Integration of Western Medicine and Eastern Medicine

Abstract

Recently, eastern medicine is reconsidered favorably. For example, most of Kampo-drugs are covered by health insurance and the essence of the eastern medicine is now included in the curriculum of medical education program. However, eastern medicine can not yet get rid of “placebo” effects, and should be re-evaluated through randomized double blind controlled studies. It is absolutely important to know merits and demerits of Western and Eastern medicine and to apply to the patients integrative medicine.