Comparing Chinese Medicine
Most Western “medical authorities” describe Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as “an ancient system of health and wellness that’s been used in China for thousands of years”. If you’ve read my previous blog, you realize that the TCM practiced today in China and the West is not thousands of years old, but “recently constructed using selected traditional terms, some of which have been taken out of context, some badly misunderstood”. Many Chinese consider TCM a departure "from its historical origins”. Western Medicine and the majority of the public don’t realize that there are many important differences between Classic Chinese Medicine (CCM) and TCM.
Within China, there continues to be controversy and debate regarding Chinese Medicine. The Chinese philosopher Zhang Gongyao wrote an article around 2006, entitled "Farewell to Traditional Chinese Medicine". He called TCM a “pseudoscience that should be abolished in public healthcare and academia”. However, according to the Chinese government, TCM is a science and encourages its development.
A major point of contention is that TCM is practiced without regard to ancient cycles and patterns which came from the Taoists who drew upon both science and observations of nature. TCM demonstrates a departure from the vast, sophisticated knowledge built up and passed down by true masters to their apprentices over almost 2500 years. CCM practitioners are interested in how, why, when, and where when it comes to the healing process. Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM) remains firmly committed to its ancient roots of observing and describing nature and holistic thought. It is distinguished by holistic thought: “why and when and how does one chose to apply a therapeutic modality.” While many practitioners today believe they are practicing CCM, they have neither the training nor experience in the Classics.
CCM treats patients more as individuals than TCM. For example, unlike TCM, CCM would only use acupuncture at the appropriate hour. With westernization, TCM represents the recent marriage between local Chinese resources and the methodology of scientific materialism. Many feel that TCM lacks the soul of CCM and is a “sterilized, and standard version” of the original CCM.“ However, TCM can be very effective when/if the treatments fit the patient.
While CCM remains committed to its ancient roots, TCM is becoming the “dominant face of Oriental medicine” today and has been accepted by educational institutions in America and Europe.
All the differences between CCM and TCM regarding practice, beliefs, and philosophies are beyond the scope of this blog.
Comparing Western versus Chinese Medicine
Keep in mind that Western medicine does not differentiate between CCM and TCM!
Let’s consider the treatment of skin conditions as one example. CCM takes formulas from the classic texts from hundreds of years ago for treating health problems to re-establish harmony in the body and the skin. When you re-establish the function of the skin layer, you treat the body as a whole (not isolating one part) to re-establish the harmony in the entire body. This system is very effective and skin conditions treated in this fashion clear and don’t return. Western medicine, however, usually treats skin conditions with medications, often steroids, which can have some serious side effects.
When it comes to Western versus Chinese medicine, we have to consider how each aims to eliminate the existing problem or illness:
To make a diagnosis, Chinese medicine focuses on appearance (pulse plus eye, skin and tongue color) in addition to subjective, self-reported symptoms of the patient. The focus is on diagnosing an overall systemic problem while preventing potential adverse effects. In other words, Chinese medicine sees the body as an interconnected biosystem and treats it as such.
Western medicine makes a diagnosis through lab tests, treats symptoms focusing on the target organ. It does not focus on the entire body and often fails to address any adverse effects on the body.
With rapid or immediate effects, Western medicine is very effective when conditions are life-threatening. The problem is that some of these drugs can temporarily or permanently damage other parts of the body. Chinese medicine can prevent secondary or adverse reactions caused by Western medicine treatments because its focus is to prevent adverse effects while treating diseases.
Western medicine does not usually address the overall immune system in order to prevent future occurrences. Whereas, Chinese medicine effects/changes the immune system and addresses the root cause of the disease.
Western medications take effect immediately, but due to rapid metabolism of drugs, they lose their function quickly. These medications may cause long term adverse effects, and have no long term benefits. Chinese medications take longer to metabolize.
Chinese medicine also treats patient’s blocked emotions which can cause many illnesses. It is only in recent history that Western medicine recognizes the emotional side of illness. One notable book is by Bessel van der Kolk M.D., The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma.
WebMD states that Chinese medicine may be a good choice if:
If you have a lot of different symptoms with no clear cause
To treat side effects from drugs
If you didn’t get results from Western medicine
If you want to prevent illness
Is One Better Than the Other?
Western medicine leads when it comes to very serious or life-threatening illnesses. Diagnostically: blood tests, scans, x-rays, etc. quickly locate the threat to someone’s life. It then usually relies on pharmaceuticals and/or surgery to relieve symptoms, which, unfortunately, may result in unwanted, adverse side effects. When treating the body as a whole, CCM leads by developing a deeper, whole person, differential diagnosis.
Taking all of the above into consideration, the best approach may be to concurrently use Western medicine to alleviate current or acute symptoms and Chinese medicine to address the root cause of the disease and to prevent re-occurrence. Many well-known, Western health care centers, including the Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and Johns Hopkins, now use Chinese medicine practices such as Tai Chi, Qigong, acupuncture, and herbal treatments.
Interestingly, many CCM practitioners today are at least influenced somewhat by TCM (and Western medicine). At the same time, Western medicine is beginning to incorporate some of the Chinese medicine philosophies and treatments!
Whether CCM, TCM, or Western medicine, the knowledge and skill of the practitioner is of utmost importance! Like Western medicine, the training and experience of the TCM or CCM practitioner is vital information to have. Chinese medicine practitioners are governed by laws in most, if not all, states. NCCIH’s webpage provides information on credentials and licensing of complementary health practitioners. No matter which you choose, choose well!
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