TKM vs zahodna medicina

Zahodna medicina (imenovana tudi sodobna medicina) in tradicionalna kitajska medicina (TKM) sta obravnavani kot dve različni veji medicine. Njihovi pristopi h genetiki in zdravljenju se v perspektivi zdijo precej različni. V Hongkongu je lokalno prebivalstvo hkrati uporabljalo zahodna in kitajska zdravila, kljub prevladi zahodne medicine kot posledica nekdanje britanske vladavine. Kot domačinka iz Hongkonga, ki je odraščala z uporabo obeh sistemov medicine in se je kasneje izobraževala tako v biomedicinski znanosti kot v tradicionalni kitajski medicini, je naša strokovnjakinja za TKM Rachel Cheng prava oseba, ki razloži podobnosti in razlike med TKM in sodobno medicino.

Potek študija za pridobitev kvalifikacije iz TKM vključuje tečaje, ki so skupni tako zahodni kot kitajski medicini. Predmeti vključujejo: človeško anatomijo, fiziologijo, biokemijo, histologijo, patologijo, mikrobiologijo, molekularno biologijo, farmakologijo, klinično diagnozo, interno medicino, kirurgijo, obvladovanje okužb, urgentno medicino. Vsakdo mora opraviti enoletno pripravništvo s polnim delovnim časom v dobro uveljavljeni učni bolnišnici in imeti vseživljenjsko neprekinjeno izobraževanje. To osnovno usposabljanje zagotavlja, da lahko usposobljeni zdravnik TKM razume sodobno medicino in dela kot sorodni zdravstveni delavec. V mnogih zahodnih državah, kot so Nova Zelandija, Kanada, ZDA, Portugalska itd., so zdravniki TKM neodvisna in priznana oblika zdravstvenih delavcev.

Po mnenju kitajskih učenjakov [1] je TKM sestavljen iz treh delov:

1. Obstaja del, ki je popolnoma skladen z zahodno medicino. Temeljni koncepti kitajske medicine so skladni z načeli zahodne medicine. Pogosto imajo različna imena in so različno opisani, vendar se osrednji pojem popolnoma ujema z zahodnjaškimi idejami. Na primer, tradicionalni pojem "sindroma pomanjkanja ledvic" je enakovreden zahodni ideji o degeneraciji. Diagnostični sistem v TKM je vključeval metode, ki se ujemajo z zahodnimi metodami: pregled jezika, zunanji videz za ugotavljanje zunanje prisotnosti bolezni/bolezni. Poslušanje zvokov in vohanje za vonjave za izdajne znake bolezni. Uporaba življenjske in družinske anamneze za diagnozo je osrednje načelo diagnoze v obeh sistemih.

2. Še en del, ki presega zahodno medicino. Zahodna medicina šele zdaj priznava pojme, ki vključujejo akupunkturo, masažo, uporabo zelišč in drugih hranil ter druge napredne pojme.

3. Obstaja del TKM, ki ga je treba dodatno ovrednotiti.

Razlika med vzhodom in zahodom

Razvoj medicine v zahodnih državah poteka po poti hipotetične dedukcije. Zahodni zdravnik opazuje empirična dejstva o pacientu in uporablja trenutno teorijo in razumevanje, da razloži stanje. Zahodne teorije ločujejo različne sisteme in organe telesa. Zahodna medicina se poglobi v kemijo in tkiva telesa in njegovih organov.

Vzhodnjaški pristop uporablja induktivno metodo, splošno znano kot "holistični pristop". Kitajski zdravnik gleda na telo in na celotno osebo kot na enotno, organsko celoto. TKM vidi duhovne, mentalne, čustvene in fiziološke/kemične elemente kot medsebojno povezane in soodvisne. TKM manj verjetno izolira simptome in organske sisteme pri zdravljenju.

