Western medicine is the traditional healthcare you receive in the United States. It is the doctor's office, medical clinic, hospital, or urgent care. This form of medicine focuses on prescribing drugs to treat symptoms. Eastern medicine is a more holistic approach focused on the whole person. Both forms of medicine focus on diagnosing, dining, and curing but in two different fashions. In today's article, I will share with you how harmonizing western and eastern medicine can better the patients health and longevity.
**I am a holistic expert, not a medical professional, so before making any changes to your lifestyle, please do your research and ask your doctor before making any changes to your medications.
Bridging The Gap between western and eastern medicine
Eastern and Western medicine both emphasize focusing on the well-being of the individual, and each has its own strengths. Eastern medicine focuses on the whole person working towards figuring out the root of the problem to prevent it from ever happening again and equipping the person with the knowledge to take care of themselves in the future. Western medicine focuses on the symptoms, giving them medication or treatment options to feel better. Now, both have their place and time, but also they can work together to provide the patient with an ultimate guide to healing and prevention.
Many of the treatment options can be great together with different procedures that need to be done in a Western medical facility, and then treatment for the recovery could be based on Eastern practices. They go hand in hand with the proper balance. On the other hand, a Western practitioner sees that the symptoms are beyond what they can handle, and they refer them to a functional medicine doctor and vice versa. Working together can help save more lives.
Integrative medicine in action
For thousands of years, nutrition has been the foundation of our survival as a human species. Different parts of the world have been using food, herbs & spices to heal their bodies and expand their lifespan. Proper nutrition has so many connections to our vitality and health.
Research indicates that 80% of chronic diseases are preventable with proper nutrition, exercise, and stress management. A whole foods-based diet has been shown to reverse and prevent multiple chronic medical conditions. Type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and more. (Study)
Herbal supplements have been used to treat different conditions, such as psoriasis, depression, anxiety, and inflammation. Also, they are great at preventing diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, and more. A study was conducted on herbal treatment for depression, and after two weeks of a specific formula of herbs, she saw an improvement in her depressive mood and anxiety symptoms. (Study)
Western medicine and integrative medicine can work together beautifully. Integrating medicine, food, lifestyle changes, and the proper accountability for each can create a whole-person perspective that can help millions. For example, some people have incredibly high blood pressure, which can be debilitating for them to exercise. Giving them the proper medication with a good diet and supplement regimen would help them get their blood pressure down so they can then come off the drug and get back to their lifestyle.
The same goes for type 2 diabetes patients; providing them with the proper dosage of medication, dietary advice, proper supplementation, and exercise routine, the better we can treat the patient and give them the best overall outcome, compared to just one or the other.
Critical principles for both perspectives
Communication within the medical field is crucial in Western or Eastern medicine. The better we can communicate our needs to our doctors, the better treatment we can receive. The more we can learn about how our body functions through proper testing, prevention methods, and lifestyle factors, the more details we can give the doctors to help us in the way we feel is best. Now, this does have some discrepancies. Whether you need heart surgery or to help get your cholesterol checked, there are two different needs.
Western medicine is a reactive care that treats disease and other illnesses as they arise. Eastern medicine, however, provides more preventative care to ensure body systems, such as the immune and digestive systems, are functioning at their best.
America is downsizing with our health concerning exercise, diet, and other lifestyle choices. Eastern medicine has a more significant part in treating the sick than ever. With more holistic health popping up across the country, we have more access to both forms of treatment now than ever.
One key benefit of herbal remedies, acupuncture, and dietary changes is that they are non-invasive and cause few side effects. Before turning to prescription drugs or invasive surgery, preventive medicine is becoming more commonly used as a first-line approach.
Getting the proper test done by a Western medicine doctor and then having the Eastern medicine doctor's preventive practices as a part of the treatment process can set the patient up for overall success.
Overcoming challenges
Western and Eastern medicine have always been entirely separate, and it has been difficult for each to integrate one another's practices. The pharmaceutical industry is a robust 400 billion-dollar-a-year business. Medical errors account for 240,000 deaths in the U.S. annually, making it the third leading cause of death according to the website Acupuncture Today.
Most people working in health care feel that pharmaceutical companies are driven by corruption and money. Most pharmaceutical company's mission statements all refer to profiting as much as possible for the shareholders. While this is happening, we still have so many people who need help improving their health, and if Eastern and Western medicine can work together, we can benefit the patient and reverse disease much more effectively.
What drives a wedge between Western and Eastern medicine is this corruptive deception with certain drugs and treatment processes. We can teach our doctors more about the importance of exercise, nutrition, stress management, and overall health in general. In that case, we can develop a better relationship between the two and help people not stay on medications as long as they would if they didn't take care of their bodies.
Staying on medications for too long and spending thousands of dollars a year on holistic health is taking so much from people, and finding a balance between the two and working together will benefit everyone in the end. It would also save millions of lives and dollars.
Practical tips for individuals
Navigating Western and Eastern medicine options can be difficult, so to try natural methods, you must discuss the best choices with your doctor. Effective communication and conversations with your doctor will set you up for success and keep the relationship strong.
Depending on your condition or treatment options, it is essential to not just focus on medication or supplements. Getting your quarterly check-ins, proper tests, and vitals checked is critical to ensure your integrative choices are working.
Lifestyle methods are essential as well, like proper sunlight exposure, exercising a minimum of 60 minutes a week, eating a whole food-based diet pra primarily, practicing mindfulness, meditation, and doing things that make you feel happy, which help with managing stress and boosting your mood, which has been associated with healing.
When you want to explore integrative options, bring it to your doctor's attention, let them know what you want, and see how you can work together to get the best treatment options possible.
Takeaway
Eastern and Western medicine have advantages and disadvantages, but overall, they work together harmoniously. By bringing both together, we can boost the health span of our society. Staying consistent with a healthy lifestyle and testing your levels when necessary will help you balance the two.
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