Jan 25

Eastern vs. Western philosophies of medicine

East and West, Traditional Chinese Medicine No Comments »


An interesting discussion of the differences between Eastern and Western medical systems:

“To Westerners, scientific method consists of the collection of data through observation and experimentation, and the formulation and testing of hypotheses,” says Chuang Shih-ming (莊世鳴), a Chinese medicine doctor based in Taipei City.

“Chinese medicine also takes the same approach,” he argues. “The only difference lies in the fact that Western medicine uses about 200 years of such ’scientific’ methods of observation and testing of hypotheses to prove its effectiveness, while the Chinese version uses several thousands of years.”

Methodologically, Chinese medicine is also at odds with Western medicine.

Western medicine is analytically based on anatomy of the human body by focusing on medical test results and in particular on numbers, while Chinese medicine is holistic, regarding the human body as an inseparable whole, Chuang says.

Looked at this way, Western medicine and Chinese medicine should thus be referred to as micro- and macro-medical medicine respectively, he notes.

“Unlike the Western belief that says that bacteria and viruses cause disease, Chinese medicine only sees the different symptoms, and we tend to believe in the ability of a human to heal him or herself.”?

So Chinese medical treatments are aimed at elevating one’s ability to fight all the syndromes and to help people to regain and maintain balance in their body, he adds.

Clinical diagnosis and treatment

Sitting in the office of his Chinese Medicine Clinic in Taipei’s Tianmu area, Chuang discloses that he was originally a computer programming language major in college, but because of his family background, he later transferred to the study of Chinese medicine.

Chuang goes on to say that clinical diagnosis and treatment in traditional Chinese medicine are mainly based on the yin-yang and the five-element theory involving wood, fire, earth, metal and water.

These theories apply the phenomena and laws of nature to study of the physiological activities and pathological changes in the human body, he notes.

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Jan 24

Electro-acupuncture for arthritis of the knee

Acupuncture, East and West No Comments »

A recent study shows that some patients with arthritis may benefit from electo-acupuncture, a procedure where electric impulses are delivered by the acupuncture needles to provide more stimulation of the acupuncture pints:

he study, published in the journal Pain, looked at the effects of electro-acupuncture among 40 adults with knee osteoarthritis — the common “wear-and-tear” form of arthritis in which the cartilage cushioning the joints breaks down.

Electro-acupuncture is similar to traditional acupuncture, where fine needles are inserted into specific points in the skin. What’s different is that the practitioner fits the needles with clips that are attached to a small device that delivers a continuous electrical impulse to stimulate the acupuncture point.

Among the patients in the current study, those who had a daily electro-acupuncture session for 10 consecutive days reported greater improvement in their pain compared with patients who received a “sham” version of the therapy.

Patients in that latter group received acupuncture, but the needles were inserted at random points on the skin rather than traditional acupuncture sites. And while the needles were attached to the electrical device, it was not actually turned on.

The findings suggest that true electro-acupuncture may offer at least short-term pain relief to knee arthritis sufferers, according to the researchers, led by Dr. Sadia Ahsin of the Army Medical College Rawalpindi in Pakistan.

Acupuncture has been used for more than 2,000 years in Chinese medicine to treat a wide variety of ailments. According to traditional medicine, specific acupuncture points on the skin are connected to internal pathways that conduct energy, or qi (“chee”), and stimulating these points with a fine needle promotes the healthy flow of qi.

Modern research has suggested that acupuncture may help ease pain by altering signals among nerve cells or affecting the release of various chemicals of the central nervous system, such as pain-killing endorphins.

In their study, Ahsin and colleagues found that electro-acupuncture appeared to raise patients’ blood levels of endorphins and lower their levels of the hormone cortisol, which tends to rise during physical or mental stress. So it’s possible that these changes explain the greater pain relief, according to the researchers.

Larger, longer-term studies are still needed to see whether electro-acupuncture can have lasting benefits — and to find out how often patients would need treatment to gain those benefits.

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Jan 22

Chinese medicine – tradition and innovation?

Alternative therapies, Culture, East and West, Traditional Chinese Medicine No Comments »

Although traditional Chinese medicine has a history stretching back thousands of years, there’s room for innovation and adaption:

What is wrong with our medical science, the science of Western medicine as well as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)? Why are doctors at a loss to find cure for more and more diseases and often divided, if not opposed, on their causes? Has modern man reached the limits of his quest for good health and a longer life, or has he reached a new frontier from where science will progress further?

