Here, we’ll talk more details about the difference interms of “disease categorization” and “treatment approach” between TCM and Moden Medical Science.
One big hurdle for scientists to understand herbal medicine, particularly traditional Chinese Traditional Medicine (TCM), which has undergone extensive study and has a robust theoretical system that dates back more than 2000 years, is the different method of categorization and approach. To gain greater insight into the distinctions of the TCM system, we highly recommend that you begin by reading this research article:
Open complex giant system and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Shuyun Wang et al., Traditional Medicine and Modern Medicine. Vol. 1, No. 3 (2018) 193–197
We can see that TCM categorization is markedly different from that of Western medicine (modern medicine).
Quoting from the research article: “Understanding Chinese Medicine Patterns of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Related Biomarkers” by Susana Seca and Giovanna Franconi, Medicines 2018, 5(1), 17:
“(Traditional) Chinese Medicine (TCM) uses an individualized approach based on the unique combination of symptoms and signs of each patient.”
“TCM pattern diagnosis is an approach that takes into account a broad spectrum of symptoms and signs. Constitutional, behavioral and social aspects are also considered in both the diagnosis and in the selection of treatment.”
“In TCM clinical practice, patients with the same disease can be divided into different groups according to their syndromes.”
In TCM, arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis is mainly divided into two groups: cold and hot patterns. The cold pattern is characterized by an attack from an external pathogenic agent, resulting in symptoms such as a cold feeling in the limbs and joints, stiffness or pain in a joint or muscle that is relieved by applying warmth and increases with the patient’s exposure to cold, local reduction in microcirculation, a thin white tongue coating, a wiry and tight pulse, facial pallor, loose stools, clear and profuse urine, and absence of thirst. The heat or hot pattern, on the other hand, is characterized by hot, red, swollen, and inflamed joints; severe pain that is generally relieved by applying cold to the joints; a red tongue with a yellow coating; a rapid pulse; a flushed face; constipation; dark-colored urine; thirst; and irritability.
Here’s another great sample about the categorization difference using TCM:
A systematic review of TCM was conducted to examine the categorization of insomnia according to the TCM method of pattern differentiation. This review showed that TCM’s approach to categorizing insomnia was highly effective in treating individuals. The study, entitled: Classification of Insomnia Using the Traditional Chinese Medicine System: A Systematic Review. was published in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine and authored by Maggie Man-Ki Poon etc. (Volume 2012, Article ID 735078, 9 pages). It highlighted the importance of TCM’s approach to categorizing insomnia according to pattern differentiation and its effectiveness as a treatment.
TCM uses a sophisticated diagnostic system called pattern differentiation, which allows for the tailor-made treatment of individuals.
Here’s another research paper studying elbow pain that has shown the difference in categorization between traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and current modern medical science, and that TCM works very well: Marcus Gadau, et al. Pattern Differentiation of Lateral Elbow Pain in Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Systematic Review. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Vol. 22, No. 11.
There is another research paper that compared the categorization of Rheumatoid Arthritis according to TCM and Modern Medical Science (or Western Medicine). The paper showed that both methodologies could be effective, as evidenced by a principal factor analysis of symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and their correlations with efficacy of TCM and Western medicine. The paper, titled: Principal factor analysis of symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and their correlations with efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine. by Yi-ting He etc. was published in the Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine. 2008, Vol. 6. Issue (1): 32-36
Scientists are also investigating the categorization of cancer according to TCM standards, as well as at the molecular level, and recognize the feasibility of TCM categorization in practice and the potential to guide effective treatment. A study on this topic was published in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, titled: Clinical Distribution and Molecular Basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine ZHENG in Cancer. by Zhen Chen. (Volume 2012, Article ID 783923, 8 pages).
So, we can see that TCM and modern medical science are two completely different systems with different methods for studying the human body, and both have demonstrated their effectiveness. However, TCM is more oriented toward an experience-based (practice-based) or evidence-based approach, having been developed over the course of 3,000-5,000 years of practice, and is gradually gaining acceptance in current scientific research.
Let’s take a closer look at arthritis. According to Arthritis.org, there are “more than 100 types of arthritis and related conditions”. This is actually quite remarkable, considering how many more diseases there are now compared to 100 years ago. But why is this? It’s because there is no standardized categorization method. As soon as scientists or doctors discover something different from what has been recorded, they come up with a new name. Although they may have a good understanding of the symptoms, they often don’t know the cause. This is because each person’s body is slightly different, and even with the same cause (e.g., the same virus infection), different people may have different symptoms. This is why there are so many different disease names. Even for COVID-19, if scientists didn’t use virus strains, it could be divided into many different disease names based on different biomarkers.
In TCM, it is a somewhat ambiguous system, but it relies on a unique set of categorizations, along with an understanding of the cause of disease and the approach to treatment. This is why many people don’t understand why TCM can use the same herbal formula to treat “different diseases” (which may have similar symptoms) and use different herbal formulas to treat “the
same disease” (which may have totally different symptoms).
