RESUMEN
Tai Chi and Qigong (TCQ) are regarded as major therapies of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and welcomed by increasing practitioners worldwide for their efficacy in various health issues. To better learn about the popularity of TCQ in the United States, the related data collected from 2007, 2012 and 2017 questionnaires of the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were examined and analyzed. The result showed that adult TCQ practitioners in the US increased substantially from 2007-2017, the percentage of Tai Chi practitioners in adult population was 1.0% in 2007, and Qigong practitioners 0.3%; Tai Chi practitioners was 1.1% in 2012, and Qigong practitioners 0.3%; in 2017, Tai Chi practitioners was 1.5%, and Qigong practitioners 0.5%. The top three reasons for using TCQ were: 82.4% for general wellness or disease prevention, 64.6% to improve or enhance energy, and 35.1% recommended by family, friends or co-workers. The health benefits of TCQ, the demand for complementary therapies and increasing research evidences were positive factors for the growth, while there are also challenges including insufficiencies in scientific researches and lacking of standardized teaching system. To promote the future development of TCQ in the US and oversea countries, we should optimize the research methods and standardize the teaching system, encourage the exchange and training of TCQ related professionals, and promote the integration of TCQ into conventional medical system and other related industries.
RESUMEN
Germany owns the largest herbal market in Europe and has the world's leading R&D capabilities for herbal medicine products. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) spreaded to Germany hundreds of years ago. Since the beginning of the 20th century, China and Germany have signed a series of agreements to support traditional medicine cooperation, and the exchange of herbs between China and Germany has become more frequent, bringing opportunities for CHM to enter into Germany. In recent years, China and Germany have gained progress in the fields of CHM research and trade, etc. However, there are differences in the understanding of herbal medicines, quality standard evaluation, usage, and medication rules between the two countries. By doing SWOT analysis of the development of CHM in Germany, this paper suggested to promote Sino-German medical exchanges and build a community of common health for mankind through strengthening the clinical application of CHM, finding new ways of CHM entering into German market, and building an international talent team of traditional Chinese medicine.
RESUMEN
Egypt’s medical insurance is mainly covered by government and commercial insurance. The low coverage of commercial insurance and the quality of medical services needs more improvement in Egypt. Recently, the incidence rate of diabetes, chronic kidney disease, hypertensive heart disease, COPD and liver cancer is rising. Traditional Egyptian medicine is similar to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and its modern traditional medicine is mainly Arabian medicine. Acupuncture, as the main form of TCM, was introduced into Egypt in the 1970s, but it has not been covered by the medical insurance system. The development of TCM in Egypt needs improvement. It is suggested that further explorated fields should be focused on the acupuncture therapy, TCM education and TCM treatment of keeping health in Egypt.
RESUMEN
The Algerian medical health system provides free medical care. The incidence of non-communicable diseases, such as ischemic heart disease, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease, are high. Acupuncture has become a popular treatment recognized by the public with certain influence. However, some problems restrict the development of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in Algeria, like insufficient training of TCM talents; lack of TCM related knowledge, and medical insurance policy uncoving TCM. Based on the status quo of TCM, we suggested promotion and dissemination of TCM development in Algeria, including breaking through education limitation to expand the talent team, carrying out targeted publicity to expand the influence of TCM, promoting the inclusion of TCM in medical insurance and government legislative protection. Only in these ways, could we increase and expand the strength and scope of TCM influence, and promote the development of TCM in Algeria.
RESUMEN
American medical insurance is mainly composed of public medical insurance borne by the government and private medical insurance. The main cause of death in this country are ischemic heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and lung cancer. The motality rate mainly caused by drug use disorders, chronic kidney disease and Alzheimer’s disease. The development of Chinese herbal medicine is relatively slow and difficult. The education system has covered Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). However, there still exist certain challenges of the development of TCM acupuncture faces the challenge of localization; Chinese herbal medicine still lacks standardization and TCM education needs to be standardized. Based on the current situation, it is suggested to focus on the development of acupuncture and moxibustion, to promote the registration and declaration of Chinese herbal medicine products for treating difficult diseases, and to strengthen the international exchange of TCM education, so as to promote the development and spread of TCM in the United States.
RESUMEN
The medical insurance is provided by the Unified Health System (SUS) covering most of Brazilians and alsocombined with private insurance, and every Brazilan could get access to basic health services. The major diseaseas leading to death in Brazil are ischemic heart disease, stroke and lower respiratory infection. The incidence of AD, chronic kidney disease and diabetes are increasing in recent years. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which was represented by acupuncture, was introduced to Brazil in the early 19th. At present, acupuncture has been widely accepted and used, which was included in SUS. A number of universities have acupuncture courses. However, the specialities and advantages of TCM needs to be strengthened, the local practioners lack the understanding of TCM theory, the appropriate use of herbal medicine, and there lacks TCM education standards, all these limit the development of TCM. Thus, in order to promote the development and dissemination of TCM in Brazil, it is suggested to give full play of the characteristics of TCM in preventing disease, increase the research and development input of herbal medicine, standardize the education stystem of TCM, etc.
RESUMEN
The popularization of medical insurance in Panama has been basically completed. The coverage of health insurance is high, but with the problem of polarization. The major causes of death in Panama are is chemic heart disease, stroke, AD and diabetes. In recent years, the chronic kidney disease and COPD are increasing significantly. Panamanian native medicine, considered as complementary and alternative medicine, is recognized by local laws and usedby most of indigenous groups and rural people. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in Panama is at the starting stage, and there is no relevant legislation. However, this country attaches great importance to indigenous traditional medicine, and more and more people gradually accept it. TCM has great development potential in this country. It is suggested to promote the development of TCM in Panama. By culture as the pathway, exploring various forms of cooperation and exchange, taking the research and development of traditional herbal medicine as the breakthrough point, and increasing the spead of acupuncture usage, etc.