Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

Abstract #156920

Adam Burke, PhD, MPH, LAc, Health Education, San Francisco State University, SFSU, 1600 Holloway Ave, San Francisco, CA 94132, 415-338-1774, aburke@sfsu.edu and Nikhol Roberts, BA, Psychology, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132.

The earliest written records of traditional East Asian medicine reveal a long history of preventive thought. Treatments include the use herbs, acupuncture, massage, moxibustion, qi gong, and other therapies. Also of great importance is the role of lifestyle. The historically esteemed doctor, Sun Si Miao, of the Tang dynasty (618-906) was one of the leading exponents of the essential role of daily living in health. He wrote that one should use food and movement first to tonify resistance, promote longevity, and cure illness; and then to use medicine if needed.

Today traditional East Asian medicine is widely used throughout China by a major portion of the population, in addition to serving a growing number of Western patients and consumers. A recent study estimated that over 8 million Americans have tried acupuncture. The proportion is significantly higher for Chinese Americans. Similar findings are reported for the use of Ayurvedic products in India and the US. In the US use is growing among non-Indian populations, and is comparatively quite high among Asian Indians. This medicine shares a similar philosophical root with other traditional medicines, which advocate acquiring knowledge of how to live in accord with nature and the practice of preventive habits.

The WHO reports that traditional medicine is a key resource for many in the developing world and is a growing resource for industrialized countries as well. Given its large population base, and its relevant practical and philosophical perspectives, its role in US and global health promotion merits consideration.

Learning Objectives: Learning Objectives

• Describe the global profile of traditional medicine use;
• List several preventive characteristics of traditional medicine;
• Describe the potential role of traditional medicine in global health promotion;
• Describe implications for public health policy and research.

Keywords: Alternative Medicine/Therapies, Health Promotion

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.