Western Medicine Medicine is the science and practice of establishing the diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. Medicine encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness. Contemporary medicine app…Medicine
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What is western psychotherapy?
The Development of Western Psychotherapy Western psychotherapy’s ancestry and deep historical roots come from European and US history. Given its origins, it is culturally laden with Western values and could be considered a treatment that has been developed and tailored for those from European and White American ancestry.
What is Western medicine?
Western Medicine excels in the areas of testing and diagnostics. Most individuals in this country who are living with a chronic health condition received their diagnosis from a doctor practicing western medicine. The goal of western medical doctors in treating people with long-term disease or condition is to:
What is the goal of Western medical doctors in treating people?
The goal of western medical doctors in treating people with long-term disease or condition is to: 1 Diagnose the disease 2 Stop disease progression 3 Relieve the symptoms associated with the disease, 4 Prevent the spread of the disease 5 Cure the disease (if a cure is available) 6 Improve quality of life
How does Western medicine view the human body?
It would fair to say that Western medicine views the human body as a machine; every time you're sick, it's simply because one of the body's gears is clogged. In this image, organs are compared to factory system and are only seen as only serving physical purpose.
What are the two types of physical therapy?
6 Common Types of Physical Therapy You Should KnowNeurological Physical Therapy. ... Occupational Physical Therapy. ... Geriatric Physical Therapy. ... Pediatric Physical Therapy. ... Rehabilitative Physical Therapy. ... Hand Physical Therapy. ... These Types of Physical Therapy Works Wonders.
What are the five types of physical therapy?
The field of physical therapy has sub-specialties in five distinct practice areas:Orthopedic. Orthopedic physical therapy focuses on restoring function to the musculoskeletal system, including joints, tendons, ligaments and bones. ... Geriatric. ... Neurological. ... Cardiopulmonary. ... Pediatric.
What kind of treatment is physical therapy?
Physical therapy (PT) is care that aims to ease pain and help you function, move, and live better. You may need it to: Relieve pain. Improve movement or ability.
What is physical therapy used for?
Physical therapy is a non-invasive discipline that helps individuals develop, maintain and restore maximum body movement and physical function. Physical therapy can help clients recover from an injury, relieve pain, prevent future injury or deal with a chronic condition. It can be applied at any age or stage of life.
What is the most common physical therapy?
Orthopedics. The most popular physical therapy specialty is orthopedic physical therapy, which involves treating conditions of the bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints.
What are the three types of physical therapy?
What Are the Different Types of Physical Therapy?Orthopedic Physical Therapy. ... Pediatric Physical Therapy. ... Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. ... Physical Therapy for Age-Related Conditions. ... Physical Therapy for Neurological Conditions. ... Orthopedic Physicians in Maryland.
Does physical therapy actually work?
Physical therapists teach patients how to prevent or manage their conditions to achieve long-term benefits. But physical therapy is more than just a powerful solution to pain management—it can actually be incredibly cost-effective.
What is the difference between physiotherapy and physical therapy?
What are the differences, and what is it that differentiates physiotherapy from physical therapy? The answer, you may be shocked to learn, is that physical therapy and physiotherapy are exactly the same! There is, in fact, no difference between the two terms and each term can be used interchangeably. They are synonyms.
What are four benefits of physical therapy?
The Benefits of Physical TherapyReduce or Eliminate Pain. ... Be an alternative to surgery. ... Improve mobility. ... Help patients recover from a stroke. ... Aid in recovery from sports related injuries. ... Improve balance and prevent falls. ... Aid in managing diabetes and vascular conditions.
Is physical therapy painful?
Will It Hurt? Physical therapy shouldn't hurt, and it will be safe. But because you'll use parts of your body that are injured or have chronic pain, physical therapy can be challenging, even hard. For example, you may feel sore after stretching or deep tissue massage.
What is physical therapy in simple terms?
Physical therapy is an exercise treatment for patients who have been immobilized or impaired in their movement and flexibility. Patients are rehabilitated to use their own muscles to increase flexibility and range of motion as well as to advance to higher levels of muscular strength and endurance.
