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Professionalization of Chinese medicine practice in Canada: from medical pluralism to neo-orientalism

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Abstract

Chinese medicine came to Canada during the twentieth century in the hands of ethnic Chinese immigrants. This paper investigates the key features of professionalized Chinese medicine practice in the city of Vancouver, which lies in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The methodology adopted for this research involved face-to-face interviews with practitioners and the scrutinizing of webpages of various institutes and clinics offering Chinese medical services. In order to comply with regulatory requirements, the practice of Chinese medicine has been professionalized according to western biomedicine, ignoring the historical development and cultural connotations of this ancient system of health and wellness. Many practitioners in Vancouver do not speak Chinese, share Chinese culture, and have never been to China. The education and service delivery under Chinese medicine specialties have focused exclusively on curative care and have disregarded the preventive and moral regimen. A consumer class has developed across the city and the holistic content of Chinese medicine has become a selling point. This paper concludes that the commodified version of Chinese medicine that has so far been developed in Vancouver as part of its professionalization echoes neo-orientalism. The West has intervened in the formalization process of Chinese medicine practice, justifying authority through the process of non-disputed inclusion. This is, however, an ahistorical proponent fulfilling new age desires and contaminating eastern healing in the west for profit maximization.

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Notes

  1. Authors have used a variety of terms such as traditional, complementary, indigenous, alternative, etc. to represent Chinese medicine, ayurveda, homoeopathy, chiropractic, etc. While various terminologies may have diverse meanings and contexts, I prefer to use the original name ‘Chinese medicine’. Other authors have also used the following terms: techniques, methods, therapies, systems, and modalities in their discussion on Chinese medicine, ayurveda, chiropractic, homoeopathy, etc. I used the term specialty.

  2. The names of these clinics are not disclosed for privacy reasons.

  3. Saks used the term complementary medicine.

  4. Villanueve-Russell’s research was on chiropractic.

  5. Retrieved from the following links: https://ctcma.bc.ca/media/1730/annual_report_2018-2019.pdf and.

    https://ctcma.bc.ca/media/1044/annual_report_2004-2005.pdf accessed on May 11, 2020.

  6. Retrieved from the following link: http://www.ctcma.bc.ca/resources/tcm-associations/ and accessed on July 13, 2016.

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Acknowledgements

I acknowledge BNU-HKBU United International College for granting me a sabbatical leave from February-August 2016 and visit into Canada for pursuing this study. I also acknowledge Dr. Farah Shroff from the University of British Columbia for providing support. BNU-HKBU United International College also provided me two more College Research Grants (Code: R201728 and Code: R202049) for pursuing further study on Chinese medicine.

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  1. Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, BNU-HKBU United International College, Zhuhai, China

    Md. Nazrul Islam

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Islam, M.N. Professionalization of Chinese medicine practice in Canada: from medical pluralism to neo-orientalism. Soc Theory Health 21, 228–246 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41285-022-00191-7

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