澳大利亞對中醫的現代認知

吳宇琛

SUM WU

Sum Wu

Registered Chinese Medicine Practitioner

Bachelor of Health Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine (UTS)

Bachelor of Science Majoring in Psychology (UOW)

Specialising in pain management and mental wellbeing through Tradition Chinese medicine in combination with modern science in mental health, dieting and nutrition.

吳宇琛，澳洲政府註冊中醫師、針灸師，五龍崗大學心理學學士、悉尼科技大學中醫系學士，擅長用傳統針灸理傷手法和中藥治療各種新舊損傷痛症，特別採用中醫中藥和現代心理學、營養學相結合調理治療各種慢性病和亞健康。

Modern Perception of TCM in Australia

澳大利亞對中醫的現代認知

In Australia, TCM which includes Acupuncture, Herbs and Tuina are categorised as complementary medicines. Complementary medicine is an umbrella term that encompasses a multitude if various alternative health disciplines. These include Physiotherapy, chiropractic, yoga, meditation and naturopathy etc. A study in 2018 revealed that 70% of Australians have used at least 1 form of complementary medicine in the past 12 months.

在澳大利亞，包括針灸、草藥和推拿在內的中醫被歸類為輔助醫學（或補充醫學）。補充醫學是一個涵蓋多種替代健康學科的總稱，其中包括物理療法、脊椎按摩療法、瑜伽、冥想和自然療法等。2018年的一項研究顯示，70%的澳大利亞人在過去12個月內至少使用過一種形式的補充醫學。

In 2005 a survey was conducted in Melbourne regarding TCM specifically and enquired about public attitude towards TCM in Australia and 575 participants were questioned. At least 30% of the participants said they have used TCM in the last 12 months and 17.3% has indicated they have seen a TCM doctor in person. The prevalence of TCM has increased since 2005 and it would be safe to suggest this figure would be higher now.

2005年，墨爾本專門針對中醫進行了一項調查，詢問澳大利亞公眾對中醫的態度，共調查了575名參與者。調查發現至少30%的參與者表示他們在過去12個月內使用過中醫，17.3%表示他們曾親自看過中醫。自2005年以來，中醫的普及率有所上升，可以肯定地說，現在這個數字會更高。

In this survey they asked about 8 common conditions, flu/cold, dizziness, eye related problems, hearing, cancer, stomach or internal problems, broken limb and general health inspection. Each of the 8 common problems listed in the survey showed that between 61.2% – 92.7% of participants indicated western medicine was their preferred choice but a substantial proportion indicated they preferred TCM for stomach or internal problems (28.4%), cold/flu (18.8), dizziness (17.6%)

在這項調查中，他們詢問了8種常見病症：流感/感冒、頭暈、眼睛相關問題、聽力、癌症、胃或內部問題、肢體骨折和一般健康檢查。調查中列出的8個常見問題中，每一項都顯示，61.2% – 92.7%的參與者表示西醫是他們的首選，但很大一部分人表示他們更喜歡中醫治療胃病或內科問題（28.4%）、感冒/流感（18.8）、頭暈（17.6%）

The survey also ask participants how their perception of TCM may have influenced their choice to seek out TCM therapy. 61% of participants perceived that TCM had less side effects while there perception of accessibility, or how easy it was for them to access this service, was quite low at 10%. This might indicate that the participants of the survey were quite receptive of TCM as a therapy but they also found it hard to seek treatment.

該調查還詢問參與者對中醫的看法如何影響他們尋求中醫治療的選擇。61%的參與者認為中醫副作用較小，而對可及性或獲得這項服務的容易程度的看法則相當低（10%）。這可能表明調查參與者對中醫療法的接受程度很高，但他們也發現尋求治療很困難。

This survey also gathered that 90.8% feels that TCM can be effective in relief of symptoms and over ¾ of participants think the combination of TCM and western medicine will be more effective than either of the treatments separately.

本次調查還顯示，90.8%的人認為中醫能有效緩解症狀，超過3/4的人認為中西醫結合比單獨治療更有效。

What does this suggest? It shows that public opinion of TCM is quite strong with the main obstacle being accessibility. This can mean that Australians are unable to find a TCM clinics close by or it could be a monetary barrier. While TCM is generally covered by private health insurance in Australia, it is still not covered by Medicare. This can restrict TCM as an option for a lot of people around the country that rely on government funded healthcare.

這說明什麼？可見，中醫公眾輿論相當强烈，主要障礙是可及性。這可能意味著澳大利亞人無法在附近找到中醫診所，或者可能成為金錢障礙。雖然中醫在澳大利亞普遍受到私人醫療保險的承保，但仍然不屬於全民醫療保健的承保範圍。這可能會限制中醫作為全國許多依賴政府資助醫療保健的人的選擇。

如有疑問想咨詢吳宇琛中醫師，可以在微信或whatsapp搜索0404836368，加吳宇琛中醫師微信或whatsapp，也可以發短信或致電0404836368作語音留言，吳宇琛中醫師有空就會回復。