RNAi interferes with disease

A major biotech breakthrough that could have significant effects on many chronic illnesses. RNAi works by:

[attacking] the messenger RNA, or mRNA, sent out by diseased genes, as opposed to just killing the diseased cells (as chemotherapy does) or attacking the genes themselves (a method plagued by dangerous side effects).

The relevance for natural medicine is that these drugs interfere with the production and accumulation of defects in cells allowing them to function normally. They exhibited zero side effects in studies. However, they are considered just part of an approach to therapy that would rest primarily on normal physiology taking over when pathological by-products are removed, rather than interfering with healthy functioning to suppress symptoms like much current drug therapy. The need for healthy normal functioning as part of the healing process when using these drugs creates an opening for TCM herbalists (and other practitioners of natural medicine) who want to be on the cutting edge of integrative medicine. If TCM makes RNAi drugs work better and faster, win-win (except for purists, who may someday realize they never get to win in any arena).