while rich in religious tradition is deeply philosophical, often results in treatment outcomes that are uncertain and unsafe for their patents.
There is a clear weakness in TCM. If they assembled one hundred of these same practitioners in a room to treat a single disease presentation, there would be one hundred different conclusions and formula prescriptions.
This fundamental shift has profound implications for the practice of herbal medicine. The essence of herbal medicine, historically anchored in the concrete identification of disease presentations, now finds itself obscured by the speculative theories of TCM. This blending of philosophies is akin to integrating Christian ideologies into contemporary Western medicine and anticipating effective results - a fusion that fundamentally clashes. Philosophy, rooted in belief systems, and science, grounded in observable and tangible evidence, should remain distinct.
The integration of belief-based theories into a practice that thrives on empirical evidence dilutes the efficacy and clarity that are essential to medical science. By returning to a model that prioritizes direct evidence and reproducible outcomes, we can preserve the integrity and effectiveness of herbal medicine.
These factors have impeded the science and art of herbal medicine, and has prevented medical doctors from knowing the truth and progressing further in the art of medicine. As a result, the once-clear waters of herbal medicinal practice have been muddied, with practitioners often finding themselves adrift in a sea of personal opinions and theoretical interpretations.
The quest for a return to the roots of herbal medicine—a return to the structured, evidence-based practices that characterized the ancient methods— is a call to action for those aiming to restore the true effectiveness and authenticity of a herbal medicine science.
The true power of herbal medicine lies not in the abstract but in the concrete, not in speculation but in the evidence.
“Although there have been many talented doctors, they have forsaken the ancient method of identifying disease toxins according to formula-disease patterns. Now doctors prefer to discuss empty theories and focus on individual scholarly titles and fame. TCM has shaped an incorrect medical model based on theory and misdirection, which has influenced our current state of herbal medicine. These factors have impeded the ancient medical sciences and prevented medical doctors from knowing the truth and progressing further in the art of medicine. Even if another thousand years pass, no matter the distance, our ancient, structured methods are true, and truth will always remain.”
