Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine

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Introduction

Different countries have different cultures, and they have different customs. Different customs will give a different conclusion on the same thing. For example – medicine, Asia and the Western has totally different ways of medicine. So they use different ways to solve the same disease, so we have a difference between Chinese and Western medical ethics. In the United States, people still cannot accept TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine); moreover, TCM and Western Medicine use really different kinds of medicines and the way doing the operation.

“TCM views people as “ecosystems” in miniature, it seeks to improve people’s capacity to balance and renew our resources. TCM can minimize the erosion of our dirt by enriching it, maximize the flow of nutrients by increasing circulation, and help prevent bottlenecks that obstruct movement. Often Western medicine intervenes only after crises arise, whereas TCM anticipates problems by sustaining our “interior landscape”. By correcting depletion and stagnation at earlier stages, greater problems, later on, are avoided. Sometimes Western medicine has nothing to offer for nagging chronic complaints that TCM can help. The two are not a substitute for each other. They are often complementary. Whereas Western medicine may heroically rescue us, TCM can protect and preserve our health day to day” (provided by the customer).

About TCM

Traditional Chinese Medicine does not mean any single or simple way of treating patients. It is actually a range of various treatments. “The Western world may consider it as an Alternative Medical System TCM is recognized and respected in the mainstream medical system in East Asia” (Hsieh 889-899). It has to be remembered that China was one of the pioneer countries which developed their own medical culture long back in ancient times. “Traditional Chinese Medicine has a history of about 5000 years” (Hsieh 889-899). It involves a very deep knowledge of the medical science and diagnostic methods evolving from thousands of years of experience which leads to the cure of very difficult illnesses (Hsieh 889-899).

“This traditional method for treatment includes many streams like herbal medicine, dietary therapy, Acupuncture and massages like Tui Na and Shiatsu. Traditional Chinese Medicine is also closely related to Qigong and Taijiquan (Xiao 55-62). Years of observation on the action, reaction, and interactions of this cosmos and nature with the human body has led to the evolution of unique treatment therapies. The therapies are based on certain theories the main of which are Yin – Yang, Human body Meridian/channel system, the Zang Fu organ system, the five phases, six conformations, four levels etc. The Traditional Chinese Medicine has taken the modern shape since 1950s before which this tradition was commonly practised within family lineages (Xiao 55-62).

Background

The relation of the basic philosophy of Traditional Chinese Medicine is no doubt is there with the philosophy of Taoist and Buddhist thoughts. How the human body and mind react to and interact with the natural forces all-round determines the life and activities of a person. “The name of the Yellow Emperor (2698 – 2596 BCE) is associated with the evolution of Traditional Chinese Medicine, who was the composer of the book Neijing: Suwen which means Inner Cannon: Basic Questions” (Liang 1205-1210). References were made to this ancient book several times later and the earliest reference was found during the Han Dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD).

The Mayor of Chang – sha Zhang Zhongjing made the reference in his Treaties on Cold Damage (Hsieh 889-899). The Han physician Hua Tuo was well known for the ability to cure several illnesses with his surgical, physical and herbal treatments like headache, fevers, internal worms, dizziness, cough and cold, throat block etc. for surgical purposes he used anesthesia made by combining wine and cannabis powder.

Further progress and studies were made in the middle ages in the fields of Traditional Chinese Medicine, especially during the Tang Dynasty. A materia medica was composed under the supervision of the Emperor Gaozong in 657 which contained description 833 medicinal sources of plant, animal and non living origin.

In the latter centuries many other things and beliefs got mixed up with TCM like reference of supernatural or evil powers as reasons of illnesses and other ‘proto – scientific’ view points. This might have happened because of the way the country got evolved through ages. That made TCM exposed to people’s s skepticism in other countries. But since 1950s the TCM had undergone significant refinements to make it more medicinally oriented. The term Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM) has evolved as a result which includes practices since 1911 which is said to be less influenced by the Western world (Xiao 55-62).