Let’s dig a little deeper here to see the difference.
For example, COVID-19 is a pandemic disease that has been affecting us for the past three years. It is caused by the same virus (maybe different strains). However, even with the same virus, why do some people have mild symptoms, some have more serious symptoms, and some have life-threatening situations? The answer lies in the fact that people’s bodies are different. In TCM, these three kinds of people would use different herbal formulas for treatment. This is scientific and logical.
Even for the same people infected with same virus, at the beginning, (s)he may have little symptoms, such as a sore throat, fever, and headache. As time progresses, the condition may get worse, leading to lung damage, difficulty breathing, and possibly damage to other organs. If left untreated, (s)he may need to be admitted to an ICU, and ultimately could succumb to the virus.
In TCM system, different stages of a disease are categorized as
distinct illnesses, and each is treated with a different herbal formula, with the dosage increasing in severity. This scientific and logical approach is in stark contrast to the Western approach of using the same virus-killing drugs for all illnesses regardless of their varying characteristics and interactions with different bodies.
How can SCIENCE get blinded and ignore the different bodies’ interactions and use the same Virus-Killing drugs for all those different situations (different diseases/symptoms/stages)?
Current medical science still has very little knowledge about how different organs/tissues interact each other in the disease development. When treating a disease, experienced doctor should be able to PREDICT how the disease will progress and need to know how to “block” the disease in its way. It’s very dynamic and TCM had all those been consideration included when treating a patient. It is amazing to have such strategic and logic thinking many thousands of years ago.
Current medical science still has very limited knowledge of how different organs/tissues interact to contribute to the development of a disease. When treating a disease, experienced doctors must be able to PREDICT how the disease will progress and know how to “interrupt” its progression. It is remarkable to observe the strategic and logical thinking employed by
TCM many thousands of years ago.
You may still be wondering what TCM herbs are, why they are so powerful, and why they have yet to be recognized and adopted by our society. You likely have many questions about them. While the scientific mechanisms behind them may not be fully understood, TCM formulas can still be highly effective.
There’s another article that talks about why the herbs work more effectively to cure the disease. Check out this link: A huge difference about the targeting points between TCM and Modern Medicine/Drug development
Another key difference between TCM and modern medical science in terms of approach is that TCM does not employ herbs to actively destroy viruses.
Instead, TCM seeks to create a microenvironment in which the virus can no longer survive, allowing it to be naturally expelled from the body. This approach is based on a harmonious philosophy that is deeply rooted in the universe.
Thinking about a small pond, there are mosquitoes causing problems. The modern medical science’s approach is to use chemicals to kill the mosquitoes. However, as long as the area remains wet and there is water, it is difficult to get rid of this problem and one may need to continue to treat the water. TCM offers a different approach, which is to dry up the small pond, thereby eliminating the problem forever, since the mosquitoes will leave when the microenvironment is no longer “habitable” for them.
We can go on and on about the difference between science and nature. TCM believes that human beings are deeply connected with the universe in some way and that the nature has a lot of treasures to offer us. Herbs may not sound very scientific, but sometimes they work like magic.
If you are still uncertain, consider the risk vs the reward. We guarantee that you will be completely satisfied with our products within two weeks of consumption. If it does not work as intended to improve your overall wellbeing, you will receive a 100% refund, after you return the consumed product. There is no risk involved!
If you don’t trust in your body’s self-healing abilities, you may be tempted to rely on drugs developed by big pharmaceutical companies. However, we all know that no real recovery or cure will be achieved. With our magical herbal tea, many people have experienced remarkable results. According to our research, we believe that after just one month of drinking this tea, you will begin to see significant improvements in your body. You will be able to feel the difference for yourself – your body won’t lie!
You are encouraged to do your own research on the causes of arthritis joint pain and read carefully about all the scientific findings and available treatments. You may check the reputable research institute Mayo Clinic to find information on Arthritis here: Arthritis – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic. When scientists refer to a “cause”, they are often describing a detailed observed fact and consequence (“symptoms”), rather than the root cause.
In terms of treatment, many medications approved by the FDA have many side effects that can be damaging to the body, particularly the liver and kidneys. Read the fine print carefully. In general speaking, these drugs can only prevent the condition from getting worse, but the side effects may not worth the risk. The cost for herbal tea is about $7-10 per day—just the cost of a few cups of coffee. However, this is a much better investment for the overall health and wellbeing. Just think how much we spent to fix a car. Would our body be more precious and expensive than a car?
Many diseases are the result of accumulated bad eating habit or bad lifestyle. If keep taking medications for many years, probably the body will become imbalanced (in TCM terms), i.e. get ill (in Modern Medical Science term), due to the accumulated side-effects and toxicity. In the long run, the toxicity will accumulate and cause big trouble one day.