Bridging the Gap: Eastern and Western Medicine in Modern Times

Zero Longevity ^ | Mar 2024 | Naomi Parella, MD

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Eastern medicine is a system that has been used for thousands of years to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease. In general, Eastern medicine entails looking at the “whole picture” of a person’s spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical health to identify what’s causing problems and then providing treatment that removes the barriers to healing and recovery. There is a trust that by treating the cause, the body will heal itself. Eastern medicine encompasses specially trained practitioners who apply acupuncture, diet, herbal therapy, meditation, physical exercise, and massage to heal patients. Proponents of Eastern medicine cite prevention, personal ownership, and patient agency as key advantages of this system of medicine.

Western medicine is a system in which medical doctors and other healthcare professionals such as nurses, pharmacists, and therapists treat symptoms and diseases using drugs, radiation, or surgery. Western medicine also goes by the names conventional medicine, allopathic medicine, biomedicine, or orthodox medicine. No matter its name, Western medicine relies on scientific research, precision, and technological advancement, all of which are anchored by a patient’s diagnosis. It is particularly effective at treating acute problems that require an immediate response — a broken leg, bacterial infection, or collapsed lung can be effectively treated with quick Western-medicine interventions. And thanks to the advent of antibiotics and an improved understanding of infectious pathogens and sterile techniques, life expectancy has more than doubled since the 1800s.

Based on these definitions, it may appear that Eastern and Western medicine are polar opposites. However, there is striking overlap between the two.

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TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: easternmedicine; healing; health; herbalremedies; homeopathic; maha; pharmaceuticals; vaccines; westernmedicine