Recommended Words
Whether Chinese or Western medicine, put the patient first, focus on efficacy rather than theory. I’ve talked about this topic before with neurosurgeons. Sometimes outsiders to the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) community offer new perspectives on TCM issues (those involved are often confused, while onlookers see clearly).
Excerpt
Many Western medical colleagues distrust TCM and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM herbs), and a big reason is lack of understanding, mostly hearsay. Also, not all TCM and herbs are effective; sometimes the treatment results are poor. This relates to whether the physician and patient’s syndrome differentiation and treatment are appropriate, and also inherent limitations of TCM itself. We cannot expect TCM to treat all diseases, so there will naturally be occasions of poor efficacy.
For these reasons, coupled with Western medical peers laughing upon hearing the theory of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, they have no interest in further studying TCM. Their understanding is fixed on just these four words “Yin-Yang and Five Elements,” unable to move beyond.
Getting out of this is simple: first, discard the absolute authority belief in Western medicine (modern medicine) and be open to knowledge from other fields. Then spend some time seriously reading basic TCM theoretical knowledge — the four books Basic Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Diagnostics of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Pharmacology of Chinese Materia Medica, and Formulas of Traditional Chinese Medicine. I spent about a month reading these four books, almost daily, attending completely. This month I only read these books. If you have less time, colleagues can take six months, or as I did, review them in one month.
I do not pit TCM and Western medicine as opposing systems. It is not a life-or-death opposition. It is not that just because I am a Western medical doctor I refuse to respect TCM. Readers have asked me, as someone who deals with emergency and critical care, if patients come in, can TCM thinking really be used to treat them? This is a typical either-or mentality. I do not think this way. In my understanding, many diseases are related to industrialization, modernization, mechanization, and intelligence, and only these four “izations” can treat them — such as liver transplant surgery, acute massive pulmonary embolism, acute massive cerebral infarction, aortic dissection rupture… For these acute critical illnesses, I believe modern medicine indisputably has advantages that no traditional medicine can match. Of course, some believe TCM can treat acute and critical diseases; I have no experience or knowledge in this area and cannot evaluate.
But diseases are countless. When facing some chronic or common diseases where modern medicine performs poorly, or when I fundamentally disagree with its treatment philosophy, I am willing to try other systems. TCM is one of them.
Regarding distrust from Western medicine colleagues, I am too lazy to explain. We are all adults; what is there to explain? Gentlemen agree to disagree. They may think I lack scientific literacy. I think they don’t think at all — they accept whatever others say without investigation; there is no right to speak without investigation. Practice comes first.
Who must insist on choosing sides between TCM and Western medicine? First, those “diodes” people, ideologically extreme left or right, unable to accept a middle ground. Second, individuals or organizations intentionally suppressing TCM.
Original Link
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/uKd7Wy5ayl6mtutLKTKwzQ
Main Text
Hello everyone, I am Dr. Li.
Some time ago I published an article describing how I found a treatment method for pediatric enuresis in Pediatrics of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which isn’t covered in major Western medical textbooks, leading me to develop a good impression of TCM. My son’s bedwetting (nocturnal enuresis), I took a detour, but one TCM book cured my anxiety!
Some readers left comments saying they would unfollow me if I continue posting on TCM. I feel helpless. I am neither anti-TCM nor a fanboy; I oppose TCM detractors, so naturally I don’t heed those readers’ advice.
Recently, forced by circumstances, I have been treating my allergic rhinitis with TCM herbs. It has shown initial success, and I have some reflections and thoughts to share with you.
(1)
First, I want to state a major premise. Because Western medicine is heavily industrially dependent, and its knowledge framework is clear, it’s relatively easy for beginners to get started, so Western doctors tend to be less often frauds and more often precise and by-the-book. In contrast, the TCM system is vast, and the entry threshold is very low, hence there are many frauds. But this does not mean TCM is fraudulent. I have always believed there are many TCM fraudsters, but also many experts. TCM is a technical trade skill that can solve problems.
TCM emphasizes observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking, while Western medicine relies more on auxiliary examinations. Frankly, Western medical progress depends on industrialization and intelligence, but honestly, doctors’ fundamental skills are deteriorating. If one day the hospital power goes out, everyone would be at a loss. Does this mean if Western doctors examined in as much detail as TCM doctors do—even checking the tongue 
extensively—they would diagnose and treat better?
Not really. For example, if a patient’s blood test shows elevated white blood cells, Western doctors won’t care about the stool or sputum—they start antibiotics immediately. But TCM doctors must ask clearly because this concerns their syndrome differentiation—whether it is cold or heat, deficiency or excess, exterior or interior, which relates to subsequent use of warming or cooling herbs—this is important.