Concepts and Methods Applied

The Traditional Chinese Medicine is not a single line of treatment. There are certain basic principles which come from several schools of thought. Different religious schools like Buddhism, Taoism and Neo Confucianism have considerable impact on TCM. The effect of regional culture can’t be overlooked in the evolution of different theories and therapies. Some of the basic principles are discussed below.

The concept of Yin and Yang

“TCM always believes that the body is a small universe which has its own interconnected systems” (Liang 1205-1210). The systems when working in harmony, or synchronization in modern sense results in a healthy body and otherwise an individual in poor health. “The most important balance of the human body is held by the Yin and Yang which mean inner negative and outer positive principles respectively” (Liang 1205-1210). The latter protects the body from influences and gets energy stored in the body by the former. Out of balance they go and the body falls sick (Liang 1205-1210).

The Meridian System and the basic vital substances

According to the western anatomical theory the body id divided into parts or organs made of flesh. But TCM considers the body parts as specific centers of physical and mental and functions.

“According to TCM the basic vital substances of the body that compose the body are moving particles which are full of energy, that is the body fluids like blood, kidney essence and other body fluids. They flow inside the body through a network of channels called Jing Luo” (Liang 1205-1210).

Among the fluids the warmth holds the properties of Yang and the moisture holds the properties of Yin.

Diagnostic Methods

Expertise of Chinese doctors practicing TCM can be guessed from the fact they are able to diagnose difficult illnesses without the help of a lot of apparatus. They can determine the illness by examining the patient physically and following methods like observing the patient, taking odor and sound of the patient, interrogating the patient and taking pulse of the patient.

Observation provides information of the internal malfunctions through their impression on t he exterior. Tongue, skin, eyes and other sensory organs can provide really useful information. Sound and odor provides further information of what is going wrong inside the body of the patient. Interrogating the patients and their relatives are able to provide specific details of the suffering, the time it started and what are the previous treatments, if any, that the patient has encountered. Taking pulse and palpation of body parts like abdomen, chest, back and lumber areas can give ideas of the relative warmth and coolness of the body denoting variation in the arterial flows. This variation is common in sick body whereas in a healthy body it is not there (Swaminathan 457-461).

These methods provide various data which are then analyzed to make a proper diagnosis of the source and reason of the illness and prescriptions are prepared afterwards. The prescription is always different from the western way of prescribing. TCM places emphasis on herbal decoction and instructs the patients on how to prepare the medicine properly. Sometimes acupuncture is applied to produce speedy and optimum recovery. There are certain renowned and distinct processes found in TCM which are able to produce magical recovery.

Acupuncture

This a well known and widely practiced method of inserting needles in certain acupoints to increase the circulation of energy or Qi in the body.

Moxibustion

Is also known as ‘Moxa’ and it is practiced with acupuncture. This involves providing the body with warmth by placing cones of burning Chinese Mugwort on the acupoints. The purpose of this therapy is same as acupuncture that is to increase circulation (Hsiao S7-S23).

Food Therapy and Herbal Medicines

Balanced diet is preferred and prescribed by doctors for patients suffering from the depletion of one or more of the five flavors essential for the body leading to imbalance. Chinese herbal medicines are also based on the concept of providing the body with the balance of the five flavors to keep illness at bay. “The five temperatures are hot, warm, neutral, cool and cold” (Hsiao S7-S23). The herbs include different plant products and mushrooms leading to improved immunity of the body along with animal products, mineral and also marine products.

Massages

Massages like Tui Na have great impact on the body as they have healing powers. The main emphasis is placed upon thumb pressing, rubbing, stretching etc.