Dr Liu Hequn, an astronomer-turned-registered TCM practitioner (he also holds a degree in modern medicine and a physician’s license), believes in progress, and is probably half a step ahead of others in unraveling some of the above riddles. It would take nothing short of a paradigm shift to reach that new frontier: a return to the practice of classical medicine as well as a “cognitive revolution”, Liu tells China Daily, sitting in his apartment near Beijing’s Olympic Village.

“There is nothing mystic about it, although what my teacher taught may make it appear so.” The teacher he is talking about happened to be an illiterate Taoist master, who in the early 1960s taught him the skills to diagnose a medical condition. The Taoist master, in turn, had learned the skills at Baiyun Guan, or the White Clouds Temple, Beijing’s most famous Taoist facility till the early days of People’s Republic.

The Taoist master must have belonged to the last generation of TCM practitioners, trained in the secret tradition: handing down of knowledge orally. TCM began to be incorporated into the national medical education system in the 1950s. Today, all TCM practitioners have to graduate from medical colleges, where they are also taught the theories of modern medicine.

In 1960, as an eight-year-old. Liu had to undergo some specialist treatment for the injuries he sustained in his arms and legs while learning kungfu. That was how he was taken to his Taoist teacher, who inspired him to become the first person educated in modern science to practice the traditional method of medicine.

This method is different both from modern medicine’s standard diagnosis and that of TCM taught in medical colleges, which to a large extent is based on feeling a patient’s pulse and is seen by Liu as inadequate. In contrast, Liu says, his method is closer to being holistic and true to the philosophy of TCM. It requires a doctor to feel the patient’s body (usually without taking off clothes) to identify not just one or two troubled spots, but, more often than not, also a troubled sub-system connected to a series of related and seemingly unrelated conditions.

“All medical researchers know about some interrelated conditions and symptoms. Only in my research, some connections may at first defy imagination,” Liu says.

Liu can detect a medical condition by feeling a patient’s body with his hands, the unique method of diagnosis his teacher taught him. He started learning and practicing the skill while he was still in primary school, and tried to treat the injuries of his classmates and school friends, who like millions of other urban students, were sent to re-education farms in the early 1970s.

But how can he be so confident about his “hand diagnosis”? Liu says with a smile: “They haven’t created a better substitute yet.” No matter how advanced and precise a medical scanner may be, it can help a doctor perform only one set of scanning operations on a patient. But in his diagnosis, symptoms that doctors give different names to are sometimes related to each other in ways that neither modern medicine nor TCM talks about.

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Dec 24

Holistic medicine becoming mainstream

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Holistic medicine is becoming more integrated in today’s society.

When Jim Thomas, of Westminster, opened his acupuncture business 24 years ago, he was one of only a few in the county practicing complementary and alternative medicine.

Thomas said that if someone were to tell their neighbor more than two decades ago they were getting acupuncture, the philosophy that looks at the interactions of the emotions in the body, the typical reaction would be to say they were strange.

“Now, there’s much more of an acceptance,” Thomas said. “I think people want something different.”

Thomas said a huge media campaign and word of mouth has fueled the public’s interest in complementary and alternative medicines.

More people are living nontraditional lifestyles, eating organic foods and going to complementary and alternative medicine practitioners. As a result, Thomas’ practice in the Center for Healing Arts on Main Street in Westminster has gradually grown. For example, he had about five clients a week in the beginning, but now he has about 35 a week.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, the government’s top agency for researching alternative medicines, says alternative medicine is a group of health and medical systems or products that are not recognized as effective, conventional medicine. It includes options ranging from massages and natural products to diet-based therapies and tai chi.

According to a 2007 survey by the Bethesda-based group, about 38 percent of adults and 12 percent of children use some form of complementary and alternative medicine. NCCAM spokeswoman Katy Daniels said those numbers have remained stable since the last survey was conducted in 2002.

As a licensed acupuncturist, Thomas looks at where there’s not a flow of energy to someone’s body and tries to restore that flow by using unique tools like needles, glass cups and scrapers.

His clientele includes pregnant women and individuals from 4 to 80 years old.