Which is better then? Previously, I believed advanced technology, advanced productivity, and advanced science as represented by Western medicine were better, after decades in this field.
But in recent two months my attitude has softened; things are not that simple. As always, no matter how brilliant the talk, practice and results come first.
Personally, I suffer from severe allergic rhinitis almost year-round, worse with cold air. My annual consumption of anti-allergy drugs such as loratadine, cetirizine, ebastine, etc., are much higher than most; now these oral antihistamines almost have no effect on me. The only somewhat effective one is ketotifen, but it takes hours to act and causes drowsiness.
Nasal corticosteroids still work, but slowly. During acute flare-ups, with constant sneezing, just spraying the drug causes immediate sneezing it out, so it’s ineffective.
In this almost hopeless situation, I turned to TCM. I spent over a month reading basic TCM course books to get a rough understanding. My view on TCM changed somewhat, and I decided to start by decocting and drinking Chinese herbal medicine.
My first decoction was Wenfei Zhiliudan, but I later abandoned it for reasons not elaborated here.
Recently, I went back to my hometown countryside and slept with air conditioning on, got cold, and my nose got terribly blocked with sneezing. Only those who experienced it can know this pain. I went through a whole roll of tissues quickly.
Early the next morning, still sneezing, with sleepiness I bought the Xiao Qing Long Tang formula at a pharmacy. Xiao Qing Long Tang is what I planned to use next, suitable for my allergic rhinitis (my rough syndrome differentiation suggested exterior cold with interior fluid retention).
I brewed a bowl and drank it; within half an hour, my nose felt very comfortable. This was a sensation I had never had even after taking so many anti-allergy drugs over the years. Any antihistamine may take one to several hours to work, but Xiao Qing Long Tang provided rapid symptom relief.
That whole day, my nose was quite comfortable. Usually, with morning and night attacks, it would be bad all day.
Do you say Chinese medicine is useless? Those who haven’t read TCM books or used appropriate Chinese medicine, who only demand double-blind and evidence-based medicine, would not understand this. They would only say things like “The rooster doesn’t crow yet it’s dawn”—my relief is self-induced or an isolated case with a small sample size, not worth bragging about.
Well, I am glad I do not pride myself on Western medicine or understand evidence-based medicine. I am glad I accept knowledge from different fields.
Of course, Xiao Qing Long Tang treats symptoms but not the root cause and isn’t suitable for everyone, so don’t try it casually. I am now using a more comprehensive formula for self-adjustment. Early signs are good; no matter the outcome in the future, I will report back.
(2)
Many Western medical colleagues distrust TCM and traditional Chinese medicine; a big reason is lack of understanding, mostly hearsay. Also, not all TCM/herbs are effective; sometimes treatment results are poor. This relates to whether patient-doctor syndrome differentiation and treatment match, and also to limitations of TCM itself. We cannot expect TCM to cure all diseases, so there are times when efficacy is poor.
Because of this, plus Western doctors laugh at the Yin-Yang and Five Elements theory, they have no heart to study TCM further. Their knowledge sticks at those four words “Yin-Yang and Five Elements,” unable to think beyond.
Getting out of this is simple: discard absolute faith in Western medicine (modern medicine) authority, accept knowledge from other fields, then spend time thoroughly reading basic TCM theory—the four books Basic Theory of TCM, Diagnostics of TCM, Chinese Materia Medica, Formulas of TCM. I spent about a month, almost daily; others can spend six months or follow my pace of one month review.
After reading, gain a basic understanding, then look at TCM case records, or go observe TCM clinics, interview several patients, or directly compare with your or your family’s conditions, try decocting and drinking Chinese herbs yourself, or see a reputable TCM doctor to see if specific health problems can be solved.
This process should improve your view of TCM and Chinese herbs. Though you may not fully believe, you will find this theory system truly can help people.
I sincerely hope my Western medical colleagues take time to replicate my path and truly appreciate TCM. Don’t let our traditional medicine grow more distant until we have to go to South Korea to get TCM—it would be a lasting tragedy.
Dissing TCM is not independent thinking. Willingness to study unknown fields, not blindly repeating others, is real independent thinking and true courage.
(3)
I don’t oppose TCM and Western medicine as opposing systems. It’s not life-or-death opposition. Just because I am a Western medical doctor doesn’t mean I disdain TCM. Readers ask me, as an emergency and critical care doctor, if I can really use TCM thinking to treat patients?
