When we are sick, we all remember seeing a doctor and getting medicine. We call it Western medicine . But you may have heard of "Sinhala medicine", Ayurveda, "a prick will cure a disease", or homeopathy. These are actually what we call "Whole Medical Systems". Simply put, these are complete treatment systems that have developed independently in different cultures around the world, outside of, or in parallel with, Western medicine. So today, let's understand this in a little more detail, as if we were talking to a friend.
What are the main medical systems?
There are many different medical systems around the world. The most well-known among us are the Ayurvedic system of medicine in India and the traditional Chinese medicine system. Similar systems have also emerged in Western countries, for example, Homeopathy and Naturopathy. Each of these systems has its own unique principles and treatment methods. Let us look at each of these systems separately.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
This is a very ancient medical system. Written history dates back to 200 BC. According to Chinese medicine, our body is a delicate balance of two opposing, but inseparable forces. These are called "Yin" and "Yang."
- Yin: Represents the calm, slow, and still nature of the mind.
- Yang: Represents a warm, active, and excited nature.
The basic belief of Chinese medicine is that health is achieved by maintaining a balance between these two forces, yin and yang, in the body. If this balance is disrupted in any way, the flow of "Qi," or life energy, in our bodies is disrupted. This life energy flows along special energy pathways called "meridians." So, the goal of Chinese medicine is to remove the blockages in this energy flow and bring the body back into balance. To do this, they use various treatment methods .
| Treatment method | A simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Acupuncture and Moxibustion | Moxibustion is the application of heat to specific points on the body by burning a medicinal herb. |
| Chinese Materia Medica | Treatments using various herbs and natural substances. These are often used as mixtures (formulas) rather than individually. |
| Massage and Manipulation | Removing tension and energy blockages in muscles and joints through special massage techniques. |
Acupuncture from a scientific perspective
Acupuncture is now widely used around the world to relieve pain and treat certain medical conditions. Studies have shown that it has some clinical value, especially for conditions such as nausea and vomiting after surgery or cancer treatment, back pain, neck pain, knee pain, and headaches.
According to Western science, acupuncture works by stimulating the body's pain-relieving biochemicals (e.g. endorphins) and immune cell activity. It is also believed to alter the chemical composition of the brain and control the release of neurotransmitters related to pain perception.
Chinese herbs and research
Scientific research is now also being conducted on the herbs used in Chinese medicine.
- Artemisia annua: Chinese doctors recognized that this plant controlled fever. In the 1970s, scientists extracted a chemical called Artemisinin from it. Today, drugs used around the world to treat malaria are based on this chemical.
- Tripterygium wilfordii (Thunder God vine): This has been used to treat autoimmune diseases and rheumatoid arthritis. Although studies have shown some positive results, the extract of this plant has been found to be toxic to the kidneys, heart, and blood cells. Therefore, great care should be taken when using it.
Ayurvedic Medicine
The word "Ayurveda" means "science of life." It is a system of natural healing that originated in India. Ayurveda focuses equally on the body, mind, and spirit, and seeks to restore the individual's innate balance. Diet, exercise, meditation, herbs, massage, and proper breathing are the main treatments. Although Ayurvedic treatments have been developed in India for conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, there are varying opinions about the quality of the research.
Naturopathy
This system, which originated in Europe, views illness as an interruption in the body's natural healing process. Rather than treating the illness, it seeks to restore the body's healing power. There are several basic principles:
- Believing in the healing power of nature.
- Identifying the cause of the disease and treating it.
- The concept of "first, do no harm."
- The doctor guides the patient as a teacher.
- Treating the patient as a whole ( body and mind).
- Prioritizing disease prevention.
Dietary changes, nutritional supplements, herbal remedies, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, massage, and lifestyle counseling are used. For example, research has found that taking cranberry pills is a cost-effective and effective way to prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Homeopathy
This is also a complete system of medical theory. It was founded by the German physician Samuel Hahnemann. The basic principle here is the "principle of similars".
Simply put: if a substance causes a certain set of symptoms when given to a healthy person, then the disease can be cured by giving the same substance in a highly diluted form to a patient with the same symptoms.
Because homeopathic medicines contain very small amounts of active ingredients, or sometimes none at all, there is considerable doubt and debate in the scientific community about their efficacy. The results of research conducted on this subject are contradictory, and many studies are accused of being of low quality. As a result, homeopathic treatment has not been proven to be definitively effective for any condition.
Take-Home Message
- Holistic medical systems are treatment methods based on a different philosophy than Western medicine. Many of these believe that the body has a natural healing power.
- These therapies often involve the mind, body, and spirit, and treatments are tailored to each patient.
- Although the effectiveness of some individual therapies, such as acupuncture, has been scientifically proven for certain medical conditions, scientific evidence on their effectiveness as a complete system is still limited.
- Most importantly: Before you try any alternative or traditional medicine, it's important to talk to your doctor about it, especially if you have other medical conditions or are taking other medications.
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