[Application of evidence-based medicine in Chinese medicine: debate and strategy]

Drawing on recent publications in English and Chinese, this article explores reactions to the use of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and the standards of evidence-based medicine (EBM) to evaluate Chinese medicine. Some authors contend that RCTs should not be used to evaluate Chinese medicine, but a far greater number of authors advocate their use. This paper describes the position of the RCT detractors and points out how their arguments contain oversimplified representations of Chinese medicine, biomedicine, EBM, and RCTs. In describing the position of the RCT proponents, the article discusses how challenges of standardization and control in Chinese medicine research have been met with important innovations in clinical trial design. Overall, the article argues that not only Chinese medicine is modified in meeting the demands of RCTs and EBM, but clinical trial design is being transformed through the innovations of Chinese medicine researchers.