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

 Literature Review

            Neither West World Medicine nor East World Philosophy has been proven more efficient for the majority of patients around the globe.  Both have adapted their teachings, trials, and philosophies on medicine separately and most observantly on different ends of the world, hence East and West.

However, clinical, allopathic, trial, and modern medicine, (also known as West World Medicine) is the route modern society as adapted today. It is not a surprise considering the great achievements this medicine has made in the past. From ancient herbs to antibiotics and organ transplants, there is no doubt that West World Medicine has proven its power to society (Nemingha 2011).  For some doctors, this method of treatment has proven itself to be the only treatment for any illness (Strauss 1991). Strauss demonstrates how he uses modern medicine in oncology studies, and on patients with cancer (Strauss 1991). His studies show the effectiveness of western medicine in each patient.

However, western medicine takes an aggressive approach to healing the body because it is de-individualized and has a “strict adherence to the formal scientific process” (Wisegeek 2011) leaving no room for experimentation with patients.

East World Philosophy is a medicine that has been practiced since the first ancient civilizations.  It is the practice of body healing through natural ways such as natural herbs, like Valerian and the Passionflower (Deng 2009), acupuncture, and forms of yoga. Eastern medicine offers a wide variety of treatments to a patient and is highly experimental. It is also a medicine that makes “an active partnership of physician and patient” (Salerno 2005) and patients spirituality (Maizes Sep 1999).   Other than a positive doctor-patient relationship, Eastern medicine techniques maintain the patient’s focus on their health, positive blood flow, and nutrients absorbed rather than a doctor’s focus visited annually (Ernst Sep 1999). 

This self-healing medicine has not been so successful in modern day society because it relies on a very personal doctor-patient active partnership which takes time (Maizes Sep 1999).  Eastern medicine is also ineffective when dealing with issues such as surgery, and extreme viruses, however, acupuncture has been known as an alternative for the relief of surgery pain (Cho 2010). Also, because it is a self-healing medicine, it is harder to prove the effectiveness for a whole, such as the small pox vaccine, rather than just a single patient.

A current issue concerning both Eastern and Western medicine is the number of victims Cancer is taking is rapidly increasing.   Some oncologists believe the Modern and aggressive approach to cancer is the best solution (Strauss 1991). This approach consists of a surgery, harsh medication, and rigorous chemotherapy sessions. This treatment takes a toll on the human body. Not only does it take weeks to recover from the surgery itself, some patients chose to follow through with a backup treatment called chemotherapy. Chemotherapy causes the immune system in the body to weaken. This is because it is a radiation course which kills not only cancerous cells, but other cells as well.

Very few oncologist believe in a complete Eastern medicine approach to Cancer, however, many natives to the region of the world were this medicine was invented will practice this (Shen 2011). Some doctors and teachers of East World Philosophy say that bringing the two medicines together in a form of integrative medicine, will be very beneficial to a rapidly growing Cancer patient base (Kam April 2009)(Deng 2009)(Khalasa 2012). This consists of surgery and “powerful tonics” to help relieve pain (Cho 2010), then continual mind body natural connections following the surgery to improve the mind body network.  To prove the effectiveness of Eastern Medicine integrated into Western Medicine, one doctor has written a report on how integrative medicine helped a cancer patient with the side effects of chemotherapy (Deng 2009). Another has based her practiced in New Mexico around helping families with cancer through integrative medicine, mostly yoga and acupuncture (Khalsa 2012).

Introduction

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. Recently, since the rate of Cancer patients have been increasing, the discussion of which medicine technique is most appropriate for Cancer treatment has been brought to the public, while the most effective plan of treatment is right in front of them, combining both medical techniques into one. 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 focuses 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.

1 Integrative Medicine for Cancer Treatment

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.

1.2 Recognizing 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.

In conventional Modern Medicine, to rid the body of a dangerous, flow-breaking tumor, techniques are directed to remove and destroy these cells (Cho 2011). To remove or destroy these cells, Western Medicine oncologist use approaches with aggressive surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and harsh medications (Cho 2011) (Strauss 1991). These techniques can cause, and leave possible damage to surrounding, healthy cells, causing an unbalanced mind-body network.

Eastern Medicine treatments for cancer may deny the use of surgery and begin with an approach to strengthen mind-body network even before the risk of Cancer with the help of herbs, yoga, and acupuncture (Cho 2011) (Shen 2010). Although this method sounds good in theory, a cancerous tumor may be too large or too advanced for traditional medication to cure, thus ultimately resulting in no cure.