How long should I do physical therapy?
In general, you should attend physical therapy until you reach your PT goals or until your therapist—and you—decide that your condition is severe enough that your goals need to be re-evaluated. Typically, it takes about 6 to 8 weeks for soft tissue to heal, so your course of PT may last about that long.
What is the goal of western medical doctors in treating people with long-term disease or condition?
The goal of western medical doctors in treating people with long-term disease or condition is to: Diagnose the disease. Stop disease progression. Relieve the symptoms associated with the disease, Prevent the spread of the disease. Cure the disease (if a cure is available)
What are the advances in western medicine?
Western Medicine. Advancements in western medicine have contributed greatly to the quality of life and longevity of millions throughout the 20th and 21st century. Today, western medicine treatments and approaches can improve health outcomes and life spans in ways never imagined even a decade or two ago. Targeted cancer therapies, stem cell ...
What is evidence based medicine?
Western physicians make decisions about which treatment will be most helpful to their patients based on controlled, scientific studies. This approach is known as evidence-based medicine. Evidence-based treatment plans may include prescription medication, surgery, infusions, and other conventional procedures and therapies. Understanding the connection between lifestyle and physical health, western medicine practitioners are also more commonly encouraging lifestyle modifications – especially diet and exercise – for many Americans burdened by chronic health condition (s).
What is clinical trial?
Participating in a clinical trial is a decision that should be taken seriously and discussed with your doctor and other trusted members of your health care and support teams. Click here for a list of questions to ask if you are considering participation in a clinical trial or research study.
Why are clinical trials important?
Clinical trials add to the medical knowledge related to disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Clinical trials offer patients an opportunity to be treated with emerging, innovative therapies. In some cases, patients benefit greatly from their inclusion of clinical trials.
What is Eastern approach to medicine?
The Eastern approach is to engage the mind/body’s self-healing mechanisms. This is largely done by balancing the body’s energy fields and ridding it of energetic blockages.
How does Eastern medicine help the body?
This is largely done by balancing the body’s energy fields and ridding it of energetic blockages. If the mind/body is missing a substance, the Eastern approach is to stimulate the body to heal and be able to make it. The limitation comes with trauma and severe illnesses that undermine the mind/body capacity to heal.
What does stress mean in medicine?
Rather these “stress” conditions mean the body is not working efficiently and effectively. Medications have a place, but they usually don’t cure. They are meant to reduce symptoms. Eastern traditions treat the physical body and its surrounding energy fields, called the subtle bodies.
What does "split" mean in Western medicine?
Western Medicine sees the mind and body as “split,” meaning two separate entities. Eastern traditions see the mind and body as coming from the same energy (source). This is more than a philosophical issue. In the West, this disconnect between the mind and body has directed the clinical evolution of Western Medicine and also effected how patients ...
Which ancient countries have evolved different understandings of health and sickness?
Non-Western ancient countries, such as China or Japan for example, have evolved very different understandings of health and sickness. For me, it’s only by looking at other cultures that can we see our own more clearly. And like other cultures, ours comes with assumptions which may or may not hold up under our scrutiny.
Does Western medicine treat energy?
Western Medicine treats the physical body. It does not acknowledge energy fields as clinically significant for diagnosis or treatment. Just diagnosing and treating the physical body can be effective, especially when dealing with traumas, infections, and cancers.
What is physical therapy for MGD?
Physical therapy is also called external therapy in TCM. The external treatment for MGD mainly includes acupuncture, eye fumigation and moxibustion MB. Different TCM syndrome differentiation in MGD use different external treatments according to its characteristics ( Table 2 ).
What is the best treatment for MGD?
Eyelid hygiene plays an important role in decreasing the load of lipolytic bacteria and the amount of potentially toxic lipids on the ocular surface in products to induce tear film spoilage (e.g., free fatty acids), has become the first choice for the management of MGD and is still highly recommended [34]. Tear-free baby shampoos such as Johnson’s® No More Tears, combined with warm compresses, have become the customary treatment for MGD. A variety of lid scrubs are also commercially available and are effective for managing DED. However, an optimal cleaning solution is required as the above solutions contain amidoamine, 3- (dimethylamino) propylamine (MAPA), which is highly related to contact and eyelid dermatitis [35].
