Chinese Herbal Medicine (‘CHM’) is the practice of prescribing combinations of medically active natural compounds based on the principles of Chinese medicine in order to treat or prevent illness.

The evidence comes from many sources. CHM is a truly ancient practice: many of the herbal formulas we use in contemporary practice are between 1,000 - 2,000 years old and their efficacy has been demonstrated through hundreds of years of use and analysis. Recently the World Health Organisation has integrated Chinese medicine into the 11th volume of its International Classification of Diseases (ICD), and in March 2022 a WHO Expert Meeting on Evaluation of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of COVID-19 concluded that, '“[t]here is encouraging evidence that early application of TCM [CHM] may result in better clinical outcomes for patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19.”

In our opinion, Taiwan’s unique system of CHM practice makes it particularly appropriate for students to learn. CHM is systematised and integrated directly into hospitals and primary care facilities. Taiwan also has a rigorous tradition of meticulous supply chain management and herbal processing, allowing for consistent, high-quality medicines. Taiwan is also engaged in high-quality, ongoing research in CHM from many angles; pharmacological, clinical, sociological and historical.

China Medical Hospital Taiwan has an excellent international reputation as being a centre for integrative medicine, where CHM is used to treat a vast array of medical conditions. Many thousands of patients are treated each year and the treatment results are recorded on Taiwan’s national database, a fantastic resource for herbal research and development. 

As a place for students to study we have found Taiwan to be safe, friendly and easily accessible. Accommodation and living expenses are also far lower than those of the UK.