Branches and Modernization

The traditional Chinese Medicine like any other discipline has different branches. “The two most renowned branches are Jingfang and Wenbing branches” (Hsiao S7-S23). The former one is older and they are followers of the teaching related to the Han and Tang dynasties. “The latter follows the teaching of comparatively recent medical school and teachings of Ming and Qing Dynasties (Hsiao S7-S23). These two prominent branches had tried to prove their own superiority to each other since long”. Lastly the Wenbing School used political advantages to dominate their opposition at the time of Cultural Revolution.

Though TCM prescribed medicines mainly came in the forms of powders which had to be taken as decoctions some modernization has taken place in the form of medicine given. Today soluble granules, tablets and sachets are available. The tablets and sachets cover 675 plant materials and many non plant species like snakes, frogs and earthworms. “One western drug has been also made out of the active principles of TCM drugs called Artemisinin which is used in Malaria” (Lum 237-244).

TCM and Western Medicines

People believing in Western medicines are never ready to rely on TCM for any treatment and people relying on TCM will never go to a doctor specialized in western medicines. It is not that any of them are wrong. But this might be the result of the age old practice and skepticism for each other due to lack of coordination or full confidence on the principles either way. There are some basic differences between the main approach towards treatment of illnesses in TCM and Western Medicines. Probably that is the reason of the two not confiding in each other.

Difference with Western Medicine

The main differences between the Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western medicine are as follows:

“The approach towards treating a sick body in TCM is basically heal – all, synthetic and inductive whereas in western medicine it is cure – all, reductive and analytical” (Jung-Der 609-619). The Traditional Chinese Medicine is like an art of healing illnesses but western medicine is no doubt a science.
The Traditional Chinese Medicines have evolved through age old observations and used experience of the physician as the base of treatment whereas the western medicine system depends entirely on laboratory based experiments and evidences provided by the experiments.
Actually the method taken in TCM is individualized that is separate for every patient but western medicines always use the standardized methods for treatments.
Western medicines use the laboratory produced chemical drugs for treatment whereas TCM always uses natural resources (Jung-Der 609-619).

There are basic differences, but the aim of both is to result in a healthy body. The western medicines come handy when there is urgent need of life saving and the TCM works well when there is a need to pump new life to a body suffering from chronic long term illnesses.

Points of Doubts in the Western World against TCM

There are certain points to be taken note of about TCM which sometimes might cause concern in people especially advocating the western medicines and raise some opposition against it. There are some questions regarding the efficacies of some practices used in TCM, safety of patients while taking the Chinese medicine and endangering animal species for the sake of producing medicines in the classical way.

Methods like acupuncture are widely used not only in the TCM but also in the western world. But there are some questions regarding its true effectiveness. The western and scientific community believes that there is moderate effectiveness in some cases and it works well in some cases. But everywhere acupuncture does not work. Moreover it might cause nerve damage, dizziness and infection if not practiced with utmost care.
Certain herbal drugs used in TCM might cause allergic reaction to patients. Sometimes patients do the mistake of not consulting the doctor and self prescribe drugs. That might result in fatal consequences because of ingestion of unprocessed toxic drugs.
There is one more potential area of danger in TCM that is the practice of curing poison with poison. Western medicines proved that substances like arsenic are carcinogenic and it is found in Chinese medicines sometimes. If not processed with absolute sincerity the consequences might be life threatening.
There might be entirely different approach to the same disease from different doctors practicing TCM. Mix and matches, different naming of the same plant product, alterations and deviations from one drug to another and one brand to another is common rendering TCM devoid of standardization (Loukas 364-369).
There is a point of concern for the vegetarians and the conservationists also. TCM uses animal parts widely in the medicines. That makes it impossible for the strict vegetarians to take Chinese medicines. Dried snakes and marine animals like sea horse are widely used in TCM prescriptions. Shark fin soups are considered as a health enhancer. The animals have to pay with their lives for this and this endangers these species also. Extraction of bear bile gives them immense pain which might lead to their death. Turtle is already endangered and are still falling prey when the turtle plastrons are collected to make medicines.

