| Western Medicine |
Chinese Medicine |
The body is an autonomous system within nature.
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The body is a microcosm of nature. |
Sees the body as a machine that can be taken apart.
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Sees the body as a landscape that embodies the energies of nature. |
Health is seen as an absence of disease within normal functioning.
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Health is seen as well-being. |
| Medicine is viewed as a war. The doctor is the general and the disease is the enemy. |
Medicine is viewed as the cultivation of health, wholeness, and harmony with the doctor and patient working in partnership.
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Searches for a particular cause of disease such as a bacteria, virus, or genetic defect. Curing a disease involves drugs to eliminate these microbes or "fix" the genes. If no bactreria , virus, or genetic malfromation is found, the Western doctors cannot find the cure. Drugs and surgery are then used to suppress the symptoms.
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Searches for an imbalance in the emotional, social, environmental, and physical realms. Disease or symptoms are just the body's attempts to restore an equilibrium. Chinese treatments such as acupuncture, herbs, and exercises assist the body in restoring balance.
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Treats individual symptoms and conditions. If more than one symptom or condition exists no connection is usually made between them. Different prescriptions or treatments are given for each condition or symptom.
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Treats the whole body. Makes a pattern out of each symptom, condition, and observation. Treating the overall pattern as a whole indirectly treats the individual symptoms and conditions. |
Concentrates on treating the area where symptoms occur.
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Concentrates on the whole person in relation to the environment. |
Tendency to view mind and body as two seperate entities.
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Views the spirit, mind, emotions, and body as one. |
| Superior in the treatment of acute, traumatic, or life-threatening conditions |
Superior in the treatment of chronic disease conditions. |
