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Psychiatrists build bridges with traditional medicine

The Taipei City Chinese Medicine Association, in association with the department of psychiatry at National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH), held a conference in Taipei yesterday on psychiatric medicine designed to give Chinese medicine practitioners a Western perspective on mental illnesses.

The conference is the first in a series to "build bridges" between traditional and Western medicine, the conference's organizers said.

Western medical diagnoses of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, oppressive-compulsive disorder and anorexia nervosa do not have equivalents in Chinese medicine. However, it is important for practitioners of Chinese medicine to know and recognize the disorders, psychiatrists who spoke at the conference told an audience of Chinese medicine practitioners, who also gained some education credits necessary for them to be able renew their licenses with the Department of Health.

"Although Western and Eastern medicine have different points of view, we are both trying to treat the same patient," said Hsieh Ming-hsien (謝明憲), a psychiatrist at NTUH.

Hsieh gave a lecture at the conference on the treatment of patients who have been abusing alcohol and other substances.

"It's important for Chinese medicine practitioners to know enough about Western medicine for them to spot the warning signs, so that the patient can be referred to a doctor in Western medicine for immediate treatment," Hsieh said. "For instance, schizophrenic patients who could harm themselves or others need to be referred to a psychiatric department."

"Many of my patients choose to see Chinese medicine and Western medicine doctors simultaneously," he said. "I see no conflict between the two and by learning more about one another we will be able to serve patients better."

Although traditional medicine no longer forms the backbone of medical care in this country, it is still important for many people. The use of traditional Chinese medicine such as herbs and acupuncture is covered by the Bureau of National Health Insurance for those who choose to go to by licensed practitioners.
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