A Thousand and One Ways to Teach Traditional Oriental Medicine: A Proposal for Latin America
Felipe Abreu Márquez, Doménica Denisse Villacís PonceIntroduction:
Traditional East Asian Medicine (TEAM) constitutes a complex body of knowledge grounded in mathematical models for interpreting reality and applying them to human physiology. Historically, its transmission relied on an oral master–apprentice system rich in cultural symbolism and tacit knowledge. Over recent decades, this model has progressively shifted toward structured curricula, standardized assessments, and broader institutional access. This transition generates tensions between safeguarding cultural essence and ensuring quality, safety, and equity in training. This study critically examines both educational paradigms and proposes a hybrid methodology that integrates their respective strengths.
Methods:
A narrative review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, focusing on publications from 2019 to 2025 in English and Spanish. Keywords included
Results:
The master–apprentice model excels in fostering deep clinical reasoning, fine-grained skill acquisition, and ethical formation, but faces challenges in accessibility, scalability, and standardization. Western-style academic models contribute transparency, safety, and professionalization, yet may dilute cultural depth and tacit knowledge. A hybrid model emerges as a viable alternative, combining personalized mentorship and cultural preservation with accredited curricula, competency-based training, and objective evaluation systems.
Conclusions:
A hybrid approach to TEAM education offers a coherent synthesis between tradition and modernity, preserving cultural richness while ensuring academic rigor and quality standards. This model is particularly relevant for Latin America, where contextualized, culturally sensitive, and academically robust approaches are needed to strengthen medical education and public health.