The significance of Traditional Chinese medicine and Western Medicine Integration in the Depletion or Eradication of Diseases

Over thousands of years, sicknesses have been invading the human body. These sicknesses, viruses, and bacteria has suffused the human body by causing several forms of health complications, including; eyes diseases, diabetic retinopathy, internal organs disturbance which include Zang-Fu organs dysfunction as well as other severe health problems that may sometimes effectuate death.

Before the coming of modern technology, primordial humans found a unique way of treating themselves from sicknesses/diseases by using natural remedies which were convenient and effective in the promotion of a healthy lifestyle in that era. These primordial humans used natural remedies and other forms of traditional medical practices to treat themselves from sicknesses.

After a long time, as human knowledge began to advance and their ideas transfigured into actions, they found a better approach to handling the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and/or cure of several diseases. The natural application of medicine since its origin has led to the invention of diverse medicines in the present day that is effectively practice in different parts of the world.

Western medicine which is one of the oldest forms of medical practice, with regards to its scientific pieces of evidence and facts, tends to be one of the most dominant and outstanding forms of medical practice in almost all parts of the world. Whilst Traditional Chinese Medicine is an ancient form of medical practice that was formed about 2,000 years ago. It is based on principles and theories engrafted by ancient Chinese philosophers. It stands out to be one of the most effective forms of medical practices that is performed by billions of people around the world most especially in China and other Asian countries such as Japan and Korea.  Traditional Chinese Medical Practice include; acupuncture, herbal medication, herbal therapy, meditation, physical exercise, tuina, cupping, moxibustion and so on.

Traditional Chinese Medicine has cured over hundreds of diseases with its internal and external therapeutic effect and medical practices.  Traditional Chinese medicine mainly focuses on maintaining yin-yang balance to prevent sicknesses. The most fascinating aspect of traditional Chinese medicine is that it does not only treat the symptoms of a disease but rather it treats the root of the disease. i.e., the disease is being treated from the original site it began in the body using TCM diagnostic method. 

 Notwithstanding, the two forms of medical practice encompass a system in which medical and healthcare professionals manage and treat diseases using evidence-based practice such as drug, surgery, therapy, lifestyle changes or treatment protocols.

With the integration of traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine, diseases that have been termed as chronic, severe or incurable has been maximally controlling based on its risk factors and threats on human well-being.

The effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine integration has given numerous solutions and hope for the future in combating diseases. The application of these medical practices has set a pace for a peaceful and healthy livelihood for humans.

By embracing the integration of traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine, the developmental progress of eliminating diseases in all parts of the world will be accurately enhanced. .

By promoting traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine integration, people living in the most remote parts of the world that lacks efficient health care facilities, limited finance, would be a privilege to apply some simple physical therapy to treat their minor diseases before it can advance to a more severe stage. As though diseases progress from mild stage to severe stage if it is not treated during the initial stage or when the patient has been treated with the wrong drug(s). 

Furthermore, the integration of traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine has several other advantages that has given great improvement in the control and eradication of diseases.

The integration of traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine include the usage of two medical practices in different stages of a disease with an ultimate goal of curing or controlling the disease. The two forms of medicine plays a very important role in healthcare.

A 2018 review from the PubMed library written by Sumei Wang et al. Am J Chin Med that is  title ”Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines as Personalized Therapy in Human Cancers” displayed the significance of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine in the treatment of Cancers patients. It is mentioned that traditional Chinese medicine theory, individualized treatment for human cancers based on syndrome types benefits the cancer patients with personalized condition. Traditional Chinese Medicine compound functions on cancer patients by balancing Qi, Xue, Yin and Yang, eliminating phlegm and removing dampness. In view of western medicine, inhibiting cancers cell growth and metastasis as well as improving immune status is how herbal compounds act on cancer patients. 

Additionally, integrated traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine is highly effective in the treatment of diabetic complications as well as other eye diseases. For example, diabetic retinopathy, which is one of the rising cause of vision loss/ vision impairment in working age adults worldwide that may lead to blindness if left untreated, is in view of being control and minimized through the integrated treatment procedures of both traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine. The integrated treatment of traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine to treat diabetic retinopathy patients has made great improvement on visual acuity and micro-aneurysms. In traditional Chinese medicine, the usage of Huangqi (Astragalus membranaceus), Shihu (Dendrobium) nourishes yin. Dihuang (rehmannia) enrich yin and nourish the kidney. It also cools the blood and promote homeostasis. Ge Gen (the root of kudzu vine) promote the secretion of saliva or body fluid. Dan Shen (the root of red rooted saliva) promote blood circulation to remove meridians obstruction. Zhimu (rhizome anemarrhenae) clears heat fire and nourishes yin. It also moisten dryness. Dahuan (rheum officinale) cools the blood while Gen Cao (glycyrrhiza, or liquorice) blend all the other medicine listed above together for effective treatments of diabetic retinopathy. On the other hand, Western Medicine plays an important role in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy; calcium dobesilate, kallidinogenase and epalrestat expands the vein to carryout microcirculation.

Another form of traditional Chinese medicine is acupuncture. Acupuncture involves the insertion of tiny needles into the skin. These acupuncture needles inserted into acupoints on the body help stimulates the free flow of qi and other fundamental substances through the meridians. One may wonder what a meridian is; meridians are invisible channels that allows qi and other fundamental substances to be transported throughout the body. Over the years, acupuncture has been used to relief variety of pain and discomforts such as; low back pain, menstrual cramps, labor pain, Dental pain,  insomnia, gastric diseases, migraine,  dysmenorrhea, infertility, Osteoarthritis, respiratory disorders and so on. All of the following diseases can be treated by stimulating acupuncture needles into the skin. I know you may feel a bit frighten when you hear about tiny needles being inserted into the skin. To clear your doubt, these needles are inserted into acupoints on your body. As long as you are doing an acupuncture therapy with a trained acupuncturist, you need not to worry about complications, and other adverse reactions.  When the sterile needle is rightly place in the acupoint, you would feel just a little pain from the prick of the needle into the skin for less than a second.

 The practice of integrated traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine would be a great privilege to multitudes across the globe. It would also serve as a great help to health care professionals in treating diseases and would be of more benefit to patients. Most importantly, Patients would have choices of selection of medicine after doctor’s examination.

For example, patients that have consistently taken one kind of medicine for the treatment of a particular disease and apparently the immune system has gotten adjusted to that drug and the medication is no longer as effective as it should be for the treatment of the patient’s disease, the integrated approach/ application of traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine perhaps could treat such a disease based on medical examination.

 As I previously mentioned that traditional Chinese medicine, does not only cure the symptoms of a disease but also treat the root of the disease, the application of traditional Chinese medicine will enable the treatment of long-term diseases as well as early-stage diseases just as western medicine does. The indulgence of integrated traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine would serve as a big positive development in the health sector for the treatment, prevention and eradication of infectious diseases. Furthermore, by implementing this integrated treatment method of traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine, the population of sick people worldwide will have a great decrease in its rising number. In addition, it will increase the amount of drugs for treatment principles in hospitals and other health care sectors. Meanwhile, there will not be limited drugs as it is in some health entities. The integration of traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine is a very cardinal approach for the benefit of patients, Doctors, physicians and other health practitioners in the health sectors fighting against sicknesses and diseases.