Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is caught in the crossfires of China's netizens again.
近日，中医又一次陷入了中国网民的争论当中。
After the tragic death of the young actress Xu Ting, who publicly announced her decision to choose TCM over western medicine, many are calling into question the actual effectiveness of TCM.
年轻女演员徐婷曾公开宣布，选择中医治疗而非西医化疗，随后不幸去世，这引起了许多人对中医治疗效果的质疑。
The 26-year-old actress didn't want to go through the pain of chemotherapy and refused treatment. Two months later, when her immune system had all but collapsed, she accepted chemo. It was too late by then, and Xu passed away.
这位26岁的女演员不想承受化疗的痛苦，拒绝接受化疗。两个月后，她的免疫系统几近崩溃，才选择化疗，不过为时过晚，最终她不治而逝。
China's online community has since criticized Traditional Chinese Medicine, blaming it for her death. Others have noted that chemo often fails as well, yet it's still widely used.
随后，中国的网民们开始群起攻击中医，他们指责中医应当为徐婷的死负责。而其他人则表示，化疗也常常无效，却还是被广泛使用。

Feng Li, Head of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences in Beijing, believes that the problem lies within an incorrect public understanding of TCM.
北京中国医学科学院中医科主任冯力认为，问题在于公众对中医的理解有偏颇。
Here's a translation of his piece in the People's Daily:
人民网对他的著作中的几段翻译如下：
Is it that TCM is bad at treating tumors? Regardless of whether it's Western medicine or TCM, malignant tumors are not something that can simply be treated using a single method. They require a synthesized approach, combining both eastern and western methodology.
是否中医治疗肿瘤就是无效？且不说不管是中医还是西医，恶性肿瘤原本就不是一种单一的方法就可以治好的。它需要一种中西结合的合成方法。
For example, while western approaches like radiology, chemotherapy, and surgery are effective in shrinking the tumor. TCM is effective in reducing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, edema, and pain that comes with western treatment.
比如说，西医的放射、化疗和手术能有效的控制肿痛的扩散，而中医则能减缓由西医治疗引起的诸如恶心、呕吐，水肿，疼痛等症状。
Moreover, after the tumor is under control, TCM helps to repair the immune system, accelerate the body's recovery, and minimize the chance of the tumor returning.
此外，在肿瘤可控后，中医可以帮助修复免疫系统，加速康复过程，并降低肿瘤复发的机率。
It's irrational to blindly reject one treatment in complete favor of another. No medical professional would say with certainty that TCM or western medicine is superior.
这种盲目反对一种疗法而完全支持另一种疗法是不理性的。没有任何医学人士能武断的说中医或者西医哪个更好。
They both have their own advantages and shortcomings. Each case requires specifically tailored treatment according to the stage and pathology.
它们各有优缺点，每个病例都需要根据阶段和病理对症下药。
Therefore, in treating malignant tumors, solely relying on acupuncture and fire cupping is not enough.
因此，在治疗恶性肿瘤时，单纯依靠针灸和拔火罐疗法是不够的。
It's not that acupuncture and fire cupping are useless. Rather, the treatment was used on the incorrect area.
这并不是说针灸和火罐没用，而是这个疗法使用的范围不当。
This incident reflects the mindset of some patients when considering treatment options.
这一事件反映了一些患者在考虑治疗方案时的心态。
Some fear the agony and suffering felt by those undergoing chemo and radiation therapy. Out of a psychological fear, they choose to completely pursue the less painful option offered by Traditional Chinese Medicine.
一些人担心接受化疗和放射治疗会带来极大的痛苦，出于一种心理上的恐惧，他们选择完全依赖传统中医提供的、相对不是那么痛苦的疗法。
Some even feel that TCM has mystical powers, able to cure any illness.
甚至有人认为，中医有神秘的力量，能够治愈任何疾病。
I recommend that once patients discover their illness, they go to a regulated, prestigious hospital and seek medical advice.
我建议，一旦患者发现自己的病情，应当去一个规范的、有声望的医院，寻求治疗。
On a national level, there needs to be an increase in regulation and supervision so that patients can receive a standardized level of treatment.
从国家层面讲，应当加强管制与监督，使患者能接受标准化的治疗水平。