How to treat MGD?
Eyelid warming and massage remain the mainstay and most effective treatments for MGD nowadays. The application of warmth and massage to the eyelid margin can melt meibum plugging the terminal ducts and gland orifices and facilitate the delivery of meibum from the gland to the tear film [37]. Several commercial devices, such as the thermodynamic treatment device, MGDRx EyeBag and wet chamber warming goggles have been developed to retain heat more effectively 38,39. Repeated eyelid warming with a non-wet device can improve TBUT in normal individuals and also has beneficial effects on signs and symptoms of MGD 20,21.
What is Western medicine?
Western or traditional medicine typically encompasses a system in which medical and healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurses, therapists and pharmacists manage and treat disease using conventional evidence-based practices such as drugs, surgery, lifestyle changes or treatment protocols. Over the past 60 years, Western medicine has made ...
How has Western medicine improved?
Over the past 60 years, Western medicine has made significant gains in healthcare including a 60% reduction in the death rate from heart disease, a 75% reduction in the death rate from HIV/AIDS and a 16% reduction in the death rate from cancers. Whilst Western medicine is rooted in the fight against infectious disease;
What are alternative approaches to health?
The terms ‘alternative’, ‘holistic’ and ‘complementary’ are commonly used interchangeably as a way of referring to any health intervention that lies outside of conventional medical approaches. Such therapies and approaches can be categorized into five domains: 1 Manipulative and body-based treatments which focus on the relationship between the structures and systems of the body and manipulations to induce health and wellbeing. Treatments include reflexology, chiropractic and massage therapies. 2 Alternative medical systems, which are systems of health theory and practice which have developed separately from conventional medicine. They include naturopathy, Chinese medicine and homeopathy. 3 Biologically based practices that use naturally occurring materials to affect health and include diet and botanical therapies. 4 Mind-body interventions based on the theory that physical health is influenced by emotional and mental factors. Examples include hypnosis, meditation and mindfulness. 5 Energy therapies which stem from the core belief that fields of energy called biofields exist in and around the body, and as such can be manipulated by energy practitioners or by using external energy sources such as electromagnetic fields. Examples of therapies include acupuncture, Reiki and magnet therapy.
What is complementary medicine?
Complementary medicine is treatments that are given in conjunction with conventional or mainstream medicines in the treatment of ill health. Examples include chiropractic treatments, dietary interventions and acupuncture.
What are some examples of holistic medicine?
Examples of therapies include acupuncture, Reiki and magnet therapy. In actuality, the three terms describe a different approach. Holistic medicine refers to a philosophy that believes treatments should encompass all three elements of the human: an integration of the mind, body and spirit.
What is a body based treatment?
Manipulative and body-based treatments which focus on the relationship between the structures and systems of the body and manipulations to induce health and wellbeing. Treatments include reflexology, chiropractic and massage therapies. Alternative medical systems, which are systems of health theory and practice which have developed separately ...
What is alternative holistic approach?
The terms ‘alternative’, ‘holistic’ and ‘complementary’ are commonly used interchangeably as a way of referring to any health intervention that lies outside of conventional medical approaches. Such therapies and approaches can be categorized into five domains:
What is Western psychotherapy?
Given its origins, it is culturally laden with Western values and could be considered a treatment that has been developed and tailored for those from European and White American ancestry. It is important to note that 84.2% (5.97 billion) of the world’s population consists of people from non-European ancestry (United States Census Bureau, 2013 ). Therefore, it is important to understand whether Western psychotherapy works well with people from diverse backgrounds and whether cultural adaptations and modifications can increase therapeutic effectiveness. Given that mental health treatment is significantly underdeveloped in countries of non-European ancestry, figuring out how to meet the mental health needs of the world’s diverse population is of utmost importance.
What is the difference between primitive and western therapies?
Going somewhat farther along this line, although the foundation of all therapies is the phenomenon of therapeutic suggestibility, primitive therapies are based almost entirely on irrational belief and dependency, whereas Western scientific therapies are more often founded on rational insight and independence.
