Chinese Medicine is very often studied out of its context, reduced and flattened to a list of diagnostical rules and therapeutic prescriptions (points, herbs etc.). In order to unearth its primitive deepness and richness we must turn back to its origins and discover Chinese Classical Medicine's varied complexity. In order to develop its potentialities (including extra-therapeutical issues) we should on the one hand link it to the arts for nourishing vitality (Yangsheng, Taiji, Qigong...) on the other hand confront it with the emerging new sciences. It's fundamental to master a different way of thinking if we want to learn concepts that can be creatively used and not mere notions. It's advisable also never to forget how much we still don't know and to focus on what still remains to be investigated to enchance research's fertility and make ancient wisdom contribute to the developement of a future human science.
Shortly, Traditional Chinese Medicine cannot be understood out of its cultural background. Western researchers that cannot consult primary texts are too often mislead by low quality translations and lack those critical instruments that could help in finding a way through Chinese medical literature. They need a concrete help in overcoming cultural and linguistical barriers.
This is the aim of Medical Sinology.
See Chinese medicine, Root and Flowers: a Sinology Course for Phisicians and Amateurs's