Americans distrusting Big Pharma seek traditional Chinese cures
Source：NIKKEI Asian Review
From：Taiwan Trade Center, Los Angeles
Update Time：2018/07/05
For the average American, there is little “accurate” knowledge as to what exactly is traditional Chinese medicine, with the majority of people thinking it only pertains to using specific herbs and natural remedies to cure health conditions.
In all actuality however, Traditional Chinese Medicine is making its way into the Western World and is more and more being used by practitioners as a substitute for many medications. Chinese Medicine is becoming vastly popularized as to the point where there is no need to make a journey to Asia to get these sorts of treatments, as they are now accessible on the online market.
Currently, the United States is facing, what some call, an opioid epidemic where millions of people are affected. This is a result from the combination of a heavy demand for highly-addictive painkillers, and the continued push by doctors from pharmaceutical companies to pitch certain drugs to their patients. Thus, there has been a significant increase in the number of people turning towards alternative methods of medicine such as acupuncture.
Recently, a number of groups such as the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organization, have publically come out in support for more natural remedies to counter act the high use of opioids in the medical market.
Previously only a small select group of insurances companies covered treatments such as these, but with demand and popularity, groups such as Blue Shield and Aetna are now offering this kind of coverage. In addition, there is also the growing trend that now gives students and practitioners the opportunity to study Eastern Medicine with the funding and provision of select licenses. Herbal Therapy however still remains dormant, but is expected to rise as Eastern Medicine continues to grow in popularity.