| Summary: | Background In Hong Kong, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) services are most popular amongst non-communicable disease (NCD) patients, and TCM is often used in adjunct with western medical (WM) services. However, recent population based survey indicated that the use of TCM as an alternative to WM is not uncommon amongst non-NCD patients, and the preference for TCM appeared to be positively related to age. This existing utilization pattern suggests that TCM could play a key role in preventing NCD amongst the aging population in Hong Kong. Prevention is a fundamental principal in the practice of TCM. In our preliminary report, we have stressed that the Not Yet Ill (NYI) state in TCM is found to resemble the pre-NCD state / sub-health state in WM. Thus, reviewing existing literature on TCM’s approach in managing NYI states will shed light on how relevant NCD prevention services could be planned in TCM primary care setting. Aims - To review syndrome differentiation methods (體質分型) for classifying NYI states.
- To review TCM therapeutic approaches in managing NYI states, focusing in Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) intervention for non-NCD clients.
Method - Wong et al screened 1155 abstracts on the topic and 38 were deemed relevant. Amongst the 38 included papers, 10 focused on syndrome differentiation methods while 28 focused on CHM management approach for NYI state. Two Taiwanese papers and one report from Guangzhou on syndrome differentiation were added.
- "Developing evidence based TCM practice” is one of the major goals of the Hospital Authority’s TCM clinics. In line with this goal, best available empirical evidence instead of general opinion would be the preferred knowledge base for the Hospital Authority’s TCM services planning.
- Under such preference, the narrative synthesis of this report would focus on empirical findings instead of opinions. This will involve categorization of the included 41 papers into “empirical studies" and "opinion essays". Reporting will be focused on the former category.
Results - Syndrome differentiation methods (體質分型)(12 included papers and 1 unpublished report).
- Ten out of 13 included papers were opinion essays and only three were empirical based.
- The synthesis of these three empirical based papers generated a 10 categories typology for syndrome differentiation of NYI state. - CHM intervention for NYI state (28 included papers)
- Amongst the 29 included papers, 12 were opinions (included 1 duplicates) and 5 focused on the treatment of NCD patients. One reviewed CHM treatment strategies on NYI states.
- Ten were empirical papers on various CHM approach for treating NYI states. Five papers tested the effectiveness of a single CHM formula for NYI state without syndrome differentiation. Three papers asserted that all NYI states only correspond to one or few symptom classification(s) and thus one CHM formula is thought to be sufficient. Only two papers tested the effectiveness of CHM formulae according to syndrome differentiation. |
| Reference: | Griffiths, S.M., Che, C.T., (2008). Treatment for the Not-Yet-III (HA Report). Hong Kong: Chinese Medicine Department, Hospital Authority. |