From Issue 4, 2008 of the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, we identified 70 Cochrane systematic reviews focusing on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), primarily acupuncture (n=26) and Chinese herbal medicine (n=42), and 1 each of moxibustion and
t'ai chi. (Each of these 70 Cochrane reviews is referenced in our article's reference list.) After our data extraction and review of these TCM-related Cochrane reviews, we found that most of the Cochrane systematic reviews of TCM are inconclusive, due specifically to the poor methodology and heterogeneity of the studies reviewed. Some Cochrane reviews provide preliminary evidence of Chinese medicine's benefits to certain patient populations, underscoring the importance and appropriateness of further research. These preliminary findings should be considered tentative and need to be confirmed with rigorous randomized controlled trials of TCM therapies. The column is available (with subscription) in the current issue of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine at the address listed below.
External link to more information: http://www.liebertonline.com/toc/acm/15/9.
Contact: Eric Manheimer, emanheimer@compmed.umm.edu
