Have you ever visited the doctor with a complaint that you couldn't put your finger on? Maybe you feel tired more than usual, or you have a persistent, irritating pain in your side, but the doctor can't find any cause. That kind of experience can be really frustrating, because that's the point that you realize the holes that exist in the American medical system.
I don't have a problem with American medicine: I appreciate it for what it is. In the past few years, however, I've come to appreciate other ways of thinking about health, wellness and medicine, and how they can be used in conjunction with modern medical science.I did my masters capstone on the differences in the Western and Eastern medical models, and when I began to read into the history of each, I was fascinated by the ways people have developed completely opposing medical systems, and amazed with the idea that combining these very different ideologies could give us more complete health care now.Chinese Universities and hospitals have been integrating Western and Chinese medicine for over fifty years, with amazing results. A friend of mine has a degree in Integrative Medicine from the Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which is a 6 year degree that combines undergraduate, Chinese medicine, and Western medical degrees for the best outcome in every case. For example, my friend was head of a stroke wing at a hospital in YiWu, China. They incorporated not only the life-saving emergency measures used by Western hospitals everywhere, but they used acupuncture and Chinese herbs to help their patients recover more brain power, motor skills and ability to do daily tasks. For some people, that was the difference between ending up paralyzed in a home and walking out of the hospital to get on with their lives.For emergency situations and infectious disease, there is nothing like Western medicine. If I am in a car accident or I'm poisoned by E.Coli, I'm heading straight to the emergency room, because there's a good chance the people and technology there can save my life. But for smaller problems: back pain, carpal tunnel, declining health, fatigue, insomnia, addiction, and chronic health problems, there isn't much a western M.D. can do for you. He may prescribe pain medication or give you a cortizone shot, but there is no mechanism for him to get at the reason for your problem.Chinese medicine, however, has a completely different world-view on health, symptoms, causes of illness, and diagnosis, and if explained well, it often makes a lot of sense. They take a more holistic approach to healing, with more emphasis on prevention and catching problems early before they become dire.So next time the doctor runs some tests and comes up empty, think about taking a whole new perspective on your health. Whether through Chinese Medicine, acupuncture, Ayurveda or some other holistic ideology, you may just find what you're looking for, and it might even change your life.
Courtesy:Leah Healthnet
San Jose CA
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