What is ethnomedical healing?
All healing systems are shaped by the values, worldviews, and self-views of the cultures in which they develop and are utilized. Therefore, all healing systems are ‘ethnomedical.’ Rules and principles guiding the various ethnomedical models form discreet and different genre altogether, making cross-ethnic comparisons difficult. However, while distinction among the non-Western groups are difficult to delineate, very salient differences exist between various ethnomedical models and traditional Western methods in psychotherapy. For instance, Western psychotherapy is traditionally a one-on-one activity that encourages clients to discuss the most intimate aspects of their lives. In Latino culture, clients rarely describe their complaints as the main step in an intake process, expecting the healer to already know the client's complaints (Koss-Chioino 2000 ). Due to experience with oppression, African Americans are hesitant to self-disclose. This may serve a protective function against possible physical and psychological harm (Sue and Sue 1990 ), but individuals who do not self-disclose may be seen as resistant, defensive, or superficial by therapists. Many minorities who are reluctant to self-disclose are judged to be mentally unhealthy and, in the case of African Americans, are diagnosed as ‘paranoid’ (Murray 1998 ).
Why is it important to have an ethnic match with a therapist?
In addition, just because a therapist is of the same cultural background as the client does not mean they will be more effective working with a person of the same ancestry . Although there is some research indicating the ethnic match can be important, it is the therapist’s cultural competency that is the true mechanism that improves outcomes. It is also important to keep in mind that the majority of ethnic minority therapists are trained in the Western system of psychotherapy, and have had little formal training on culturally adapting therapy. A number of complexities can affect ethnic match and ethnic nonmatch therapeutic relationships, including the notion of ethnocultural transference and countertransference ( Comas-Diaz & Jacobsen, 1991 ).
How many waves of psychotherapy are there?
Specifically, there have been four major waves or schools of psychotherapy ( Dryden & Mytton, 1999; Enns & Sinacore, 2005 ). Starting with psychoanalysis in the late 1800s, Freud popularized the idea of the psyche as being composed of both the conscious and unconscious.
How did primitive faith healing differ from Western psychotherapy?
Historically, primitive faith healing and the early stages of psychotherapy were very much alike in that neither initially attempted to provide insight. However, while faith healing continued only to maximize suggestion (essentially through affective experiences), Western psychotherapy became distinctive in departing from the primitive mode by moving into a second state—to correct problems by explaining them rationally. Going somewhat farther along this line, although the foundation of all therapies is the phenomenon of therapeutic suggestibility, primitive therapies are based almost entirely on irrational belief and dependency, whereas Western scientific therapies are more often founded on rational insight and independence.
What are the strengths of a healer?
One of their many strengths is their ability to engender faith and hope in the therapeutic process (Frank, 1978; Yalom, 1995 ). Especially for spiritual healing, it is important for the client to have faith and hope in the process. Doubt and the lack of faith do not lead to significant therapeutic gains. In fact, psychotherapy and medical treatment in all societies benefit from faith and hope long before the other therapeutic factors kick in. Thus, the ability of traditional healers to mobilize their clients” hope becomes an important variable in the therapeutic process.
Why is holistic medicine considered Western?
It is referred to as being “Western,” because modern science is rooted in the rationalist philosophy of European Enlightenment. Similarly, holistic medicine is often synonymous with Traditional Chinese or Oriental Medicine.
What is the driving principle of Western medicine?
Reductionist Medicine: The driving principle behind western science is Occam’s Razor, which is the notion that among competing theories, the one with the simplest explanation should be selected. In modern medicine, this has led to the paradigm of physical reductionism, which reduces medical issues to physical explanations and usually prescribes a purely physical solution. It would fair to say that Western medicine views the human body as a machine; every time you're sick, it's simply because one of the body's gears is clogged.
What is the difference between Eastern medicine and Western medicine?
However, for Dr. East, Dolores anxiety is both physical and non-physical. In essence, the difference between Dr. East and Dr. West is that Dr. East takes a holistic approach to medicine, while Dr.
