Promoting whole person health: Exploring the role of traditional Chinese medicine in Polish healthcare

Monika Rybicka; Jing Zhao; Karolina Piotrowicz; Sara Ptasnik; Kamila Mitka; Magdalena Kocot-Kępska; Ka-Kit Hui

doi:10.1016/j.joim.2023.10.001

Promoting whole person health: Exploring the role of traditional Chinese medicine in Polish healthcare

J Integr Med. 2023 Nov;21(6):509-517. doi: 10.1016/j.joim.2023.10.001. Epub 2023 Oct 19.

Authors

Monika Rybicka¹, Jing Zhao², Karolina Piotrowicz³, Sara Ptasnik⁴, Kamila Mitka⁵, Magdalena Kocot-Kępska⁶, Ka-Kit Hui⁴

Affiliations

¹ Center for East-West Medicine, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA; Department of Internal Medicine and Gerontology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 30-688 Krakow, Poland. Electronic address: monika.e.rybicka@gmail.com.
² Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, TCM Clinic, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
³ Department of Internal Medicine and Gerontology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 30-688 Krakow, Poland.
⁴ Center for East-West Medicine, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA.
⁵ Department of Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 30-688 Krakow, Poland.
⁶ Department of Pain Research and Treatment, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-531 Krakow, Poland.

PMID: 37925335
DOI: 10.1016/j.joim.2023.10.001

Abstract

Poland has a unique history of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) dating back to the 17th century when Polish missionary Michael (Michał) Boym was a pioneer in the field. In the 20th century, his successor, Professor Zbigniew Garnuszewski, reintroduced acupuncture to medical practice in Poland. However, other methods of TCM and its holistic approach to patient care have not found their place in modern medicine in Poland. At present, the legal status of TCM in Poland remains unregulated, with TCM included in the broad spectrum of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices. Few reports are available on the use of TCM methods among the Polish population. Integrative medicine combines conventional medicine with evidence-based CAM interventions and considers all aspects of a patient's health, including physical, emotional, mental, social, and environmental factors. An integrative healthcare model that incorporates TCM modalities and lifestyle recommendations as well as a whole person approach may provide a more sustainable solution for the constantly underfinanced Polish healthcare system, which faces challenges of multimorbidity in an aging society and limited access to care. The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, war in Ukraine, and ongoing climate crisis have underscored the need to strengthen the resilience of the Polish healthcare system and search for new solutions. A model of care that blends the best of biomedicine and TCM healing approaches may be a better option for both patients and the healthcare system in Poland. Please cite this article as: Rybicka M, Zhao J, Piotrowicz K, Ptasnik S, Mitka K, Kocot-Kępska M, Hui KK. Promoting whole person health: Exploring the role of traditional Chinese medicine in Polish healthcare. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(6): 509-517.

Keywords: Complementary and alternative medicine; Integrative medicine; Poland healthcare system; Traditional Chinese medicine; Whole person health.

MeSH terms

Complementary Therapies* / psychology
Delivery of Health Care
Holistic Health
Humans
Medicine, Chinese Traditional*
Poland