Dec 23

Patients seek TCM in conjunction with western medicine

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Patients use TCM with western drugs in Singapore.

THERE has been rising interest in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Singapore.

I recently asked two friends who practise Western medicine on their views of and experiences with TCM.

One said that when patients asked if they could seek TCM treatment while taking Western medication for certain conditions, he would not discourage them.

He thinks TCM can help as Western drugs have limitations.

However, he would advise them to seek help from qualified TCM practitioners.

My other friend replied that he is seeing an increase in the number of patients suffering from stress, tension and related chronic problems such as insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome and neckache.

Besides counselling them and prescribing medication, my friend would also teach these patients to perform acupressure on certain meridian points.

In China, it is common to treat patients with TCM and Western medicine. Why is this so?

Firstly, TCM can fortify the body’s system to cope with some serious side effects caused by Western treatments, such as chemotherapy and the use of immunosuppressant drugs.

Secondly, TCM can also reduce side effects caused by medication for diabetes and high blood pressure, such as water retention.

Thirdly, TCM may enhance the intended effect of Western medicine, so that a lower dose of Western drugs can be used.

Lastly, TCM can treat the cause, while Western medicine treats the symptoms, of medical conditions, thus lowering the frequency of recurrence of problems.

While TCM has its benefits, there are concerns about whether patients will have adverse reactions if they mix TCM and Western drugs.

There is limited information on drug-herb interactions, but there have been few reports of people dying in Singapore because they underwent TCM and Western medical treatment at the same time.

Dec 21

Indigestion remedies

Culture, East and West No Comments »

Christmas and New Year will undoubtly be a time of parties and festivities. Here are some things to consider if you suffer from indigestion.

CHRISTMAS is a time of indulgence. Tempting and luxurious treats make indigestion a common cause over the festive period.

But you need not suffer from a bloated stomach this year. Holland & Barrett has devised the following tips for healthy digestion:

1. Aloe vera is said to soothe the digestive tract to reduce discomfort.

This is most commonly taken as a juice and is popular amongst those who suffer from irritable bowel-type symptoms.

2. Avoid bloating this Christmas by taking a bitter digestive stimulate.

The bitter compounds found in artichoke, dandelion, devil’s claw, goldenseal and juniper help stimulate digestion by increasing saliva production and promoting both stomach acid and digestive enzyme production.

3. Eat your Ps – Papain and bromelain found in papaya and pineapples, respectively, can be used as natural digestive enzymes.

Try taking a supplement containing these ingredients before meals. Do not eat pineapple after a meal as the fruit may ferment and cause indigestion.

4. Essential oils

“Aromatherapy massage sounds unlikely but it’s a great way to treat indigestion,” Heather Hill, an aromatherapist and owner of Euphoria holistic centre in Nottingham, said.

Chamomile, fennel and peppermint oils have calming and anti-inflammatory properties. Mix five drops of any combination with a base of 10ml sweet almond oil and massage this into your stomach. “Follow the movement of food through your digestive system by rubbing your stomach in a clockwise direction from your right hip upwards, to give general relief to the discomfort in your stomach,” Heather added.

5. Ginger – popular for its distinctive flavour in Oriental cooking, ginger’s various health benefits have been especially valued by the Chinese for many thousands of years.

Historically used to treat stomach complaints, clinical trials have revealed that the active constituents of ginger root may have anti-nausea and anti-vomiting effects, which help to re-balance the gastric juices, soothe the stomach and maintain a healthy digestive system.

6. Little, often and slowly

“Going for hours without eating and gorging on a big meal is a recipe for indigestion,” said Sarah Stanner, from the British Nutrition Foundation.

“Aim to eat smaller meals at regular intervals during the day to regulate your stomach acid and keep your digestion ticking over.” Chewing food thoroughly also helps your digestive enzymes work easily.

7. Liquorice sticks – the medicinal use of this perennial herb has a long and varied history. It remains one of the most important and widely used herbs in Chinese medicine.

Liquorice is believed to help protect the mucous membranes lining the digestive tract by increasing the production of mucin – a compound that protects against stomach acid.

8. Plan ahead

Fast-paced, modern lifestyles often mean we grab high-fat snacks and foods in a rush.

But Catherine Collins, a state-registered dietician with the British Dietetic Association, said: “Rich, fatty foods can play havoc with the muscle separating the oesophagus and your stomach.”