There should be some alternatives for all these objectionable practices of making medicines and there are some. It should be taken care that animals do not pay the price for the good health of humans (Li 122).

Relation of Traditional Chinese Medicine with Western Medicine

The fact has to be accepted that there is a conflict between the two worlds of medicine that is the TCM and the western medicine. Though there is a basic difference in the two schools both have their potential strength and weaknesses. It is not possible for the Chinese medicines to cure a patient when there is a life threatening condition. It has to be the western medical science that can serve the purpose and save a precious life.

But the same western medical science sometimes has no answer to certain long term and chronic illnesses. It is the Chinese medicine which deals with the body as a part of universe and a landscape that can come handy with its magical healing power. So, there is no competition between the two. They are complementary to each other and one cannot replace the other.

As far as the question of integration between the two is concerned it is fortunate that there are efforts to integrate to some degree the powerful life savior western medicine with the wholesome goodness of Traditional Chinese Medicines. This has yielded good results in many instances. Australian State Government of Victoria reports,

“China has dual systems of traditional Chinese and western medical education. These are not mutually exclusive: students are trained primarily in one approach but elements of western medical sciences are incorporated in TCM programs, and western medicine students receive an overview of TCM: During undergraduate and internship training TCM students obtain clinical experience in hospitals in both TCM and western medicine departments. Graduates from TCM university courses are able to diagnose in western medical terms, prescribe western pharmaceuticals, and undertake minor surgical procedures. In effect, they practice TCM as a specialty within the broader organisation of Chinese health care” (Health.vic.gov.au 1).

Conclusion

In western countries the TCM practitioner is not allowed to prescribe western drugs. That is why the TCM practitioners refer serious patients to western doctors when it is not possible for them to cure through the methods of TCM. After the cure through western medicines further strength and healing can be ensured through TCM. It is not the point to prove whether the western medicine is better or the TCM. Both of them treat patient in their unique ways which have immense potentials in themselves. So it will be beneficial as and when the goodness of both can be combined and used for human welfare.

Works Cited

Health.vic.gov.au. “Towards a Safer Choice – The Practice of Traditional Chinese medicine In Australia – Education in Traditional Chinese Medicine 8.1 – 8.3.3”. Victorian State government in Australia. 2009. Web.

Hsiao, William C. China’s health system and its reform: a review of recent studies. Health Economics, 18.S2, (2009): S7-S23.

Hsieh, Shu-Ching. Development of active safety surveillance system for traditional Chinese medicine: an empirical study in treating climacteric women. Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, 15.12, (2006): 889-899.

Jung-Der, Wang. The prescribing of Chinese herbal products in Taiwan: a cross-sectional analysis of the national health insurance reimbursement database. Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, 17.6, (2008): 609-619.

Lang, Xie. Agreements among traditional Chinese medicine practitioners in the diagnosis and treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 20.10, (2006): 1205-1210.

Li, Wang. Adverse drug reactions and adverse events of 33 varieties of traditional Chinese medicine injections on the National Essential Drugs List. Hong Kong: Blackwell Publishing Asia.

Lum, Christopher M. Improving end-of-life care for non-cancer patients in hospitals: description of a continuous quality improvement initiative. Journal of Nursing and Healthcare of Chronic Illness, 1.3, (2009): 237-244.

Loukas, Marios. Anatomy in ancient China: The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon of Medicine and Wang Qingren’s Correcting the Errors in the Forest of Medicine. Clinical Anatomy, 23.4, (2010): 364-369.

Swaminathan, Ravi. Treatment of Chinese acromegaly with a combination of bromocriptine and octreotide. Internal Medicine Journal, 30.4, (2004): 457-461.

Xiao, Peigen. Recent advances in clinical studies of Chinese medicinal herbs 2. Clinical trials of Chinese herbs in a number of chronic conditions. Phytotherapy Research, 42.2, (2008): 55-62.

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