Western vs Eastern Medicine

[ranger]

*looks at the text*

You got the color order all wrong! You're like that one killer from the Anytime, Anywhere case!

....Bastard.

Then we have the mysterious antidotes and cures from the Eastern side; vials containg herbs and roots, ginseng and ginger, and acupuncture methods have all proven to be very effective, if not sometimes better than current Western treatment.  But why is this so?

This statement makes my science cry.

Like I said, I'm obviously not going to med school or majoring in any of the physical sciences, toss me a bone 


Like Kirite and CCCP, I do also have some Chinese heritage in me blood.

That are meant to be curing things that can't be cured otherwise, specifically

But what about things that can be cured from Western medicine?  People have experienced getting better from colds or whatnot compared to the likes of Nyquil.

But, get in touch with your acupuncture practitioner and have him file an application right away. If he also happens to be a palmreader on the weekends, he can double up and have both tested together. Lips sealed  This challenge has been going on for decades and they've invited acupuncturists to partake dozens of times and yet, no one has ever got past the preliminary stage with it.

I don't think the ways of the acupuncturist are considered acts of supernatural-ness.  They just may have a different style/medical viewpoint rather than the normal physical therapy or "going under the knife" aspect that Western sports medicine practitioners use.  And it's not just the needles, the way they massage/handle the muscles seems to be very effective...maybe it's some sort of old ancient Chinese kung fu remedy for fighters or something...  8)


Anyways, but let me ask you Jd- . Have you tried any type of eastern medication?  Like I said, I used to be in the same boat as you, I mean, we've studied biology, chemistry, Kinesiology...but I mean, I experienced it.  Placebo effects may occur for colds and viral diseases, but I had a year long injury, I'm not going to pretend I get better, my joints/muscles are still going to be in pain whenever I slide it out of place!

[Abs.]

Jd- will probably tell you that the Western medicine men you went to see were quacks.

Bad doctors are everywhere!

[Dus]

This statement makes my science cry.

Then your science is a crybaby.
Medicine is about one thing and one thing only: Helping people to get better.
One shouldn't underestimate the psychological element. Placebos have often helped people to get better, simply because they believed they will. Chinese medicine may not be very effective, but it can hardly be worse than a placebo. Unlike with practices like bloodletting that have fallen out of use for a reason - they're actually harmful.
In some cases, Western medicine can be more harmful than TCM, because there are adverse effects to it and operations aren't without risks either. So if you can help the patient to get better by themselves, I'm all for it. Whatever rocks you boat.
In fact, accupuncture has proven to be somewhat effective for treatment of malaises like knee cartilage, dorsal pain, or migraine. Even if it doesn't matter where you stick in the needles, sticking them in makes a difference.
It isn't quackery either, the doctors who use TCM don't do it to cheat their patients out of their money, but because they believe in it themselves.
That being said, relying solely on alternative medicine can be a deadly mistake. A few years ago there was where parents relied on Germanic New Medicine (Practising GNM is actually illegual, because it's quackery) to cure their daughters. In the end, they lost custody of their daughter and she was treated in hospital. She's still alive and well.
Homeopathic physicians aren't to be trusted either. They often tell their patients homeopathy can cure quite serious diseases, which is dangerous, to say the least.
In other words, feel free to believe in TCM/homeopathy or whatever, if it makes you feel and get better. But do not, i repeat, DO NOT rely solely on it if you're seriously ill.

[baka1412]

Back here in Indonesia, we got this traditional medicine called "jamu" (made from various mix of medicinal plants, roots, tree barks, or animal organs).. Just name what your diseases are, and we got the "jamu" for them

Too bad they lack of scientific researches, though very effective nonetheless, making the modern medication such as hospital here almost never made any prescription based on them...

[Jd-]

But what about things that can be cured from Western medicine?  People have experienced getting better from colds or whatnot compared to the likes of Nyquil.

This is why I said I only particularly take personal offense to frauds that are thoroughly just that--frauds. People can do what they want, but believing that their terminal illnesses can be healed by religious, spiritual, or traditional healers is what gets to me most. I still do not believe in the rest of it and will let it slide for the most part, but not when it's a dire situation. Not when people's actual lives are on the line.

I don't think the ways of the acupuncturist are considered acts of supernatural-ness.  They just may have a different style/medical viewpoint rather than the normal physical therapy or "going under the knife" aspect that Western sports medicine practitioners use.  And it's not just the needles, the way they massage/handle the muscles seems to be very effective...maybe it's some sort of old ancient Chinese kung fu remedy for fighters or something...  8)

What many people do not realize is the origins of these "medical" practices. Traditional Chinese medicine is based on chi and exercises in the spiritual--sorry, but that is the least scientific field of all.

One site put it this way: TCM is based on the premise that there is a vital force that runs through all living beings and this vital force or energy is referred to as “qiâ€

[Commi-Ninja]

Willpower!

Regardless of whatever methods you use to be cured of whatever ailment you're suffering from, if you don't have the will to get better, you won't.

That's pretty much my entire belief about medicine.

[dilbertschalter]

Willpower!

Regardless of whatever methods you use to be cured of whatever ailment you're suffering from, if you don't have the will to get better, you won't.

That's pretty much my entire belief about medicine.

That is a pretty gross generalization. There are sometimes where that is the case, but there are also times when a positive attitude will do you no good (or, if you are depressed, you can't simply "have the will to get better").

[Commi-Ninja]

Willpower!

Regardless of whatever methods you use to be cured of whatever ailment you're suffering from, if you don't have the will to get better, you won't.

That's pretty much my entire belief about medicine.

That is a pretty gross generalization. There are sometimes where that is the case, but there are also times when a positive attitude will do you no good (or, if you are depressed, you can't simply "have the will to get better").

I suppose.  But it is just a personal opinion.

[bluekaitou1412]

Eh? Eastern, Western? Where do I side?

I'm pretty much used to Western medication, hospitals, doctors, chemical formulas whatsoever-- but I do try Eastern.
Whenever I have some problems, I first rely on, of course, science, but if it does not work for me, then someone would recommend an eastern type of medication. Works, but sometimes, fails. Then I go back to western. Then eastern. Then western. Then eastern. Then western. Then eastern. And then finally, I give up on any medicine, and my problems seems to all fade away naturally. Never had a serious ailment.

[Commi-Ninja]

That is a pretty gross generalization. There are sometimes where that is the case, but there are also times when a positive attitude will do you no good (or, if you are depressed, you can't simply "have the will to get better").

Concerning the depression, I hold to the same idea.  If you don't have the will to stop being depressed, you won't.  Sometimes it takes a (metaphorical) slap in the face to pull yourself out of it, but I still hold that willpower is the key.  I'm not saying you can't use other medicinal methods, eastern or western, but without the will to be cured, you won't be.