Zahodni pristop jasno ločuje zdravje od bolezni, zahodni pristop pa teži k spreminjanju zunanjega okolja za nadzor bolezni. Pogosto lahko intenzivne možnosti zdravljenja zahodnih zdravnikov neposredno odstranijo vzrok bolezni, ko je vzrok jasen. Zahodna medicina je zdravilo z enim samim ciljem. Ti postopki so lahko takoj in dramatično učinkoviti. Vendar pa ima lahko uporaba zdravil, ki so usmerjena na eno težavo telesa, škodljive učinke na druge sisteme, zlasti če je bolezen kronična ali dolgotrajna. Zahodna medicina pogosto ostane nemočna, če ni mogoče najti enega samega vzroka za motnjo.

Vzhodni pristop obravnava zdravje kot uravnoteženo stanje v primerjavi z boleznijo kot neuravnoteženo stanje, vzhodni način pa je raje izboljšati notranje ravnovesje, da se prilagodi zunanjemu okolju. Kitajska medicina je lahko koristna za kronične motnje ali motnje, ki jih ni enostavno diagnosticirati. Cilj TKM je preprečiti hudo bolezen, preden se razvije. Kitajska medicina se osredotoča na spodbujanje naravnih zdravilnih moči in naravne obrambe telesa. Običajno ne ciljajo na določena bolezenska stanja.

Kitajska medicina je personalizirana in precizna medicina. Prvič, formulo zdravila je treba prilagoditi glede na odziv in potrebe pacienta, ki temeljijo na oceni bolnikovih simptomov, kot sta jezik in barva kože itd. Drugič, kitajska medicina dodaja ali odstrani določene sestavine ob nadaljnjem pregledu bolnikovega odziva na zdravljenje. Zdravniki kitajske medicine pogosto uporabljajo različne formule za isto bolezen glede na bolnikove simptome za boljšo prilagodljivost pri odzivu na potrebe vsakega posameznika.

Kateri pristop vam ustreza?

Da bi bolje razumeli vzhodnjaški pristop, se moramo spustiti do korenin TKM --- kitajske filozofije. Koncept majhnega vesolja, ki živi v velikem vesolju; koncept dvojnosti Jin in Jang; koncept anatomije; koncept fiziologije v kitajski medicini – stanje ravnotežja, izraženo s petimi elementi; koncept patofiziologije, izražen z zunanjimi in notranjimi žalitvami; koncept ohranjanja in spodbujanja zdravja, izražen s kroženjem Qi in Xue; terapevtski koncept kitajske medicine - normalizacija ali ponovna vzpostavitev ravnovesja delovanja telesa; koncept preventivne medicine.

Končno vprašanje, ko se odločate med obiskom klinike za TKM ali vašega splošnega zdravnika, je, kaj je bolj učinkovito? Čeprav imata oba svoje prednosti, morate razumeti tipičen načrt zdravljenja, preden ga izberete. Ni pravega ali napačnega pristopa, vendar je pomembno najti pristop, ki vam ustreza.

Viri:

Jingcheng Dong, "The Relationship between Traditional Chinese Medicine and Modern Medicine", Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2013, Article ID 153148, 10 pages, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/153148

Prevod: Klara Mišljenović

Vir fotografij: AKU ENERGIJA

---

TCM vs Western Medicine

Western Medicine (also referred as modern medicine) and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) have been viewed as two distinct and divergent medicines. Their approaches to physiology and healing appear quite different in perspective. In Hong Kong, both Western and Chinese medicines have been used by the local population concurrently, despite the dominance of Western medicine as result of the former British rule. As a native Hong Kong Chinese, growing up using both systems of medicine and later trained in both biomedical science and Traditional Chinese medicine, our TCM expert Rachel Cheng is the right person to explain the similarities and differences between TCM and modern medicine.

