IPOH: There needs to be more collaboration between traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine to find ways to treat chronic functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, says a TCM expert.
Singapore-based Nanyang Technological University Chinese Medicine and Biomedical Sciences director Associate Prof Dr Linda Zhong said that while some GI disorders can be treated with Western medicine, some may be more difficult to address, and this is where TCM could help.
"There have been academic papers written about TCM and its positive effect on patients with certain disorders.
"Acupuncture, for instance, can help with indigestion and constipation, which is recognised by specialists," she told the press after attending the three-day 6th South-East Asia Gastroneuro-Motility Association (Seagma) scientific conference on gastroenterology motility diseases here on Sunday (July 13).
"We also have a lot of other research on Chinese medicine that can help, with some of these available in the market.
"We hope to have more collaboration with Western medicine to see if we can have breakthroughs in treatment for more functional digestive disorders," she added.
Singapore National University Medicine Department clinical lecturer Prof Dr Kewin Siah said that patients have often had to resign themselves to live with chronic GI disorders despite consulting specialists.
"Despite getting... second opinions, some are unable to get an answer from their doctors as to what ails them.
"But things... should not be (like this)," he said, adding that prolonged battles with GI disorders can also impact some patients' mental health.
"There can be certain limitations with Western medicine, and likewise with TCM, so we want to see if a collaboration can result in new findings," he added.
Ipoh-based gastroenterologist Datuk Dr Andrew Chua, who is Seagma president, said a collaboration between Western medicine and TCM to treat functional GI disorders was still new to Malaysia.
"TCM should no longer merely be a complementary treatment method.
"We are trying to advance it and to introduce it into (Western) medical practice to provide treatment," he said.