What is the issue with modern medicine?
Different Philosophy, Different Medicine: The issue that many have with the modern medicine is that its science and philosophy purposely excludes anything that does not fit its paradigm of physical reductionism. It cannot, by its very definition, consider that humans have both physical and non-physical essences.
Is holistic medicine considered a physical or non-physical thing?
It cannot, by its very definition, consider that humans have both physical and non-physical essences. Because of this, many people feel that mainstream western medicine fails to evaluate them as a complete human being. As result, many people are increasingly turning to holistic medicine.
Is alternative medicine Chinese or Oriental?
This not to say that all alternative medicine is Oriental or Chinese in origin, but rather that many of core principles and practices are based on the paradigms of Traditinal Chinese Philosophy. Because of this, it is important to understand Traditional Chinese philosophy and views of the body.
Is Western and Eastern Medicine a fictional story?
Western and Eastern Medicine: A Tale of Two Doctors. Editor's Note: The following is a fictional story and is not meant to portray any actual people nor to give medical advice. Dolores is a 34-year old married mother in Miami with 3 children. Recently, she lost her job and is stressed about her family being able to pay bills.
How are Eastern and Western approaches to medicine different?
An objective comparison of Eastern and Western approaches to medicine is necessary to further evaluate the validity of Oriental medical techniques such as acupuncture. The development of medicine in Western nations follows the way of hypothetical deduction and the Eastern approach uses the inductive method. The Western approach clearly divides the health from the disease, yet the Eastern approach considers health as a balanced state versus disease as an unbalanced state. The Western approach tends to change the environment and the Eastern way is to prefer to adapt to the environment. There are numerous difficulties in comparing these two approaches. The same terminology may apply to entirely different facts, the teaching and learning methods are quite different, and the evaluation of the treatment is almost not comparable.
What is the difference between Western and Eastern approaches?
The Western approach tends to change the environment and the Eastern way is to prefer to adapt to the environment. There are numerous difficulties in comparing these two approaches. The same terminology may apply to entirely different facts, the teaching and learning methods are quite different, and the evaluation of the treatment is almost not ...
What are the basic concepts of Chinese medicine?
In order to help understand the Eastern approach better, an understanding is needed of the basic Chinese concepts: 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;
What is Western medicine?
Western (allopathic) physicians typically deal with disease after it has surfaced. Prevention is not usually a goal, though some doctors do stress preventive measures for diseases such as the flu. Western medicine doctors focus on relieving signs and symptoms of illness.
What is the difference between Western medicine and Naturopathy?
Naturopathy aims to find the cause of disease and treat from the inside out, while Western medicine treats from the outside in. While NDs personalize every treatment, MDs determine which medication to prescribe. Naturopathic and Western medicine are both evidence based.
What is the importance of naturopathic medicine?
Naturopathic medicine stresses the importance of diet, exercise, supplementation, and complementary treatments such as massage, bodywork, meditation, and relaxation. Western medicine rarely discusses nutrition or exercise unless the patient is obese or anorexic.
Why do naturopathic doctors treat people?
Because they treat the whole person, naturopathic physicians treat a wide variety of illness, from ADHD to chronic fatigue and from headaches to women’s health.
What is naturopathy treatment?
As defined in the online version of Merriam-Webster Medical Dictionary, naturopathy is “a system of treatment of disease that avoids drugs and surgery and emphasizes the use of natural agents (as air, water, and herbs) and physical means ...
What is the treatment for a syphilis?
An MD will prescribe a drug, often a beta blocker or ACE inhibitor. He or she might suggest a diet overhaul and exercise, but the drug is the main treatment given.
What is the treatment plan for hypertension?
Is it obesity, poor diet, lack of exercise? A common treatment plan in natural medicine will involve improving the diet, adding exercise, and limiting salt and alcohol.
