Combination of traditional medicine and modern medicine in rectal treatment

In recent times, in the field of anus and rectum, many advanced treatment techniques in the world have been applied in Vietnam such as endoscopic surgery, robotic surgery...

Updating guidelines as well as new methods in diagnosis and treatment combining traditional medicine and modern medicine is an urgent requirement to develop traditional medicine in the new situation. Recently, in the field of anus and rectum, many advanced treatment techniques in the world have been applied in Vietnam such as laparoscopic surgery, robotic surgery... helping patients access new technology and have more choices for better treatment.

Professor Trinh Thi Dieu Thuong, Deputy Director of the Department of Traditional Medicine and Pharmacy Management ( Ministry of Health ) emphasized this at the 13th National Anorectal Scientific Conference with the theme: "Advances in diagnosis and treatment of Anorectal diseases, combining modern medicine and traditional medicine," organized by the Vietnam Anorectal Association on October 11.

Professor Trinh Thi Dieu Thuong said that in recent years, traditional Vietnamese medicine has been promoted in the new situation through the combination of traditional medicine and modern medicine. Thanks to that, the quality of medical examination and treatment has been improved, training has been promoted, and investment in research and application has been increased.

Recently (September 9, 2025), the Politburo issued Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW on a number of breakthrough solutions to strengthen the protection, care and improvement of people's health, including the requirement to improve the quality of traditional medicine to be equivalent to that of countries with developed traditional medicine. The Resolution shows the attention of the Party and State in the development of traditional medicine and modern medicine in response to the increasing demand for medical examination and treatment of the people.

Professor Trinh Thi Dieu Thuong - Deputy Director of the Department of Traditional Medicine Management (Ministry of Health). (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

Also in this field, on September 15, 2025, the Prime Minister issued Directive 25/CT-TTg on promoting the development of Vietnamese traditional medicine in the new period.

Therefore, the Conference is a scientific forum gathering leading experts at home and abroad, to update and share clinical experiences, introduce new techniques as well as advances in the diagnosis and treatment of anorectal diseases.

Giving his opinion, Associate Professor Le Manh Cuong, Chairman of the Vietnam Colorectal Association, Director of Tue Tinh Hospital, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine, emphasized that in recent times, Vietnamese traditional medicine has achieved many important and encouraging achievements: The medical examination and treatment system has been invested in and upgraded; the traditional medicine network at the grassroots level has been consolidated and developed; medical examination and treatment services in the field of traditional medicine are increasingly rich and diverse, and the quality has been improved...

However, besides the achievements, there are still many shortcomings and limitations, with the risk of falling behind countries with developed traditional medicine in the region and in the world.

“In the current treatment of anorectal diseases, there are still errors in diagnosis and treatment, leading to complications and sequelae that significantly affect the quality of life of patients. Therefore, limiting the sequelae by combining traditional medicine and modern medicine with new methods when treating patients is an urgent requirement,” Associate Professor Le Manh Cuong emphasized.

The director of Tue Tinh hospital said that anorectal diseases are quite common and quite frequent in Vietnam, accounting for 20-30% of the population. It is noteworthy that the disease model in the field of anorectal diseases has changed and the subjects with the disease are getting younger.

He cited: if in the past, people with hemorrhoids were usually over 40 years old, recently, the number of young patients is quite large, even at the age of 15-20, even patients over 10 years old. What makes many parents startled is that children's bad habits such as: hiding in the toilet to defecate while reading stories, playing video games or using phones; spicy foods... are the cause of this delicate disease.

According to Associate Professor Le Manh Cuong, up to now, scientists around the world have not yet found the main cause of the disease. However, they have found risk factors causing anorectal diseases in general and two common diseases, hemorrhoids and anal fissures in particular, in which stress is the main risk factor.

At the conference, there were reporting sessions with many topics such as: Updates on advances in diagnosis and treatment of hemorrhoids, anal fistula, chronic enteritis... combining modern medicine and traditional medicine; Special reporting session on hemorrhoids; Special reporting session on anorectal: Introducing endoscopic surgery methods, laser applications in the treatment of anal fistula, rectal prolapse, sphincter reconstruction and new methods to help improve the quality of life for patients.../.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/ket-hop-giua-y-hoc-co-truyen-va-y-hoc-hien-dai-trong-dieu-tri-truc-trang-post1069660.vnp