This is the typical either-or mentality. I don’t think so. Many diseases relate to industrialization, modernization, mechanization, intelligence. Only these four “izations” can treat them — like liver transplant, acute massive pulmonary embolism, acute massive stroke, aortic dissection rupture… For these critical emergencies, modern medicine has indisputable advantages unmatched by any traditional medicine. Some say TCM can treat acute emergencies; I have no experience or knowledge to assess.
But diseases are many thousands. When faced with some chronic or common diseases, if modern medicine does poorly or I do not agree with its philosophy, I am willing to try other systems, including TCM.
For example, my allergic rhinitis — I’m ineffective with nearly all current anti-allergy drugs and nasal steroids; somewhat effective but prone to relapse after many years. I’ve long questioned whether this treatment approach is really appropriate. The causes of allergic rhinitis are unclear, and treating only one pathological link is necessarily partial and objective. Do I have other methods?
I’ll just use allergic rhinitis as an example — there are many more I won’t list. The more I observe, the more I realize the modern medical field is a distribution plate of economic interests; everyone has their own base and benefits. Watching long enough, I get dizzy. I want to quietly learn something else — study the clinical experience of people who died thousands of years ago. I don’t see this as a problem. Though early science was not developed, they saw many disease types too. Diseases we see now probably existed before; those physicians surely accumulated many experiences. Is that experience worthless? Not necessarily. How would you know it’s worthless if you don’t investigate?
I’m too lazy to explain what Western medical colleagues don’t understand. We are all adults; no need to explain too much. Gentlemen agree to differ. They may think I lack scientific literacy. I think they don’t think at all; they take others’ words as truth; no investigation means no right to speak. Practice first.
For non-medical readers who don’t understand, I try hard to explain; if they fail to accept, then no choice—those interested continue reading, those not, unfollow.
I define myself as a Western medical doctor who has begun to like and study TCM.
(4)
In about two months, I read many TCM books and literature. I feel the TCM system is vast and a genuine technical trade. Although some theories sound incomprehensible to ordinary people (but are perfectly clear to those studying TCM), they have real practical value and can help people.
Those theories sound confusing because they were derived from thousands of years of clinical practice, inferred backward from many painful lessons and fatal experiences. Early TCM doctors surely knew some herb or formula treats some syndrome or disease, but couldn’t explain the reasons. Without explaining, it couldn’t spread, teach, or broadcast. Later, for better transmission and practice guidance, the Yin-Yang and Five Elements theory was developed, with inferred organ functions and so on.
If you ask which is better, TCM or Western medicine, I can only say that asking this question signals abnormal and foolish thinking. Don’t think about which is better. Both are technical systems, both should exist, both help people — that’s enough.
If it must be a competition, from my shallow knowledge, Chinese and Western medicine both have strengths and weaknesses. For emergency critical care, I prefer Western medicine (some claim TCM can handle emergencies, but I’ve neither seen nor experienced it, so I don’t speak recklessly and keep a reserved attitude). For common, chronic, difficult, or stubborn diseases, it depends on the individual. Choose what you trust. For example, with urticaria or allergic rhinitis (not deadly but very uncomfortable), you can try Western medicine first, and if ineffective, try TCM, or vice versa—that’s all right. More options for us citizenry is definitely good. Currently, TCM is at a disadvantage and Western medicine is too dominant, an imbalance that’s bad.
I even think at some level, combining Chinese and Western medicine isn’t really “integration” but modernization of TCM. Using modern, technological, intelligent features combined with thousands of years of experience and theory, it can do better. For instance, in nephritis or severe kidney disease, Western medicine might recommend organ transplant or dialysis, but TCM might say it’s unnecessary. Is it truly unnecessary or an empty claim? Ordinary patients cannot tell. Here modern lab tests can assist—taking Chinese herbs while testing indicators: if indicators improve, the medicine works; if they worsen, take action promptly.
Excellent TCM practitioners should embrace modernization. The more skills the better. Besides pulse diagnosis, it’s okay to use stethoscopes, CT, blood tests; this doesn’t conflict with TCM. Don’t think that if a doctor requests a CT scan, it’s not pure TCM.
Who insists on forcing a final choice between TCM and Western medicine?
First, “diode” people, ideologically extreme left or right, unable to accept the middle ground.
Second, individuals or organizations intentionally suppressing TCM.
I believe any normally thinking Chinese people who have seen or understand TCM should not lightly deny it. I hope more Western medical colleagues actively learn about TCM rather than blindly criticize it over Yin-Yang and the Five Elements. That narrow-mindedness is shortsighted.
These are some reflections from these past two months.