Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine

(For Chinese-Americans Originally)

Living in the United States, we all care about our health. Although we have been having yearly medical checkups and paid close attention to our living style and diet, we haven’t done enough to prevent the occurrence of diseases and to take the advantage of alternative medicines, especially ancient Chinese medicine.

It is not correct to abandon the use of western medicine because of the toxicity and side effects of western drugs, and it is also not correct to neglect the use of traditional Chinese medicine because of the bad news or experiences with Chinese medicine from the improper use. From the development of Traditional Chinese medicine in China and the spreading of it over the world, we will know its value. Modern western medicine, of about 1-2 hundred years history, cannot completely replace Traditional Chinese Medicine. This is not because I am a practitioner of Chinese medicine, but I have enough knowledge of Western medicine and experience to say that. Both Western medicine and Traditional Chinese medicine have their advantages and disadvantages. If we can use their advantages, we can get the most benefits to keep us healthy and to live longer. Many Americans have realized this, I am sure, we, with the influence of Chinese culture will understand what I meant to.

You probably are going to ask: “what are the advantages of Traditional Chinese Medicine?” There are too many. My simple answer would be: (1) prevention of disease and preservation of health; (2) replace and addition to some of the western medicine treatments; (3) aid the western medicine to improve human health, that is to treat diseases that western medicine cannot treat.

(1) Prevention of disease and preservation of health

Before the diagnosis of a western disease, we already have imbalances in our system, or in another word, primary pathological changes. Western doctors will not treat them until it is well diagnosed. Differently, Traditional Chinese medicine can treat and prevent the occurrence of the diseases by regulating the imbalances of the body. This include: regulate yin and yang, reinforce your body Zheng qi (immunity), expel pathogenic factors such as heat, cold, dampness, phlegm, stagnant blood, etc.

(2) Replace and addition to some of the western medicine treatments

This needs further study and more research. We can use Chinese medicine to support chemo or radiation therapies, treat many of the side effects caused by western drugs, replace or reduce the use of hormone therapies, etc.

(3) Aid the western medicine to improve human health, to treat diseases that western medicine cannot treat

We are not happy with many of the treatments by western medicine, or western medicine does not really any treatment for many diseases. What they do now is only relieve the symptoms or just maintaining the condition with taking drugs forever. Traditional Chinese medicine has a lot of advantages to treat many of such diseases including many of the psychological and emotional disorders, functional imbalances, early structural problems, such as depression, bipolar, insomnia, pains, muscular and joint diseases, gynecological diseases, allergies, skin conditions, early hypertension, hair loss, stress, functional eye diseases, digestive disorders, low immunity, auto-immune diseases, improving heart health, liver and gallbladder disorders, functional kidney diseases, gastric and intestinal diseases, etc.

At last, I want to say that there are a lot of controversies and opposite news on Traditional Chinese medicine. The main reason for this is the ignorance of this medicine and many improper use of it. This is not the fault of Chinese medicine. If you can find a good knowledgeable and experienced Chinese medical doctor, you will be happy with all the TCM benefit you can obtain.