FDA has acknowledged that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is part of an efficacious and complete medical system as involving "whole systems of theory and practice that have evolved independently from or parallel to allopathic (conventional) medicine."

The newly-released Guidance for Industry on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Products and their Regulation by FDA had not included traditional medicine in its compilation of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) but now traditional medicine including TCM has finally gained the same level of respect as conventional Western medicine.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) in association with FDA said that complete medical systems such as TCM reflect cultural diversity and the innate healing properties of the body, and represents healing techniques which tap the mind, body and spirit.

Chen Keji from the Chinese Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine applauded FDA's acceptance of TCM theory and of its curative function, adding that this had come after the popularity of CAM in the US.

(China.org.cn by Huang Shan, August 3, 2007)