It is a part of the national constitution and it is a source of national pride but scientific history professor Zhang Gongyao wants to get rid of it.
For millennia, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was the dominant approach to treating illness on the mainland and today it continues to be an integral part of the country's health system.
But Professor Zhang wants TCM stripped of its official status and exposed for what he says is an ineffective and sometimes dangerous approach to treating the sick.
'A cure can't be guaranteed by TCM treatment. Sometimes it just assuages the conditions,' he said.
To further his cause, Professor Zhang launched an online petition early this month containing four primary suggestions.
He proposed to exclude TCM from the constitution, which encourages its development; its removal from the national medical system within five years; no more unscientific TCM research; and mainstream medical training for TCM physicians.
More than 10,000 people have put their names to Professor Zhang's petition, including renowned doctors and medical professors, and he hopes to submit the proposals to the National Development and Reform Commission before the end of the year.
