Question

Asma argues that we can recognize the effectiveness of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) without accepting the causal theories of TCM. Explain what he means by this. Is it rational to take a prescribed medicine if one doesn’t believe in the science or causal theory behind it?

Answer 1

Asma has opined for the use of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) based on his / her experience or the use of TCM on someone he / she has observed. TCM has a unique way of looking at health and illness. TCM views the human being as being intimate with nature.

It is necessary to study the causal theories of any practice of medicine. All the theories of medicine must be properly analyzed and understood before administering it to a patient as it is necessary to know the side-effects of any medicine. Sometimes a medicine may cure a disease but end up causing a side effect.

Asma means that TCM is effective and should be considered as a treatment for a disease. Asma is wrong, as one need to study the causal theories of TCM also.

It is not rational to take a prescribed medicine without belief in science or the causal theory behind it.

Before a doctor prescribes any medicine, a doctor would always ask the patient if they are allergic to the drug they are prescribing. The doctor would make a thorough enquiry with the patient on the disease condition, signs and symptoms and only then prescribe a medicine to be taken after asking the patient. Hence, the causal theories of medicines should be studied and understood .