What is the difference between western and eastern medicine

Western medicine approaches diagnosis primarily based on information gathering and the scientific method. Upon receiving an ill or ailing patient, the medical practitioner then proceeds to gather information through patient history, physical exam, assessment of signs and symptoms, and a battery of diagnostic tests.

The doctor then evaluates and interprets all the evidence gathered to conclude a diagnosis. After diagnosis, medical practitioners can then address the problem with the appropriate treatment. Just as the process of diagnosis varies greatly between eastern and western medicine, so does the treatment. Like diagnosis, eastern medicine treatments are more holistic in nature. Eastern medicine principles retain that treating a disease requires treating the whole body.

Hence, treatments in eastern medicine are far more diverse than in western medicine. In tradition al Chinese medicine, treatments can include herbal medicine, acupuncture, cupping therapy, moxibustion burning dried mugwort on certain points in the body , gua sha skin scraping , massage, and dietary therapy. Treatments in traditional Chinese medicine generally aim to fix or improve the flow of qi in the body, which should subsequently treat the disease.

Similar to traditional Chinese medicine, the Ayurveda also has a wide variety of possible treatments. These include abhyanga warm oil massage , shi rodhara a liquid is poured over the forehead , netra basti the eyes are submerged in ghee , pinda sveda massages with hot cotton bags filled with herbs , herbal baths, panchakarma body cleansing , yoga, and meditation.

Treatments in western medicine of ten directly approach the disease and its symptoms. These are often drugs, radiation, or surgery. While society perceives medicine as a means to treat diseases, a primary goal of medicine is to prevent diseases from occuring. Preventive methods in traditional Chinese medicine would include emotional adjustment, seasonal health care, dietary care, herbal therapy, acupuncture, massage, detoxification, foot baths, and more.

The Ayurveda describes preventive medicine in the swasthavritta , guidelines for people to remain healthy and fit.

In this philosophy, preventive medicine in the Ayurveda relies on herbs, yoga, and meditation. Another aspect in the Ayurveda that can be considered as preventive medicine would be the rasayana , an Ayurvedic discipline that recommends herbs, herb-mineral formulations, diet, lifestyle, and even social etiquette to achieve balance in life, prevent disease, and lengthen lifespans. While the WHO included Traditional Chinese Medicine, it also notes that the goal is to "share evidence-based information.

Florida th St. Seminole, FL Friday, September 4, By: Dr. Zhanxiang Wang. What is Western Medi cine? What is Eastern Medicine? Here are five major branches of Oriental Medicine: Acupuncture Chinese herbal medicine Oriental nutrition and dietary therapy Tuina or oriental bodywork Tai chi and qi gong mind-body-spirit practice The basic philosophy of Eastern medicine practitioners is to treat the whole person—encouraging a healthy body to prevent illness and speed recovery.

What is the Difference between Eastern and Western Medicine? Here are a few of the benefits of combining both types of health care: 1. You will become a more well-rounded diagnostician by combining Eastern and Western medicine practices. You will integrate better with Western doctors. NUHS students train with expert faculty.

NUHS invests in state-of-the-art facilities. NUHS facilities feature: Top of the line gross anatomy lab where Oriental medicine and acupuncture students learn Western anatomy and Eastern meridian theory through hands-on dissection of a human cadaver. Life-size 3-D interactive table called The Anatomage Table offers students, faculty, and clinicians access to an advanced digital visualization system to augment anatomy education.

This is the battle between Eastern and Western medicine. To begin, we have to look at the history of both systems. Eastern medicine has been around for nearly 5, years and began when ancient herbalists experimented with plant substances and their effects on humans. There are substances that have been found to enhance health, beauty, energetics of the body, and the mind.

Western medicine has only been around, in its current form, since the 19 th century, although the roots began in ancient Greece and Egypt. This is also when the current Western medical system discovered it can manipulate certain actions in the human body through the use of synthetic pharmaceuticals. Next, we compare the examination methods. Eastern medicine is much more holistic in this regard, as it takes every aspect of the body into account.

Because the body cannot be compartmentalized based upon the disease, it makes sense to consider how each bodily system is affecting the others. Eastern medicine does not evaluate an illness purely based on the symptoms a person is showing, but rather, on complex patterns of disharmony in the body. Our online classes and training programs allow you to learn from experts from anywhere in the world. Explore Classes. Written by Emill Kim, LAc. August 20, Out of the gate, I fell completely flat on my face.

Emill Kim, LAc. Emill Kim, LAc,'s journey began when he decided to drop out of medical school and search for happiness. He is a second generation acupuncturist dedicated to the ideas of energetic Daniel Amen, M. Integrative Health. Jamie Schneider. With Paige Bourassa, L. Emma Loewe. Functional Food. Simon Hill. Lindsay Boyers. Latest Articles Beauty. Sarah Regan. Personal Growth.