Newsletter No. 309

第 309 期 2007 年 12 月 19 日 No. 309 19 December 2007 科學為本　不懈鑽研 問到車教授為何會與中醫藥結下不解之緣，温文爾雅 的他回憶說：「1975年我在中大生物系畢業，深感中 藥雖療效不凡，卻苦無科學根據作驗證，故當時已有 意鑽研植物及中藥。」適逢一群中大老師成立大專界 首創的中藥研究組，開發了不少研究課題，車教授在 生物化學系修讀哲學碩士時，遂主攻中醫藥。其後他 負笈美國攻讀博士課程，深造植物藥學，學成後留美 工作，直至1991年回港，先加入香港科技大學化學 系，從事草藥研究，1999年重返中大，加入中醫學 院。 中醫教學診所於2002年開始運作，主要為中醫學院提 供場地，讓學生在教學醫師的指導下臨牀學習，如把 脈診症，以及與病人溝通之道等。診症及處方由註冊 中醫師執行，兩三名學生從旁學習。診所也為校內同 仁及其家屬、學生、校友，甚至校外人士服務。 術德兼備　慈愛為懷 目前，香港中醫藥的發展仍屬起步階段。把中醫藥納 入醫療體系內的《中醫藥條例》，是在1999年才通過 的。中大的中醫學課程，正好予以配合，為本港培養 接受過大學系統訓練的中醫師。在五年的課程內，首 三年是見習，學生在中醫診所內接觸病人，觀察實 踐；後兩年是實習，學生到深圳市中醫院及廣州中醫 藥大學，更有系統地分科學習。 唐代名醫孫思邈在其《備急千金要方》中的〈大醫精 誠〉一文道：「凡大醫治病……先發大慈惻隱之心， 誓願普救含靈之苦。」車教授對學生有同樣的期望： 「懸壺濟世，首先必須掌握基礎醫術，還須不斷鑽 研。此外，醫德極為重要，醫者須對病人懷有一顆關 懷及同情的心，更應有所承擔，積極推動中醫藥發 展。」 車教授十分贊同中西醫互相溝通，取長補短。因此， 教學診所與中大保健處及醫學院一直保持緊密聯繫。 「儘管目前在香港醫療界，中西醫之間並無正規的轉 介病人制度，但我們的中醫師如果認為病人可以從西 醫處獲得更合時或更佳的治療，是會建議病人諮詢西 醫的。」診所的中醫師經常應保健處邀請主講中醫藥 常識。中醫學院的不少基礎課程，更由醫學院提供， 雙方也在中藥研究上緊密合作。 岐黃之術　惠澤社區 車教授透過不同形式，為社會提供中醫藥教育及服 務，不遺餘力。「中醫學院曾與仁愛堂、鄰舍輔導會 和基督教家庭服務中心等慈善團體合作開設診所。近 Virtue of a Great Physician Interview of Prof. Che Chun-tao Director of the School of Chinese Medicine 位於信和樓的中醫教學診所，瀰漫著一股中草藥的幽香。這診所附屬中醫學 院，既是臨牀教學基地，亦是中大人治病之所。中醫學院的掌舵人車鎭濤教 授向本刊暢談了他對中醫藥半生不渝的興趣和抱負。 The Teaching Clinic for Chinese Medicine, an affiliate of the School of Chinese Medicine, is a clinical teaching base as well as a unit for providing treatment to University members. Prof. Che Chun-tao, director of the School of Chinese Medicine, spoke to the Newsletter about his life-long interest in Chinese medicine and his aspirations. 大 醫 精 誠 ｜ 訪 中 醫 學 院 院 長 車 鎮 濤 教 授 年醫管局與大學及社團共合辦了九家診所，其中五家 是與中大攜手辦的。」 展望未來，車教授一臉冀盼。他最大的心願，是能夠 「栽培出術德兼備的年輕中醫師，教學診所又能為 同仁及學生提供最佳服務，並藉着與社會團體合作， 推廣中醫藥發展。更希望大學能增撥資源，配合所 需。」 Tireless Research When asked how his inextricable relationship with Chinese medicine began, Prof. Che recalled, ‘When I graduated from the Department of Biology in CUHK in 1975, I noticed with regret the absence of a scientific basis to support the great therapeutic efficacy of Chinese materia medica . That made me eager to do research in botany and Chinese materia medica .’ Coincidentally, a group of CUHK teachers had established a research section in this field, the first of its kind in tertiary institutions, and developed a series of research topics. So Prof. Che chose to specialize in Chinese medicine while studying for his MPhil in the Department of Biochemistry. He subsequently went to the US where he studied herbal medicine for his PhD. Then after working abroad for years, he returned to Hong Kong in 1991. He joined the Department of Chemistry of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology where he engaged in herbal medicine research, before returning to his alma mater CUHK in 1999, where he became a member of the School of Chinese Medicine. The Teaching Clinic for Chinese Medicine started operating in 2002 as a venue for students to receive clinical training under practitioners, such as training in pulse diagnosis and techniques of communicating with patients. Formal diagnosis and prescription are given by registered Chinese physicians, with two or three students observing. Another aim of the clinic is to offer services for staff and their families, students, alumni and even people from outside the campus. Importance of Benevolence The advancement of Chinese medicine in Hong Kong is still in its preliminary stage. The Chinese Medicine Ordinance, which gives formal recognition to Chinese medicine as a medical discipline, was passed in 1999. The Chinese medicine courses of CUHK nurtures Chinese physicians with systematic university training. During the five-year study at the School of Chinese Medicine, students are probationers in the first three years. They are trained through observation, practice and contact with patients in the clinic. In the last two years, they undergo more systematic disciplinary training as interns at Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital and Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. Sun Simiao, a renowned physician in the Tang Dynasty, wrote in his article ‘ Virtue of a Great Physician ’ that ‘a virtuous physician…must have great mercy on patients, vowing to eliminate man’s sufferings.’ Prof. Che expects the same from his students. ‘To cure diseases, students have to master basic medical skills and learn continuously. Besides, medical ethics is of paramount importance. A physician should treat patients with care and sympathy. And he or she has to promote actively the development of Chinese medicine.’ Prof. Che believes in communication between Chinese and Western medicines. The clinic maintains close ties with the University Health Service and the Faculty of Medicine. ‘Despite the absence of a formal patient referral system between Chinese and Western physicians, we recommend patients to Western physicians if we believe they will get more timely and effective treatment there.’ The clinic’s physicians are frequently invited by the University Health Service to give lectures on Chinese medicine. Many fundamental courses at the School of Chinese Medicine are offered by the Faculty of Medicine. The two are also working closely together in Chinese medicine research. Benefits to Society Prof. Che spares no effort in offering Chinese medicine education and services to society. ‘The School of Chinese Medicine collaborates with charities such as Yan Oi Tong, the Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council and Christian Family Service Centre to set up clinics. Of the nine clinics operated jointly by the Hospital Authority, universities and institutions, CUHK is involved in five.’ Prof. Che is hopeful about the future. ‘My greatest aspiration is to groom young Chinese physicians with both medical skill and ethics, to see the clinic provide the best services to staff and students, and to enhance the development of Chinese medicine through cooperation with social organizations. I also hope the University will allocate more resources to meet our needs.’