Traditional Medicine - The Other Side of the Coin
By George Tao

     Considering that it serves the health needs of a quarter of mankind, Chinese medicine may be said to have world-class appeal. Questions are expected to arise, however, as to its viability in a highly industrialized western society today.

     Our position is that it is never more timely to provide a forum such as this in order to examine one of mankind's most remarkable heritages, one that has evolved from over 3,000 years of usage. The following are but a few of the salient features of Traditional Medicine as we see it:

     Holistic medicine: Unlike modern medicine which subdivides into a wide range of specialties, its Chinese counterpart treats the patient as one inseparable individual requiring an interdisciplinary approach in the treatment.

     Living medicine: In the traditional frame of reference, the concept of life force (qi) takes precedence over anatomical makeup. Pathologically, if the life force is impaired, then disease will set in. Only when the life force is restored, will one's health return.

   Getting to the root of the problem. It is most important for the practitioner to ascertain the cause of the problem and not treat the symptoms. This means that by dealing with the cause of an ailment, symptoms will disappear; not the other way around.

     The approach is prevention oriented. As indicated, the Traditional doctor seeks to promote the body's auto-immune system. This is accomplished by removing roadblocks to the flow of life force thus allowing the body to mend itself.

     It is non-addictive. It is common knowledge that drug dependence may have far-reaching side effects which tend to be self-defeating. On the other hand, methods which seek to advance the body's self-healing faculties are not addictive.

     Traditional Medicine is cost-effective. As modern medicine becomes more advanced, technology comes to its aid and with it skyrocketing costs. Equipment is costly at the outset and faces early obsolescence. In comparison, Traditional Chinese medical equipment is relatively simple and inexpensive.

   It is futuristic. Paradoxically, traditional Chinese medicine is forward-looking. This is because it embodies the dynamics of change from the point of view of the life force. By becoming acquainted with such dynamics, it is possible to anticipate and hence to plan one's next move in much the same way opponents in a chess game must be able to cope with both present and future moves.

     Let us go on record as stating that in promoting a joint medical effort between East and West we are not motivated by good will alone ?which we are, of course ?but more importantly, we work for the survival of homo sapiens. Mankind is facing an unprecedented challenge on two fronts: one from without as a result of technological advances and the attendant toxic waste buildup, and one from the appearance of newer and more formidable diseases as older ones disappear.

     Finally, Traditional Medicine, too, can stand improvement. It certainly can learn more from the West in the areas of scientific inquiry, organizational skill, manufacturing, packaging, data processing, etc. If, on top of this, it is given a capable assist from the Western doctor with his penchant for open inquiry and dedication, then who cannot say that the world at large will stand to benefit.

Reprinted with permission from Gateways,
a publication of the American Foundation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, San Francisco.