Pattern identification – A key to clinical practice in traditional East Asian medical systems

Strategy for Integration

“…This new chapter (Chapter 26) of the 11 th revision of the International Classification of Diseases has been created and has included traditional medicine signs and symptoms, disease names, patterns, indications for treatment and interventions. Pattern differentiation is a critical component of TCM and this initiative should improve the reporting of Chinese syndromes in clinical trials [12] in accurately summarizing the results of clinical trials [13] and influencing clinical practice [14]. A qualitative study of TCM practitioners perceived that in general these codes were valuable, accurate, and incorporated the range of diagnoses used in clinical practice [15].…”