The course of study for a qualification in TCM includes coursework which is common to both western and Chinese medicine. Courses include: human anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, histology, pathology, microbiology, molecular biology, pharmacology, clinical diagnosis, internal medicine, surgery, infection control, emergency medicine. Everyone must undergo one year of full time internship in a well established teaching hospital and have lifelong continuous education. This basic training makes sure a qualified TCM practitioner can understand modern medicine and work as an allied health professional. Indeed, in many western countries like New Zealand, Canada, USA, Portugal, etc, TCM practitioners are an independent and recognized form of healthcare professionals.

According to Chinese scholars [1], TCM is composed of three parts:

1. There is a part that is entirely consistent with western medicine. Core concepts of Chinese medicine are consistent with the principles of Western medicine. They often have different names and are described differently, but the core notion perfectly matches western ideas. For example, the traditional notion of “kidney deficiency syndrome” is equivalent to the western idea of degeneration. The diagnostic system in TCM involved methods which match western methods: an examination of the tongue, external appearance to note the external presence of disease/illness. Listening to sounds and smelling for odours for telltale signs of disease. The use of life history and family history for diagnosis is a central tenet of diagnosis in both systems.

2. Another part that is beyond western medicine. Notions involving acupuncture, massage, the use of herbs and other nutrients and other advanced notions are just now being recognised by western medicine.

3. There is a part of TCM that has to be further evaluated.

Variation between the East and West

The development of medicine in Western nations follows the way of hypothetical deduction. The western doctor observes the empirical facts about the patient and uses current theory and understandings to explain the condition. Western theories separate the various systems and organs of the body. Western medicine dives deeply into the chemistry and tissues of the body and its organs.

The Eastern approach uses the inductive method commonly known as “holistic approach”. The Chinese doctor views the body and the whole person as a unified, organic whole. TCM sees spiritual, mental, emotional, and physiological/chemical elements as interrelated and interdependent. TCM is less likely to isolate symptoms and organ systems in the treatment.

The Western approach clearly divides the health from the disease and the Western approach tends to change the external environment for the control of disease. Often the intensive options of treatments of western doctors can directly remove the cause of a disease, when the cause is clear. Western medicine is a single target medicine. Those treatments can be immediately and dramatically effective. However, the use of medications that target one problem of the body may have detrimental effects on other systems, especially if the illness is chronic or long-standing. Western medicine is often left helpless if a singular cause of a disorder can not be found.

The Eastern approach considers health as a balanced state versus disease as an unbalanced state and the Eastern way is to prefer to improve the internal balance to adapt to the external environment. Chinese medicine may be beneficial for chronic disorders or disorders not easily specifically diagnosable. TCM aims to prevent severe disease before it develops. Chinese medicine focuses on stimulating natural healing powers and the body’s natural defences. They typically do not target specific disease conditions.

Chinese medicine is a personalized and precision medicine. First, the drug formula needs to be tailored according to the response and needs of the patient which are based on an evaluation of the patient’s symptoms, such as tongue and skin color etc. Secondly, Chinese medicine adds or removes certain ingredients upon further examination of a patient’s response to the treatment. Chinese Medicine practitioners often use different formulas for the same disease upon the patient’s symptoms for better flexibility in responding to each individual's needs.

Which approach works for you?

In order to understand the Eastern approach better, one must go down to the root of TCM--- Chinese philosophy. The concept of a small universe living in a large universe; the duality concept of Yin and Yang; the concept of anatomy; the concept of physiology in Chinese medicine—the state of equilibrium expressed by the five elements; the concept of pathophysiology expressed by the external and internal insults; the concept of maintaining and promoting health expressed by the circulation of Qi and Xue; the therapeutic concept in Chinese medicine—the normalization or reestablishment of balance of the body function; the concept of preventive medicine.

The ultimate question when it comes to deciding between visiting a TCM clinic or your General Practitioner is which is more effective? While both have their benefits, you should understand the typical treatment plan before choosing one. There is no right or wrong approach, but it is important to find an approach that you’re comfortable with.

Reference:

Jingcheng Dong, "The Relationship between Traditional Chinese Medicine and Modern Medicine", Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2013, Article ID 153148, 10 pages, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/153148