Why This? Why Now?
Today, medicine is becoming more "single minded." It works for only a number of people and is not specified for individuals. East World Philosophy incorporates yoga practices, natural herbs and remedies, and meditation.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Abstract
West
World Medicine, also known as Western Medicine and modern medicine, is a
clinical medicine put through trials over a period of time to test its
effectiveness. This type of medicine was designed to work for the whole and not
for individuals. Eastern Medicine, or nontraditional and alternative medicine,
is a medicine that uses a process of trial and error which is designed to work
for each individual. This essay will discuss the effectiveness of both
separately and interactively. To illustrate this, this essay will discuss how
each medicine techniques are used in Cancer patients. To prove how Western
Medicine and Eastern Medicine is best used with Cancer treatment, this essay
refers to Family Doctor Khasala and books such as “Supportive Cancer Care with
Chinese Medicine” written by William C. S. Cho. The purpose of this essay is to
explain the integration of Eastern Medicine into modern medicine is the most
effective approach to treating cancer patients because it recognizes the
mind-body network of communication, it focusses on the patients’ health, and
offers relief from pain from post-surgery treatment
Integrative Medicine
Integrative
Medicine is a therapeutic and preventive health practice which is intended to
be used alongside clinical medicine (UKessays 2011). Therefore in the treatment
of Cancer, it is designed to be used alongside clinical Cancer treatment
practices such as surgery, chemotherapy, and medicine. Integrative Medicine can
also replace either of these Cancer treatments, or be used to cure the harsh
side effects of clinical Cancer treatment (Deng 2009).
Practices
of Integrative Medicine have been around since the beginning of civilization
(UKessays 2011) and since it is traditional medicine that does not advance with
new technology, it has varied little time. However, over time new techniques
have been recognized and become more popular by different civilizations
(UKessays 2011). Ancient Chinese techniques include acupuncture and yoga (Shen
2011), while the Europeans adapted herbs and minerals for medicine (Nemingha 2011).
Each of these techniques can be found in Cancer treatment based on research. Integrating
Eastern Medicine into modern medicine is the most effective approach to
treating cancer patients because it recognizes the mind-body network of
communication, it focusses on the patients’ health, and offers relief from pain
from post-surgery treatment. Although Integrative Medicine does have one flaw,
time, it is still the best option for Cancer treatment.
The Mind-Body Network
The
human body is a system made up of muscles, bones, organs, other physical
features, and a communication network where each group of the body will
communicate with another signaling low oxygen and blood levels, and movement of
major muscles (Cho 2010). This function must work at a homeostatic level
constantly or it can cause one’s body to become an unbalanced, unhealthy state.
Such a thing that could cause this unbalanced state is Cancer. Cancer can be
defined as: a development in which transformed cells acquire the ability to
disregard the constraints of its environment and the body normal control
mechanisms (Cho 2010). A Cancerous tumor can be very detrimental to what Dr.
William C. S. Cho calls, the mind body network, seeking balance in the body and
mind correspondingly. This is because a tumor can disturb the natural flow of blood, hormones, and other bodily movements, because the tumor demands it to survive.
Integrative Medicine Recognizes Mind-Body Network of Communication:
Yoga Stimulates Mind-Body Network
One
method that effectively stimulates mind-body flow is the practice of yoga (Khalsa
2012). Dr. Khalsa explains that a major part of yoga is breathing in an
interview by a yoga practicing blogger. She describes how learning to breathe
correctly gives the patient a sense of control over his or her destiny. Khalsa
also states, “wellness and health doesn’t come from a bottle, doesn’t come from
a potion, but it can come from within, and in our affirmations, and the food we
put into the body,” (Christina Feb 2011). The practice of yoga has proven to
work for Dr. Khalsa and her patients in creating a healthy and stable mind-body
network.
Integrative Medicine Focuses on Health
The
first step to focusing in on the patient’s health is by creating the mind-body
network (Cho 2011), which is explained in “1.2 Recognizing the Mind-Body
Network”. After this network has been established, the patient then can monitor
their health with exercise and diet.
“Give one percent and let the patient run with it. I have given one percent and the patient has taken that one percent and made huge milestones… This is not a one way street. I am only here to help and guide and show and educate. I can’t go home with every patient… no one would want me in their home doing this, walking with them through the grocery store…patients can take what I have to say and apply it to their lives as is applicable” ~ Dr. Khalsa
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