The integration of Chinese and Western medicines: Shaping the future of medical science

The integration of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine has shaped clinical practice in China for decades, largely through pragmatic collaboration, combining distinct diagnostic and therapeutic modalities to optimize patient care. With advances in data science, systems biology and artificial intelligence, a new phase of integration is emerging. These technologies are enabling a shift from viewing TCM through the lens of modern clinical medicine to recognizing that TCM's holistic perspective is a driver for future medical innovation. We outline a framework for future medicine, an integration of medical paradigms that is built around a new system of classification, combination therapeutics, and molecular dynamics. Please cite this article as: Ji G, Zhang C, Lü AP. The integration of Chinese and Western medicines: Shaping the future of medical science. J Integr Med. 2026; 24(1):3-6.