Integrative Medicine is the most effective and most beneficial technique in Cancer treatment because it recognizes the mind-body network. In combining the Western Medicine approach to Cancer treatment, and Eastern Medicine approach, Dr. Gary Deng found it to be the most effective treatment plan. Dr. Deng states, “Many people with cancer experience pain, anxiety, and mood disturbance . . . Complementary therapies such as acupuncture, mind-body techniques, and other methods can help relieve symptoms and improve physical and mental well-being,” (Deng 2009).The key words here are complementary, meaning these therapies work with clinical medicine, and mind-body technique. Dr. Deng states how these can improve the physical and mental well-being of a patient. This is the definition of the mind-body network stated by Dr. Cho. Strengthening the patients awareness of their mind-body network, how both their mind and body interact and influence each other, is the first step to recognize when confronted with Cancer (Cho 2011). This allows the patient to prepare for a surgery by keeping their mind and body healthy, strong, and a natural flow (Deng 2010). By creating a healthy mind-body network flow before a cancerous linked surgery, it can easily be recovered after the surgery because it is now the body’s natural homeostatic state (Cho 2011).

One method that effectively stimulates this 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.

The mind-body network is important in Cancer treatment because it gives self-awareness to the patient. With a solid foundation of self-awareness, the body’s natural state can remain strong and it gives patients the freedom of experimenting with different and natural herbs and nutrients to recover (Cho 2011) (Deng 2010) (Kam April 2009).

1.3 Focus on Health

Integrative Medicine is the most effective route in treating Cancer patients because it allows the patient to focus on their health more intensely. Because in clinical treatments doctors may prescribe drugs for treatment (Cho 2011), unaware patients tend to keep the same food and exercise regimen they have always had. This consistency of a bad diet can add, or deplete an unhealthy amount of weight, deplete the body of nutrients needed for the immune system, and can break the mind-body network stated previously.

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.

Exercise is a great way to monitor and improve one’s health. In a Newswire Association article, Karen Salerno describes the practices of four integrative and complementary medicinal doctors, one of which is Erminia Guarneri. Erminia Guarneri is a cardiologist at the Scripts Center of Integrative Medicine in California (Salerno 2005). There, Guarneri stresses the importance of exercise after any surgery.

Dr. Khalsa explains in the blogger interview how important yoga, as a form of exercise, is important to treating illnesses. She states, “Some patients do need more information on nutrition and I’m there to give it to them and provide it when they need it . . .the patient can make their picture and complete the puzzle” and

“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” (Christinia Feb 2011).  

This quote from Dr. Khalsa supports the patient’s control of their health in every way. Dr. Khalsa has found it proven to be more beneficial to guide the patient with health with integrative medicine, and the patient can determine for themselves what is good for their body and treatment, or not. This gives self-awareness to the patient.

Dr. Khalsa is a physician of her own practice in Phoenix, AZ. There, most of Khalsa’s patients have been diagnosed with cancer. Most of Khalsa’s plans for treatment involve a lot of yoga to strengthen the body (Khalsa 2012).

In Modern Western Medicine, to rid the body of a dangerous, flow-breaking tumor, techniques are directed to remove and destroy these cells (Cho 2011). To remove or destroy these cells, Western Medicine oncologist use approaches with aggressive surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and harsh medications (Cho 2011) (Strauss 1991). These techniques can cause, and leave possible damage to surrounding, healthy cells, leaving the patient feeling very weak. However, scientists have found natural substances that can have the same Cancer diminishing effects without harming other cells (Types of Chemotherapy 2005).  These natural substances are plant alkaloids which are cell specific. This means that they will attack cancerous cells during the stage of cell’s life (Types of Chemotherapy 2005). For example, most plant alkaloids will stimulate during the division stage of a cancerous cell, and stop the division. Such alkaloids can be found in the Periwinkle plant, a Pacific Yew tree, May apple plants, and an Asian Happy Tree (Types of Chemotherapy 2005). Folic acid, found on the side of the cereal box, is another natural substance that is absorbed into the cell’s metabolism. If it is a cancerous cell, during the cell’s division the folic acid will stimulate and stop the division.

Not only can exercise, healthy food, and natural supplements be used in place of pre and post-surgery treatment in place of chemotherapy and other forms of radiation and medication, the are also essential to integrative medicine pain relief from surgery and chemotherapy.

1.4 Pain Relief from Post-Surgery Treatment

Integrating Eastern Medicine into modern medicine is the most effective approach to treating cancer patients because offers relief from pain from post-surgery treatment. Chemotherapy and rigorous medication can cause pain, anxiety, and mood disturbances in a cancer patient (Deng 2009).

