Regulation
- The Traditional Chinese Medicine Law of the People’s Republic of China took effect on 1 July 2017. It gives TCM a legal standing equal to other medical practice, requires practitioners to hold a physician licence, and separates medical practice from wellness services.
- TCM hospitals in China are graded on the same three-tier system as general hospitals (III-A being the highest). Physician-administered acupuncture in a III-A public hospital is a clinical service subject to the same record-keeping rules as any other medical act.
- Herbal medicines dispensed by hospital pharmacies must carry batch information and are subject to national pharmacopoeia standards; products sold outside that channel are not automatically equivalent.
International classification and evidence
- The World Health Organization’s ICD-11, adopted in 2019, includes a chapter on traditional medicine conditions — a classification step, not an endorsement of efficacy.
- Acupuncture for chronic pain has been studied in large randomised trials and meta-analyses; several national guidelines list it as an option for selected patients with low back pain, neck pain and knee osteoarthritis.
- Acupuncture at PC6 is recommended in oncology supportive-care guidelines for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
- Evidence for herbal formulae in most internal conditions remains heterogeneous; trial quality, formula standardisation and blinding are persistent limitations.
What this means for a patient
Regulation tells you where it is safe to receive treatment — a licensed hospital, with a licensed physician, with pharmacy-dispensed herbs. Evidence tells you what to expect — meaningful help in some conditions, adjunct rather than replacement in others, and no role in emergencies. Both matter more than any single testimonial.
This page summarises stable, publicly documented positions. It is not a news feed and it is not medical advice for your case.