Pre-planning by making lunches that contain wholegrain sandwiches, cereal bars and fruit can lead to nutritional benefits, as these foods are believed to contain higher nutritional value than sweets and release energy slowly over a long period of time.

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Nov 20

San Diegans Turning To Alternative Treatments For Flu

Alternative therapies, Disease, East and West No Comments »

Many in San Diego are turning to alternative medicine to treat flu.

SAN DIEGO — Many San Diego County residents sick with flu-like symptoms are heading to clinics specializing in Chinese medicine, 10News reported.

Last week, University of California, San Diego junior Chris Gauthier came down with a high fever and other flu-like symptoms.

“I was miserable,” said Gauthier.

Nov 18

Why consumers turn to alternative medicine

Alternative therapies, East and West No Comments »

Consumers are increasingly turning to alternative medicine for answers and this study examines the reasons.

Alternative health remedies are increasingly important in the health care marketplace. A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research explores how consumers choose among the many available remedies.

“Examples of the wide array of health remedy options available to consumers include drugs, supplements, acupuncture, massage therapy, Ayurveda, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (to name a few). Such medical pluralism is common in both developed and developing countries and raises the questions: How do consumers choose among health remedies, and what are the consequences for a healthy lifestyle?” write authors Wenbo Wang (New York University), Hean Tat Keh (Beijing University), and Lisa E. Bolton (Pennsylvania State University).

The authors use “lay theories of medicine” to explain how consumers choose between Western medicine and its Eastern counterparts, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurvedic medicine.

Nov 13

Why Subtle Action Is a Powerful Tool to Change Your Energy

East and West, General No Comments »

Deepak Chopra explains why it only takes subtle changes in your behavior to have a shift in your energy

Subtle action is the most powerful tool we have to change our energy. Deepak Chopra explains how we can change the energy in our daily lives by viewing our bodies as a flowing process guided by energy.
Recently I’ve been discussing how to change your energy. Many problems—physical and mental—seem to come down to a person’s beliefs, habits, lifestyle, moods and emotions. We use the words “positive” and “negative” to describe people we know, yet modern medicine hasn’t been able to find the source of these factors. There’s plenty of data to prove that people who undergo traumatic events, such as being widowed or losing a job without warning, suffer from lowered immune response. There are countless studies linking stress and poor health.

Oct 03

The complexity of Chinese medicine

East and West, Traditional Chinese Medicine No Comments »

Chinese medicine has been developed over the course of thousands of years. Its increasing popularity in the West is due in part to people looking for alternatives to more aggressive Western medicine as well Chinese medicine’s more individualistic view of treatment:

“Oriental medicine is based on the idea that humans are not just a collection of physical molecules, Balusik said. Instead, people are a complex and interrelated system of energies known as Qi, which is pronounced chee, she said.

Acupuncturists use a complex chart that defines pressure points in the body and how they interconnect to regulate the flow of Qi. Acupressure massage of pressure points is used on children rather than acupuncture.

Acupuncture is also successfully used in treating the effects of modern cancer treatments, alleviating pain and restoring appetite, she said.

Each treatment is used in conjunction with prescribing Chinese herbal medicines.

Many people, trying to stay away from chemicals found in modern drugs, are turning to cures found in the natural ingredients of Chinese herbal medicine.

Herbal medicines can be prescribed in tablet and liquid form, sometimes as teas, or items that can be cooked up in a soup, she said.

More than 5,000 different ingredients made from plants, animals, and minerals are used.

Chinese herbs are a good alternative to some of the drug-based anxiety remedies many doctors prescribe, she said.

A Chinese herbal formula may include up to 20 different items carefully balanced to work in unison when taken by the patient.

A special formula is created for each patient, so there can be no sharing of Chinese herbal medicine prescriptions, she noted.

Balusik said it is important that an expert in herbal medicines insure the right dose is taken, so there is no interaction between any modern drugs that might be prescribed by a doctor or over-the-counter remedies that a patient may take.

Many patients want to be able to sleep better at night or not consume so many anti-anxiety or pain-relieving medicines that they know are not good for their liver and other organs, she said.

As holistic medical practitioners, acupuncturists consider lifestyle and environmental factors when deciding the best course of treatment that includes lifestyle and nutritional recommendations along with acupuncture and herbal formulas, she said.

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