Most cancer related pain tends to come from the dying healthy tissue in the body, or the invasion of tumor tissue pushing along the body’s nerve system (Deng 2009). Often times, doctors will have a patient rate their pain on a scale of one to ten, anything higher than a four is given medication accordingly. However, because patients are already weak, some side effects are too harsh for the body (Deng 2009). Doctors who see the benefits of integrative medicine recommend practices such as acupuncture and message therapy. Both are two very popular techniques in Eastern Medicine.  

In a recent study, ninety cancer patients were treated with acupuncture to get rid of their pain. After two months of undergoing treatment, all patients’ pain intensity had decreased by 36 % (Deng 2009).

Message therapy is also very popular integrative pain reliever because it pushes muscle, skin, and veins around (Deng). This enables the blood to flow to create the healthy mind-body network.

Anxiety is very prevalent among Cancer patients because Western techniques for treatment generally evoke distress and emotional anguish (Deng 2009). Patients may experience fear, feelings of death, and depression. To treat these symptoms, many patients take herb supplements. Kava Kava, a leaf found in the Pacific, is used among patients who experience anxiety. The Passionflower and St. John ’s Wort also treat symptoms of anxiety. St. John’s Wort actually secrets a chemical the releases the enzyme irinotecan, which causes the cancer cell to undergo mitosis (Deng 2009).

2 Disadvantages of Integrative Medicine

Although Integrative Medicine seems to be popular among many physicians, it still faces some challenges (Maizes 1999), such as time and availability of physicians willing to practice this method.

2.1 Time

“Integrative Medicine takes into account things like communication between healthcare professional and patient – listening, attention, intention, compassion, and caring,” (Salerno 2005), says Dr. Berman a physician of Integrative Medicine. However, because of this communication, and because Integrative medicine is so individualized, Victoria Maizes states “Getting to know patients takes time; in the old general practice model, a physician had a lifetime to get to know the patient. Today’s mobile society . . .do not support this time investment,” (Maizes 1999).  Maizes explains how our fast pace, modern, mobile reliant society does not have time to practice Integrative medicine because it takes too much experimentation, and too much time to learn how the one patients body works.

Katherine Kam explains the issue of time in Integrative Medicine, and how because of time, there is not enough physicians who will practice integrative medicine to treat the growing number of patients. However, she goes on to explain how this can reach out for more job openings for physicians practicing Integrative Medicine. Katherine Kam states that most Universities offer programs within Integrative Medicine.

Ezard Ernst, of the Department of Complementary Medicine, describes Integrative Medicine as having “long consultation times” causing a high cost per patient due to consultation time. This question whether the time invested in Integrative Medicine is worth the cost (Ernst 1999).

Patwadhan Bhushn, author of Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, believes integrating Eastern Medicine into Western Modern Medicine will be more affordable than the current Modern Medicine practices today. This is because the introduction of new drugs, with relatively less risky side effects, and the efficiency of identifying an illnesses and treatment (Bhushan 2010). Bhushan explains that many countries, such as the United States of America, Norway, Australia, Chia, and some Latin America, and much more have Integrative Medicine initiatives. This means each country will promote innovative, efficient, affordable, and evidence based treatments for patient personalized care in a physician’s office (Bhushan 2010).

Conclusion

Although Cancer can have the same health effects on all patients, it is still a personal disease where it can deplete one from their one control of their body. Clinical treatments for Cancer are extremely costly (UKessays) and generally offer little variety on how a patient spends his or her money. Integrative Medicine offers a variety of different techniques giving the patient the ability to choose how they decide to spend their money, rather than clinical Cancer treatment.   Integrative Medicine is something that can return ones control of their body and health out of Cancer’s control and into their own.  

Integrative Medicine recognizes the natural flows within the human body and offers treatments to support this mind-body flowing network. Integrative medicine also focuses on the patient’s health and allows the patients control of their health. Finally, Integrating Eastern Medicine into Western Medicine if beneficial to cure and treat many painful side effects that go a long with Cancer and Cancer treatment.  Integrative Medicine is the most beneficial in treating the many patients around the world who are diagnosed with Cancer.

Annotative Bibliography

Integrative Medicine

Chemocare (2012). Types of Chemotherapy. Retrieved From: http://www.chemocare.com/whatis/types_of_chemotherapy.asp

            This webpage discusses the alternatives to chemotherapy with herbs and plants that do the same thing, but without harsh side effects. I will use this to discuss alternatives to avoid harsh side effects of cancer treatment.

