Clipping Board » Medical Myths ─ The truth about healthcare is often different from what you intuitively think.
2006/12/01 00:18
Chen Youge
Today, I read Buxiaosheng's article "Where Can I Find a Famous Doctor?" (http://www. ettoday. com/ 2006/ 11/ 29/ 142- 2020910. htm), and it stirred many emotions in me. About 30 years ago, I served as the maintenance department manager for a major medical equipment company, which allowed me to visit hospitals and large to medium-sized clinics across Taiwan. Among them, 99.9% were Western medicine hospitals. Because my job required teaching doctors how to use medical equipment, I got to see another side of doctors (perhaps many sides), and the number of doctors I could truly call "famous" could be counted on one hand.
On the surface, Western medicine appears to be grounded in science. In reality, however, Western medicine is even less scientifically based than traditional Chinese medicine. While the precise scientific instruments used in Western medicine may provide highly accurate data, the final diagnosis and treatment often rely on highly unscientific "possibilities" and "incurable" conclusions. The precise dosage of Western medicine seems more reliable than the seemingly random prescriptions of Chinese medicine. But is that really the case? Currently, Western medicine prescribes drugs based on rough age categories or body weight. Is that scientific? Does Western medicine consider the patient's ability to absorb the medication? Do people of the same weight all have the same absorption capacity?
Why is there a difference between Chinese and Western medicine? It all comes down to fundamentally different medical philosophies. Whether it's the understanding of physiological organs, diagnostic methods, treatment approaches, or the form of medication, the two are entirely distinct. So, how can Chinese and Western medicine be integrated? Incorporating Chinese medicine into Western medicine would be utterly incongruous, and would Western medicine even agree to adopt Chinese medical concepts?
Traditional Chinese medicine does not focus on curing diseases but on preventing them. It emphasizes maintaining health to prevent the body from falling ill. For more on this concept, look up the writings of the ancient medical sage Bian Que. This is not just a modern tragedy for Chinese medicine; 2,500 years ago, Bian Que said: "My eldest brother is the best physician, as he can prevent illness, but only our family knows of his skill. My second brother is next best, as he can treat illnesses in their early stages, so he is known only in our village. I am the worst, as I can only treat fully developed illnesses, which is why I am famous throughout the country." Doesn’t Bian Que also feel a sense of sorrow?
People often only seek medical attention after they fall ill, by which time many physiological issues and changes have already occurred, making treatment extremely difficult. Especially when obvious symptoms often mask the root cause of the illness, as Buxiaosheng mentioned: "I followed the principles of Chinese medicine, so why didn’t it work?" Personally, I suffered from a persistent cough every autumn and winter for decades before the age of 45. Both Chinese and Western medicine were powerless to help. I would cough uncontrollably day and night for no apparent reason, and then inexplicably recover after two months. In the end, I had to figure out the cause myself—it turned out I was allergic to crown daisy greens.
If there is such a thing as a "famous doctor" in this world, the only true famous doctor is your own body. Listen to what your body is telling you, feel its reactions, and adapt to its needs. By doing so, you can stay free from illness. For example, in my family of five, the only doctor we’ve seen in the past five years is the dentist. We haven’t even caught a cold. Buxiaosheng, perhaps you can reach out to me. I don’t believe a cold should plague you for an entire month.
Source: http://www. ettoday. com/ 2006/ 12/ 01/ 142- 2021849. htm
Also Discussing "Where to Find Renowned Doctors"
Chen Youge
Today, I read Buxiaosheng's article "Where Can I Find a Famous Doctor?" (http://www. ettoday. com/ 2006/ 11/ 29/ 142- 2020910. htm), and it stirred many emotions in me. About 30 years ago, I served as the maintenance department manager for a major medical equipment company, which allowed me to visit hospitals and large to medium-sized clinics across Taiwan. Among them, 99.9% were Western medicine hospitals. Because my job required teaching doctors how to use medical equipment, I got to see another side of doctors (perhaps many sides), and the number of doctors I could truly call "famous" could be counted on one hand.
On the surface, Western medicine appears to be grounded in science. In reality, however, Western medicine is even less scientifically based than traditional Chinese medicine. While the precise scientific instruments used in Western medicine may provide highly accurate data, the final diagnosis and treatment often rely on highly unscientific "possibilities" and "incurable" conclusions. The precise dosage of Western medicine seems more reliable than the seemingly random prescriptions of Chinese medicine. But is that really the case? Currently, Western medicine prescribes drugs based on rough age categories or body weight. Is that scientific? Does Western medicine consider the patient's ability to absorb the medication? Do people of the same weight all have the same absorption capacity?
Why is there a difference between Chinese and Western medicine? It all comes down to fundamentally different medical philosophies. Whether it's the understanding of physiological organs, diagnostic methods, treatment approaches, or the form of medication, the two are entirely distinct. So, how can Chinese and Western medicine be integrated? Incorporating Chinese medicine into Western medicine would be utterly incongruous, and would Western medicine even agree to adopt Chinese medical concepts?
Traditional Chinese medicine does not focus on curing diseases but on preventing them. It emphasizes maintaining health to prevent the body from falling ill. For more on this concept, look up the writings of the ancient medical sage Bian Que. This is not just a modern tragedy for Chinese medicine; 2,500 years ago, Bian Que said: "My eldest brother is the best physician, as he can prevent illness, but only our family knows of his skill. My second brother is next best, as he can treat illnesses in their early stages, so he is known only in our village. I am the worst, as I can only treat fully developed illnesses, which is why I am famous throughout the country." Doesn’t Bian Que also feel a sense of sorrow?
People often only seek medical attention after they fall ill, by which time many physiological issues and changes have already occurred, making treatment extremely difficult. Especially when obvious symptoms often mask the root cause of the illness, as Buxiaosheng mentioned: "I followed the principles of Chinese medicine, so why didn’t it work?" Personally, I suffered from a persistent cough every autumn and winter for decades before the age of 45. Both Chinese and Western medicine were powerless to help. I would cough uncontrollably day and night for no apparent reason, and then inexplicably recover after two months. In the end, I had to figure out the cause myself—it turned out I was allergic to crown daisy greens.
If there is such a thing as a "famous doctor" in this world, the only true famous doctor is your own body. Listen to what your body is telling you, feel its reactions, and adapt to its needs. By doing so, you can stay free from illness. For example, in my family of five, the only doctor we’ve seen in the past five years is the dentist. We haven’t even caught a cold. Buxiaosheng, perhaps you can reach out to me. I don’t believe a cold should plague you for an entire month.
Source: http://www. ettoday. com/ 2006/ 12/ 01/ 142- 2021849. htm