Quotes
Philosophy
Example
- For example, the Western split has led to implied moral judgments about the person who gets sick. Only the body gets to have unchallenged real illnesses, such as a broken leg. If the problem is about ones mental state, like depression in the head, the illness is often seen as less real and more the result of character flaws. In the East, depression and a broken leg are both rea…
Causes
- The Western mind/body split is not scientific fact, but a simplification based on cultural assumptions. Nature does not appear to recognize this split. When someone gets sick, the whole being feels it. Emotional Disorders are holistic experiences. If you have panic attacks, the dread usually comes with a racing heart, shortness of breath and even chest pain all physical ev…
Introduction
- Biological categories (like mind/body) that propose either-or explanations are generally not realistic. Nature does not read our text books. Today, many Western doctors recognize this split as a simplification. Over the past decade, research has focused on how the mind and body are connected. But this does not translate easily or quickly into office practice.
Criticism
- My impression is that this split has led to overvaluing whats seen as physical, objective information ( test results) and discounting what is judged to be not objective (patients reports and physicians observations). But why should we give more credibility to instruments than humans, the inventors of the instruments? For example, a patients report of not thinking clearly and a phy…
Treatment
- Western and Eastern medicines identify and treat different bodies. Which one needs the treatment? That depends on the problem. Western Medicine treats the physical body. It does not acknowledge energy fields as clinically significant for diagnosis or treatment. Just diagnosing and treating the physical body can be effective, especially when dealing with traumas, infections, an…
Goals
- Not surprisingly, the goals of these medicines are as different as the cultures they come from. Based on a culture that focuses on the physical world, Western Medicines approach to the mind/body is to fix the physical body. (Here, the mind is seen as an organ, the brain and therefore physical.) If the body is missing a substance, the Western approa...
Scope
- Currently, our integrative medical research involves legitimizing Eastern treatments with Western criteria, the double blind study. In my (and others) view, this Westernization of non-Western treatments limits what we can learn. Another approach would be to recognize the validity and strengths of different medical cultures, understand them in their own terms, and apply what fits …
What Is Alternative Medicine?
- The terms ‘alternative’, ‘holistic’ and ‘complementary’ are commonly used interchangeably as a way of referring to any health intervention that lies outside of conventional medical approaches. Such therapies and approaches can be categorized into five domains: 1. Manipulative and body-based treatments which focus on the relationship between the structures and systems of the bo…
What Is Western Medicine?
- Western or traditional medicine typically encompasses a system in which medical and healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurses, therapists and pharmacists manage and treat disease using conventional evidence-based practices such as drugs, surgery, lifestyle changes or treatment protocols. Over the past 60 years, Western medicine has made sign...
The Popularity of Cam
- The use of CAM is prevalent among patient populations. A recent meta-analysis of people with cancer showed that approximately half use some form of CAM during their illness. A large-scale survey of people with asthma showed similar proportions trying CAM to manage symptoms, despite perceiving such therapies as only moderately useful. People with HIV/AIDS infection app…
What Draws People to Cam Over Western Medicine?
- One interesting theme is that patients who use CAM therapies most often are those with either life-threatening or terminal illnesses (such as cancers or AIDS) or those with chronic but minor illnesses (such as back pain or acne). For those at the most severe end of the disease spectrum, conventional medical interventions may be effective in altering the pathological course of the ill…
References
- Ernst E. (2001). Rise in popularity of complementary and alternative medicine: reasons and consequences for vaccination. Vaccine, 20 Suppl 1, S90–S89. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0264-410x(01)00290-0
- Nursing Times. 2021. Complementary therapies: what is the evidence for their use? | Nursing Times. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.nursingtimes.net/roles/nurse-educators/complem…
- Ernst E. (2001). Rise in popularity of complementary and alternative medicine: reasons and consequences for vaccination. Vaccine, 20 Suppl 1, S90–S89. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0264-410x(01)00290-0
- Nursing Times. 2021. Complementary therapies: what is the evidence for their use? | Nursing Times. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.nursingtimes.net/roles/nurse-educators/complementary-therapies-...
- Tabish S. A. (2008). Complementary and Alternative Healthcare: Is it Evidence-based?. International journal of health sciences, 2(1), V–IX.
- Wiseman N. (2004). Designations of Medicines. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 1(3), 327–329. https://doi.org/10.1093/ecam/neh053
Further Reading