Traditional Chinese medicine

The South China Morning Post is highlighting the hidden risks of combining traditional Chinese medicine with Western prescription drugs. The report points to potential interactions between herbal remedies and pharmaceuticals that can reduce effectiveness or cause harmful side effects, a concern for patients who use both systems of treatment without informing their doctors.

A forum letter in Singapore's The Straits Times argues that patients who combine Western medicine with traditional Chinese medicine should be guided by professional judgment rather than outright prohibitions. The writer says blanket bans ignore real patient behaviour, and that doctors should instead assess interactions and advise patients openly on how to use both systems safely.