The Effective Blend of Western and Eastern Medicine
Although western and eastern medicine both have very different approaches, they share similar goals of easing pain, improving function and healing people from specific ailments. People tend to get the most benefit out of their health treatment when they have a variety of therapies available to them so that they can find what works best for their symptoms. Combining both western and eastern medical approaches is often the optimal solution for recovering from a number of illnesses.
Eastern medicine can be a useful addition for all kinds of issues including chronic pain, addiction, stress, and even some mental health problems such depression and anxiety. Relying exclusively on western medicine can sometimes feel incomplete for some patients who want an extra level of care. Eastern methods provide them an opportunity to work on a more holistic recovery so that they are not simply treating symptoms but improving their well-being overall.
Both types of medicine have their individual benefits and blending the two can give patients more personalized care. Exploring different treatments gives them options in case one method may be more effective than another. Physicians who use or recommend a combination of western and eastern medicine for their patients tend to see more success overall.
Differences Between Eastern and Western Approaches
One of the main difference between western and eastern medicine is that the western approach tends to focus on diagnosing and treating a specific disease based on the patient’s symptoms. Eastern medicine also considers a patient’s symptoms but it diagnoses their energy or chi which represents their health as a whole. In that sense, eastern medicine is a more holistic type of treatment while western medicine is more targeted toward healing certain illnesses.
Eastern medical practices like acupuncture are meant to address physical and emotional imbalances within the body in order to restore the patient’s chi and promote healing. Treatments through eastern medicine are usually through the use of herbs, acupuncture, nutrition or massage. Western medicine tends to address symptoms through the use of pharmaceuticals, physical therapy, surgery or psychological counseling.
The two kinds of care view health and treat it very differently but they both have a place in a person’s efforts for recovery. The two treatments can complement each other very well and patients don’t need to choose one over the other. Incorporating both can help cover more ground and ensure a more complete treatment process.
Benefits of Combining Both Methods
The western approach to diagnosis can be useful as physicians can perform a physical exam, check blood pressure and take x rays to help assess a patient’s health or identify a cause of certain symptoms. In eastern medicine they will also assess a patient’s health in different ways such as looking at their tongue, eyes and overall color. Eastern doctors will also have an inquiry into the patient’s health and check for external symptoms to see if they notice any kind of disharmony.
Both types of testing and diagnosis can be useful for different problems and address unique aspects of the person’s health. Western doctors are very skilled at identifying how a patient’s symptoms may be related to a larger health problem. Eastern doctors may notice other symptoms or issues that the patient is not aware of and can incorporate that in their treatment.
One of the reasons people turn to eastern medicine as a complementary treatment is because it focuses on preventative care more than the western approach. Western medicine is more of a reactive type of care that treats diseases when they arise instead of anticipating or preventing problems from happening. Eastern doctors try to make sure each patient is functioning better in their overall well-being by addressing things like their digestive health and immune system.
Western medicine gives you access to technology, skilled surgeons, medications and a number of other options to treat complicated symptoms. Eastern medicine helps people heal from internal ailments so that they can help their whole body function at its best. With both approaches patients can start feeling better and improving their health more quickly.
Healing the Mind and Body
The goal of both types of medicine is to ease pain and discomfort while helping patients live a better lifestyle. Many physical health problems are rooted in things like nutrition, stress levels and toxins. Patients need to learn to how to live a healthier life and take care of themselves in order to see long lasting results for their ailments.
Both eastern and western doctors alike may recommend a better diet, quitting cigarettes, alcohol and other drugs, getting more exercise and utilizing tools like meditation to help reduce stress. Taking advantage of every possibility to heal can give each patient a stronger chance at recovering from both mental and physical illnesses.