Foreign recognition of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is reflected in the following aspects:
Clinical Studies and Efficacy
Increasing Clinical Research: In recent years, the number of clinical studies on TCM interventions published in internationally leading medical journals has gradually increased. For example, studies on acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis and stress urinary incontinence treatment, as well as Chinese herbal medicine for sepsis and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, have been published in top journals such as JAMA and BMJ. These studies provide certain clinical evidence for the efficacy of TCM and enhance its recognition in the international medical community.
Therapeutic Effects on Specific Diseases: TCM has shown good therapeutic effects in the treatment of some diseases, such as malaria. Artemisinin, discovered by Tu Youyou, a Chinese pharmaceutical chemist, has been widely used in the treatment of malaria and has saved millions of lives worldwide. In the island country of Comoros, the incidence of malaria has been reduced by more than 98 percent since 2007, when Chinese experts started to treat patients there using a TCM and artemisinin combination therapy.
Education and Training
Establishment of Acupuncture Schools: With the increasing interest in alternative medicine, many international acupuncture schools have been established, providing education and training for aspiring practitioners. These schools offer various programs focusing on different methodologies, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine, Japanese Acupuncture, and Korean Hand Acupuncture. For example, in North America, the Pacific College of Health and Science and the New England School of Acupuncture are renowned institutions that emphasize both traditional knowledge and modern clinical practices.
Accreditation and Quality Assurance: In many countries, accreditation is an important measure to ensure the quality of acupuncture education. For instance, in the United States, the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) is responsible for accrediting programs, and in Australia, the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) plays a similar role. This helps ensure that graduates can practice and obtain licensure in their respective regions.
Integration into Global Health Initiatives
Inclusion in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD): In 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially integrated a new module for traditional medicine conditions into the ICD, enhancing the visibility of traditional medicine systems such as Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani. Although the WHO does not endorse the scientific validity of traditional medicine practices, the inclusion of traditional medicine in the ICD marks a milestone and supports evidence-based policymaking.
Cooperation and Exchange: More than 30 overseas TCM centers have been established in Europe, North America, Africa, Australia, and other parts of Asia, promoting international exchanges and cooperation in TCM. These centers and their Chinese partners have cooperated in 388 projects in nearly 90 countries, including the training of overseas TCM practitioners.