Evidence & Research

Rigorous evidence is the foundation of trust in any medical system. These articles examine the current state of research on TCM — what has been proven, what remains uncertain, and the unique methodological challenges that make studying traditional medicine both fascinating and difficult.

• Clinical Trial Evidence

  A survey of randomised controlled trials for acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and other TCM modalities — what the Cochrane reviews say.

• Placebo Effect & Methodology

  Sham acupuncture, blinding challenges, and the debate about contextual healing — why standard RCT design does not always fit TCM.

• Pharmacology of Chinese Herbs

  From Tu Youyou's Nobel Prize-winning artemisinin to berberine — how modern pharmacology is validating (and refuting) traditional herbal uses.

• Safety & Drug Interactions

  Herb-drug interactions, heavy metal contamination, and aristolochic acid — understanding the real risks and how to use both systems safely.