I’ve noticed that in Eastern medicine, they see the body as a whole, not just as separate organs. They look at the symptoms to find the problem and fix the root cause so the symptoms will disappear. They use the same methods their ancestors did and encourage a healthy body to prevent illnesses and speed recovery. They also know that if the body is not balanced properly, it can’t function correctly, and their treatments help both the physical and non-physical body.

When I look at Western medicine (even though it has its perks), they try to treat the symptoms separately and hope they will go away. When that symptom pops up somewhere else, they treat that one differently, without tying it to the first one! They focus only on the bodily condition and usually use a reductionist approach, which reduces medical issues to physical explanations and typically prescribes purely physical solutions (pharmaceuticals).

Is surgery necessary if you break a bone? Sure! Do you need anti-depressants or anxiety medication if you lose your job and are not sleeping well, are stressed, and maybe emotionally overeating or wanting to spend more time in bed? Chances are, no. You may be able to alleviate all those symptoms with some exercise, journaling, maybe some acupuncture, or essential oils to help you concentrate and lift your mood. Chances are, once you find a new job, all those symptoms will go away. If you had chosen to take the medicine, you could possibly have additional side effects from weaning off them, especially if you took them for a longer period of time.

I’m not hating on Western medicine! But if Eastern medicine has been around for a thousand years, there is something to pay attention to! You have emotions and energy flowing through you. There is more than just your body here, and even if you think it’s just your body, it may be one part malfunctioning and causing symptoms elsewhere. Looking at yourself as a whole is a must!