Differences between TCM and Western Medicine | China Acupuncture & Herbal Clinic

In short, Western Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) have been viewed as two distinct and divergent medicines. Their approaches to physiology and healing appear quite different in perspective.

The western doctor observes the facts before him and uses the current physiological theories to explain them. It separates the various systems and organs of the body and delves deeper and deeper into the particles that comprise matter.

Chinese medicine views the body and further, the whole person, as a unified organic whole. Spiritual, mental, emotional and physical aspects are all seen as interrelated and interdependent. This perhaps explains why some people see Chinese Medicine as a "holistic therapy".

	Western Medicine	TCM
Theory	Use modern pathology, physiology, microbiology and pharmacology knowledge to study human disease. Its research process from macro to micro (start from system, now develop to DNA molecular). Although its history is not long, the theory updates very quickly.	Use the theory of Yin and Yang and Five elements to human body. When the entire system is in balance, optimal health occurs. Disease occurs when there are obstructions to the flow of Qi, deficient or excessive Qi, or when there is an imbalance of Yin and Yang. Despite the long history, but the basic theory is almost unchanging. There is unfortunatly still not enough evidence-based medcine in TCM as there is in conventional medicine
Diagnosis & Treatment	Making Diagnosis: In addition to history taking and physical examination, also by means of a large number of modern scientific instruments to check on the human body (such as blood tests, urine, stool, X-rays, isotopes or computer imaging, ultrasound and other organs function to check). Doctors make diagnosis until all evidences were collected. It is an Evident Based Medicine. Treatment: Treatment directly target to the pathogen or etiology. For example, with chemotherapy to kill cancer cells, antibiotics kill bacteria, immunosuppressants to control autoimmune diseases, or surgery to remove the lesion tissue.	Making Diagnosis: TCM doctors make diagnosis by analyzing patient’s tongue, pulse, and whole body situation (reaction, hair, posture etc) during history taking and physical exam. Diagnosis base on symptoms related to the imbalance of Yin/Yang rather than diseases itself. Treatment: This is a holistic therapy by boosting your own healing power to heal yourself. Patients with the same disease may have different Yin/Yang imbalance, their treatment may be different even tough having same disease. On the other hands, different diseases may use the same method of treatment if they have similar Yin/Yang imbalance
Pros & Con	Advantages: Since it can directly and quickly remove the cause of the disease, if the cause of disease is clear, it will be effective. It is suitable for the acute and seriously ill rescue. Disadvantages: (1) Since it targets the pathogenic of the disease, it often derived from other systems (such as taking anti-inflammatory for arthritis disease, but it causes gastrointestinal, liver and kidney damage), especially patients require long-term medication for chronic disease, the dangers of side effects is more remarkable. (2) If the cause of the disease can’t be found, it helpless.	Advantages: Suitable for patients with chronic functional problems, especially for those that Western medicine can’t find the cause, but there are uncomfortable symptoms.By correcting organ dysfunction, TCM may prevent severe diseases before they are detectable by Western medicine. Compare to Western medicin, TCM, particulary acupuncture, has few and less severe side effects. Disadvantages: Because focus on stimulating healing power rather than target specific diseases, its effect is different individually, and sometimes take longer time to manifest. So for acute or severe diseases, conventional medicine is still recommended as first line treatment

Western Medicine

TCM

Theory

Use modern pathology, physiology, microbiology and pharmacology knowledge to study human disease. Its research process from macro to micro (start from system, now develop to DNA molecular). Although its history is not long, the theory updates very quickly.

Use the theory of Yin and Yang and Five elements to human body. When the entire system is in balance, optimal health occurs. Disease occurs when there are obstructions to the flow of Qi, deficient or excessive Qi, or when there is an imbalance of Yin and Yang.

Despite the long history, but the basic theory is almost unchanging. There is unfortunatly still not enough evidence-based medcine in TCM as there is in conventional medicine

Diagnosis & Treatment

Making Diagnosis:
In addition to history taking and physical examination, also by means of a large number of modern scientific instruments to check on the human body (such as blood tests, urine, stool, X-rays, isotopes or computer imaging, ultrasound and other organs function to check). Doctors make diagnosis until all evidences were collected. It is an Evident Based Medicine.

Treatment:
Treatment directly target to the pathogen or etiology. For example, with chemotherapy to kill cancer cells, antibiotics kill bacteria, immunosuppressants to control autoimmune diseases, or surgery to remove the lesion tissue.

Making Diagnosis:
TCM doctors make diagnosis by analyzing patient’s tongue, pulse, and whole body situation (reaction, hair, posture etc) during history taking and physical exam. Diagnosis base on symptoms related to the imbalance of Yin/Yang rather than diseases itself.

Treatment:
This is a holistic therapy by boosting your own healing power to heal yourself. Patients with the same disease may have different Yin/Yang imbalance, their treatment may be different even tough having same disease. On the other hands, different diseases may use the same method of treatment if they have similar Yin/Yang imbalance

Pros & Con

Advantages:
Since it can directly and quickly remove the cause of the disease, if the cause of disease is clear, it will be effective. It is suitable for the acute and seriously ill rescue.

Disadvantages:
(1) Since it targets the pathogenic of the disease, it often derived from other systems (such as taking anti-inflammatory for arthritis disease, but it causes gastrointestinal, liver and kidney damage), especially patients require long-term medication for chronic disease, the dangers of side effects is more remarkable.
(2) If the cause of the disease can’t be found, it helpless.

Advantages:

Suitable for patients with chronic functional problems, especially for those that Western medicine can’t find the cause, but there are uncomfortable symptoms.By correcting organ dysfunction, TCM may prevent severe diseases before they are detectable by Western medicine. Compare to Western medicin, TCM, particulary acupuncture, has few and less severe side effects.

Disadvantages:
Because focus on stimulating healing power rather than target specific diseases, its effect is different individually, and sometimes take longer time to manifest. So for acute or severe diseases, conventional medicine is still recommended as first line treatment

In spite of their radically different philosophical assumptions, it is wiser to look upon Chinese and Western medical systems as mutually beneficial rather than exclusive. Each approach has ideas and therapeutic methods that can be explained both scientifically and philosophically, each can benefit the individual and together they can broaden the philosophical and idelogical bases of medicine.

What are the key differences between T.C.M. and Western Medicine?