Chinese medicine in Brazil

Abstract

: Chinese Medicine and its most well-known clinical branch Acupuncture-Moxibustion have a long history of use and are well accepted in Brazil, and the understanding of the present situation among practitioners, students and the population is very important for making better decisions and policies related to the increments on the education, spreading and also on the commerce related to Chinese medicine products, mainly those related to Chinese herbs. The aim of this paper is to present a broad overview of the present situation of education, practice and regulation of Chinese medicine in Brazil. This is a descriptive study based on the revision of present literature and legal documents, and the exchange of information with experienced people related to Chinese medicine practice. It was conducted in order to find out and describe the most reliable and updated data. Based on the present study it is possible to demonstrate that the practice of acupuncture is very heterogeneous with no specific official regulation, so it can be practiced by anyone with proper education, based on the Federal Constitution of Brazil. So, we encourage a prompt and broad regulation of Chinese medicine and acupuncture practice in Brazil safeguarding the rights of those already practicing and the access to Brazilian population to this very effective form of traditional treatment.