Benefits of combining Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine in treating illnesses

Comparing Traditional Chinese Medicine with Western Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) originated in China about 2,500 years ago. By comparison, modern western medicine has a shorter history - only 500 years.

TCM and western medicine are fundamentally different in their approach to the study and diagnosis of illnesses. Central to TCM diagnostics is the relationship between the body’s internal systems and the external natural environment.

TCM practitioners draw conclusions from their observations of this internal-external relationship, and study of human physiology, pathology, and analysis of clinical findings. Western medicine however, derives its theories from scientific studies and experiments, drawing knowledge about diseases from disciplines such as physics, chemistry and biology.

Differences in perspectives on illnesses and diseases

TCM and western medicine also differ in their understanding of illnesses and diseases. TCM adopts a macro, holistic view: people falling ill is a result of disharmony between our bodies and the natural environment or imbalances inside the human body.

When there are imbalances between the yin and yang (the body’s opposing energies), qi (the internal life force), and blocks in the blood circulation and internal organs, people fall sick. By restoring the body’s internal imbalances, it will naturally be healed of diseases, and return to normal health.

Western medical theory however, takes a more micro view on diseases. Western physicians believe that diseases are due to changes in the human cells, triggered mostly by physical, chemical and particularly, biological factors. By restoring the functions of cells to its normalcy, health will be restored.

Differences in treatments

In TCM, natural herbs are used for treatments, and medicine is usually a concoction of different types of herbs. Because the herbs do not only target at healing one symptom of an illness, but also, other imbalances in the body, they take a longer time to show their efficacy. In western medicine, illnesses are treated primarily with synthetically-manufactured pharmaceutical drugs. Individual symptoms are treated separately. As western medications are geared towards specific symptoms, the effects of medications are faster.

Needling or moxibustion are common in acupuncture treatment. Needles or moxa are used to stimulate the body’s acupoints so as to strengthen one’s immune system, and regulate any imbalances. Our bodies have natural curative powers and defence mechanism against diseases and illnesses.

Although TCM and western medicine represent two very different systems of medical theory, they both help us to look at human diseases and ailments from different perspectives. Besides, both theories share a common goal - to cure diseases and illnesses. As such, combining the two methods of treatment is possible, and patients can benefit greatly from it.

Combining TCM and Western Medicine in the Treatment of Illnesses

The combined application of TCM and western medicine has a history of over half a century in China. During this time, China conducted extensive clinical research and in-depth studies on TCM and western medicine, and made achievements in the treatment of the following illnesses.

a) Cancer

Studies found that patients who were given TCM herbs while undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments for cancer, experienced a significant drop in harmful side-effects. The success rate for both therapies was also noticeably higher compared to the group of patients who underwent both therapies without the intake of TCM herbs.

Cancer patients who have taken TCM herbs in conjunction with their treatments also seem to have a higher survival rate. Clinical research confirmed that some TCM herbs boosted the patients’ immunity, ensured that the bone marrow’s function was not compromised, and increased the patients’ receptivity towards radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy treatments.

b) Stroke

Research showed that during the first three months after patients had stroke, those who were given both western medications and TCM herbs regained their physical strength and dexterity significantly, as compared to those who were prescribed with only western medicine.

c) Diabetes

China and France conducted research on diabetic patients in five hospitals in China on the effectiveness of combining TCM and western medications in reducing the glucose level of these patients. Patients were divided into three groups - one group was given only TCM herbs; the other, only western medication, and the last group were given both TCM and western medications.
The group of patients who took TCM and western medications had the highest level of insulin secretion than the two groups given solely TCM or western medications.

d) SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)

In China, clinical research was conducted on the effectiveness of combining TCM and western medication on SARS patients. One group of patients was given both TCM and western medications, and the other group was given only western medications. Compared with the group of patients receiving only western medications, the group of patients given both TCM and western medications showed a better control of lung inflammation, and also, needed less steroids to treat the illness.

e) Nephritic Syndrome (kidney disease)

Patients receiving treatment of nephritic syndrome or kidney disease were divided into two groups. Both groups were given equal dosages of hormonal treatment. However, one of the two groups was given an extra dosage of TCM herbs to boost their kidney functions. Results showed that all indicators of nephritic syndrome - quantitative examination of urinary protein, albumin, TG, TC, etc - have significantly improved for patients who received both TCM and hormonal treatments.

f) Hyperplasia of mammary glands

Patients with hyperplasia of mammary glands were prescribed with both TCM and western medications. The lump and pain level were reduced significantly compared to patients who received only western medicine.

g) Erysipelas

When treating patients with erysipelas, a group was given both TCM and antibiotics while another group of patients was prescribed with only antibiotics. Results shown that antibiotics were taken off from the group of patients on TCM herbs faster than the other group of patients who were solely on antibiotics.

h) Infertility

It is harder to find a “cure” for women whose difficulty in conceiving is caused by a condition known as “Sterility with Positive Anti-sperm Antibody.” (This happens because positive sperm antibodies present in the semen, cervical mucus, blood and other body fluids neutralise the sperm’s ability to fertilise an egg). Even with the help of intrauterine insemination (IUI), the woman’s chances of conceiving remains low.

In China, patients were given traditional Chinese medicine together with IUI. Results showed that for those on TCM and IUI, their positive anti-sperm antibody turned negative by 76.47% (compared to 8.57% for another group of patients who were only on IUI). Their rate of conceiving was 41.18% (compared to 11.47% for patients on IUI treatment only).

(Translated from an article written in Chinese by Dr Gu Falong, Assistant Director of Hua Mei Acupuncture Clinic. Dr Gu is the clinic’s Senior Acupuncturist and Chinese Physician)