Oriental medicine vs. Western medicine(Healthカテゴリのとりこぼしネタ)

Those two kinds of medicine compensate for the lack each other. I’d like to focus Oriental medicine with two points here.

First, to cure physical pain. In some cases, Oriental medicine excels Western medicine. Let’s take acupuncture for example. I suffered from pain/swelling on my elbow – so-called tennis elbow. I went to the western style doctor. He diagnosed my pain and told me to rest my elbow until the pain and swelling are gone. Come on! Tennis tournament is around the corner. I wanted him to alleviate my pain. But visiting the doctor was in vain. In stead, I took acupuncture treatment. I had subtle pain on my elbow. But it was not serious pain. The pain was not a big deal to take part in the tournament. I felt that Oriental medicine including acupuncture has an advantage against physical pain.

Second, the roots of medicine are Oriental medicine. It is said that 80% of Western medicine are extracted from natural plant. I have no idea about the definition or demarcation between Oriental medicine and Western medicine. Some say that each material in western medicine is explained and oriental one doesn't focus on the cause but effect. But if medicine based upon natural plant is Oriental medicine, we take Oriental medicine for the most of the cases. Let’s take my mother’s case for example. She is prescribed 10 kinds of pills a day. 4 out of 10 are so called Chinese herbal medicine. It’s good evidence that the effect of Oriental medicine has been accepted in the western style medical system.

In conclusion, as long as pain is eased, it doesn’t matter whether Oriental medicine or Western medicine.