Dr Jenny Yang

DR JENNY YANG REPLIES: Medicine is the art of maintaining and restoring health through the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

Though they share a common goal to cure disease, Western medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) use different approaches to achieve these goals.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is based on philosophical principles such as the Yin and Yang Theory and Five Elements Theory.

TCM focuses on improving quality of life and preserving health. Most importantly, it examines the body as a whole to assess the cause of illness.

The belief is that any presenting symptoms are a manifestation of illness. Illness, in turn, occurs only when there is an imbalance in a person’s energy (Qi) flow.

TCM practitioners determine the cause of illness, better yet, investigate what is causing the disturbance in Qi flow throughout the body, and focus to re-establish balance within the person using Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage, and meditation.

In contrast, Western medicine is rooted in scientific knowledge and evidence. Within this system of medicine, the body is divided up into different systems and looked at separately.

Utilizing a smaller scope, it takes a more superficial look at the body, addressing only the systems of the body within which symptoms are present. Medications are prescribed, based on their acute actions in the body and their effectiveness at suppressing the illness at hand.

The main concern is that steps have been taken only to mask the illness. It does not address the body as a whole nor does it address the possible underlying cause of disease.

Though different in theory, both types of medicine have their own validity within the medical field. Ideally, rather than contradicting each other, it would be most beneficial to one’s health if they were combined.

The practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine has been documented for well over 2000 years and has successfully withstood the trials of time.

There are myriads of documentations confirming the effectiveness of Chinese medicine in the treatment of various illnesses throughout the years. It has successfully been used to treat physical, emotional, and psychological disorders alike.

Western medicine is most beneficial in acute, life-threatening conditions as its effects are virtually immediate.

In your husband’s case, I would not be concerned with him utilizing more natural forms of treatment for his illnesses. The current societal trend has people seeking out more natural, holistic forms of medicine to improve their quality of life.

This being said, should a more serious, life-threatening illness take a hold of him, he should be open to seek the care of a western medical doctor as required.