By Sandy Schwartz
May 11, 2010
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is the modern application of Oriental medicine that is thousands of centuries old. But how is Western Medicine (WM) and TCM different?
Diagnostic Differences: TCM treats the whole body and mind, while treating the main complaint. WM usually treats only the main complaint and symptoms, instead of the root cause of the problem. WM focuses on naming the disease and treating it with one protocol. TCM names the pattern of imbalance that caused the disease, and treatment can differ based on the symptoms and underlying condition of the patient. This difference in the diagnostic approach is why many patients go to an Acupuncturist after not getting results from WM.
TCM uses questioning and observation of pulse and tongue as the main diagnostic tools. TCM looks at all symptoms (not just the chief complaint) and derives a pattern differentiation that defines the overall state of the body. WM uses questioning, palpation, auscultation, lab tests and imaging as primary diagnostic tools. These tests may give a better picture with more certainty of the cause of the problem.
Treatment Differences: A WM office visit usually lasts 15 minutes with treatment being a prescription. When an office visit does include treatment it may include procedures that a TCM practitioner cannot provide and are an advantage with WM. A patient may see his doctor 1-4 times a year to renew a prescription. Many times multiple drugs are prescribed with conflicting contraindications. Prescription drugs are stronger, but have potentially lethal side effects. Many drugs are too new to know the long term effects. The advantage of prescription drugs is they work faster and go directly to the problem.
A TCM treatment is more relaxed, usually lasting an hour, and may consists of acupuncture, herbs, and other types of TCM treatments. A patient may come in one time a week initially and then taper off once the condition is under control. This would make TCM more expensive, but even so, TCM patients are willing to pay even without the help of insurance. Herbs are natural so are not as strong as prescription drugs, but rarely cause side effects. The long term effects of herbs have been tested for centuries. Herbs can be custom made for a patient’s individual pattern differentiation and symptoms.
So is the Doctor or Acupuncturist better? WM may have better results in going straight to the target area of the problem by using diagnostic tests and drugs that work faster and stronger. Using WM diagnostic tools, such as lab tests and imaging, WM may be better at catching more serious diseases that need immediate attention. In contrast, TCM treats to balance the whole body, not just the symptoms and focuses on disease prevention, which may provide more permanent results by treating the root of the problem. TCM practitioners are trained to recognize more serious medical problems that need immediate referral. Western and TCM practitioners need to be in partnership in determining the best treatment for the patient.
Sandy Schwartz is the owner of Renewed Health Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine. You may contact her at (512) 341-9900 or www.RenewedHealthAc.com.