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First of all, it is essential to realize the difference between Western Medicine (WM) and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) these two have been considered as two distinctive medicines. Their approaches to physiology and healing seem pretty different in perspective.
Cure by western medicine first observes the facts of problem and uses the current biological theories to explain them. It separates the different systems and organs of the body and examines deeper and deeper into the particles that comprise matter. Physicians make diagnosis until all evidences were collected. It is an Evident Based Medicine. Treatment directly target to the pathogen or etiology. For example, with chemotherapy to kill cancer cells, antibiotics kill bacteria, immune suppressants to control autoimmune diseases, or surgery to remove the lesion tissue.
History of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an earliest form of healthcare that dates back over 2,500 years and comprises natural cures such as acupuncture, herbal remedies, dietary advice, stress/emotional support, exercise including tai chi and qi gong and treatments such as cupping and moxibustion.
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China was one of the first country to have a medical culture. In comparison with Western Medicine, the Chines methods takes a far different approaches. With a history of 5000 years, it has formed a deep and immense knowledge of medical science, theory diagnostic methods, perception and cures. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is often used as a general term for Asian medicine. This includes practices from Korea, Japan and Vietnam. It owes its roots to Taoism’s beliefs in yin and yang as well as other religious belief systems such as ancient animism and shamanism.
Basic Concepts of TCM
Chinese physician views the body and further, the whole person, as a unified organic whole. Spiritual, mental, emotional and physical characteristics are all seen as interconnected and interdependent. This perhaps explains why some people see Chinese Medicine as a ‘universal therapy’
Chinese medicine, on the other hand use other Asian practices, which contains the soul or spirit as an essential element of the body. The Chinese medicine, therefore, treat the whole body in a holistic way in order to cure one illness. Another major difference is that TCM considers disease to be a kind of inequality between its functions. These disproportions are put into patterns of conflict and related to six excesses, these six excesses refer to symptoms of illness and are categorized as those of wind, cold and fire/heat, Dampness, dryness and summer heat are the permanent excesses etc.
Yin and Yang Concept
Chinese medicine is based on the concept of yin and yang like the two sides of the moon — one seen and one hidden in shadow. Different parts of the body are described as yin and others as yang. The body is also broken down into five phases or elements. These are wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Using the theory of Yin and Yang and Five elements to human body. When the entire system is in balance, optimal health occurs. Disease occurs when there are obstructions to the flow of Qi, deficient or excessive Qi, or when there is an imbalance of Yin and Yang.
TCM also focuses its attentions on the functions of the body, as opposed to its anatomical structure. In Western medicine, the latter is more important. The Chinese divide the body into Qi, or functions, Xue, or blood, Jinye, or bodily fluids, and the Zang-fu, or organs. The practice describes channels to the limbs and joints as meridians.
Despite the long history, but the basic theory is almost unchanging. There is unfortunately still not enough evidence-based medicine in TCM as there is in conventional medicine.
Making Diagnosis and Treatment by Chines medicine
TCM doctors make diagnosis by analyzing patient’s tongue, pulse, and whole body situation (reaction, hair, posture etc.) during history taking and physical exam. Diagnosis base on symptoms related to the imbalance of Yin/Yang rather than diseases itself.
Chinese medicine treatments is that these aim to stimulate whole systems rather than particular areas and bothersome elements Chinese medicines are herb- and therapy-based. There are thousands of medicines existing in China, many using animals, plants, herbs, trees and more. The treating of these medicines is called Pao zhi. TCM also uses acupuncture, auriculotherapy and moxibustion as treatment methods. Acupuncture is the use of needles to highpoint lines and other pressure points. Moxibustion is combined with acupuncture and is the application of heat to an affected area. Auriculotherapy is ear acupuncture.
This is a holistic treatment by increasing your own healing power to heal yourself. Patients with the same disease may have different Yin/Yang unevenness, their treatment may be different even tough having same disease. On the other hands, different diseases may use the same method of treatment if they have similar Yin/Yang imbalance.
Advantages
TCM are Appropriate for patients with chronic functional problems, particularly for those that Western medicine can’t find the cause, but there are uncomfortable symptoms. By correcting organ dysfunction, TCM may prevent severe diseases before they are obvious by Western medicine. Compare to Western medicine, TCM, particular acupuncture, has few and less severe side effects.
Disadvantages
TCM focus on stimulating healing power rather than target specific diseases, its effect is different individually, and sometimes take longer time to manifest. So for acute or severe diseases, conventional medicine is still recommended as first line treatment.
The Individualized Approach of Chinese Medicine
A physician of Chinese medicine might also begin with a series of questions when examining his patient. Instead of trying to narrow down the cause of the stomach pain to one particular source, however, the practitioner of Chinese medicine would attempt to discover as many sources for the stomach pain as possible by uncovering all of the physiological situations that could be neighboring it. For example, the stomach pain might react differently to a cold compress than to physical pressure. It might be comforted by eating, or eating might make it poorer. This specific patient might have a greasy yellow layer on his tongue although another patient could have no layer on his tongue whatever.
A Chinese doctor might identify damp heat affecting the spleen in one, lacking Yin disturbing the stomach of another, and disharmony of the liver attacking the spleen of the third – three different circumstances calling for three different methods of treatment.
Conclusion
In Chinese medicine, however, disease is not regarded as something that a patient has. It is something that the patient is. Disease, from the Chinese point of view, is an imbalance in the patient’s being. There is no isolated, self-contained, separate entity called “disease.” There is only a whole person whose body functions may be balanced or imbalanced, harmonious or disharmonious. Understanding the nature of the imbalance is the goal of diagnosis, while restoring balance is the focus of treatment that is all.