Cho, William, C., S., (2010). Supportive Cancer Care with Chinese Medicine. Retrieved From: http://books.google.com/books?id=woM0FGx9tMoC&printsec=frontcover&dq=William+C.+S.+Cho+Supportive+Cancer+Care+with+Chinese+Medicine&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Kn2VT6qwIcjIgQfqqcj7BA&ved=0CDQQ6AEwAA  

            This book is specifically all about how Chinese Medicine can help with Modern medicine in the treatment of Cancer. I will use this for my number one source in finding evidence to support its effectiveness and back it up with techniques described in the book.

Christina (Feb 28 2011). Integrating Yoga and Medicine: Lessons from Dr. Satkirin Khalsa. Retreived From: http://prescribingyoga.com/2011/02/integratigin-yoga-and-medicine-lessons-from-dr-satkirin-khalsa/

            This is an interview from a blogging website about yoga. Christina interview Dr. Khalsa, another source of mine, on the benefits of yoga. I will use this interview to prove that yoga creates the mind-body network.

Deng, Gary (2009). Integrative Medicine: Complementary Therapies for Pain, Anxiety, and Mood Disturbances. Retrieved From: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.3322/canjclin.55.2.109/full

            This essay discusses how effective Integrative Medicine is, and the many different ways it can work, from acupuncture to herbs. The article offers many different herb remidies and exercises for body illness. I will use this in support of Integrative Medicine, and examples of herbs and what they can do for the body.

Kam, Katherine (April 2009). What is Integrative Medicine? Retrieved From: http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/alternative-medicine-integrative-medicine?page=3

            Katherine Kam discusses exactly what Integrative Medicine is throughout the treatment of a woman with breast cancer. She also dives deeper to offer conventional and alternative approaches. I will use this article to discuss the convenience of Integrative Medicine, a a real life example.

Khalsa (2012). Integrative Oncology. Retrieved From: Web.

Salerno, Karen (2005). Integrative Medicine: Five Physicians Championing it Rapid Growth in America.  Retrieved From: http://www2.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/10-18-2005/0004171199&EDATE=

            This is a discussion of exactly how Integrative Medicine should work, and the benefits from Integrative Medicine. It offers five other physicians who also believe in Integrative Medicine, but use different techniques such as yoga, dieting, acupuncture. I will use this as support for why this medicine is effective, the benefits, and alternative uses of this medicine.

Challenges of Integrative Medicine

Ernst, Ezard (Sep 1999). Complentary and Alternative Medicine Needs and Evidence Base Before Regulation. Retrieved From: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1305792/

            This essay is a portion of a larger scholarly book. Ezard Ernst discusses how, for some cases, Integrative Medicine works, but before it can be used on global level, it needs more evidence, such as a relative time frame. I will use this essay to discuss the cons of Integrative Medicine, then refute this counterargument he has given me with new leads throughout the essay.

Maizes, Victoria (Sep 1999). The Principles and Challenges of Integrative Medicine. Retrieved From: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1305792/

            Victoria Maizes’s essay is a portion of a book discussing the effectiveness of Integrative medicine. She states there are many challenges, one for example unproven, and no clear evidence. I will use this to explain counter arguments of why Integrative Medicine may not work, then support them with leads she has given me.

UKessays (2011). Alternative Medicine. Retrieved From: http://www.ukessays.co.uk/essays/education/alternative-medicine.php

            This is a sample essay discussing the same issue as my essay, Is Integrative Medicine Effective and Why? I will use this for organization, history, and risks with in Integrative Medicine.

Western Medicine

Nemingha (2011). The History of Western Medicine. Retrieved From: http://nemingha.hubpages.com/hub/The-History-of-Western-Medicine

            This  article writes the history of Western Medicine and its great achievements. One can read how it started as a religious, magical medicine, eventually working it’s was up to sanitation, vaccinations, and x-rays. This source will be used to describe the great achievements of Western Medicine.

Strauss ( 1991). The Application of PET in Clinical Oncology. Retrieved From: http://ukpmc.ac.uk/abstract/MED/2013803 

            This is an abstract the discusses the use of PET, positron emission tomography in Cancer treatment. This mean the machine can see into your body looking at organs and body tissue to see how they function. This abstract writes how it is very effective in a variety of Cancer treatments. This will be used in my paper to discuss what doctors rely only on Western Medicine, and how the effectiveness of Western Medicine can be integrated into Integrative Medicine.

Wisegeek (2012). Western Medicine. Retrieved From: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-western-medicine.htm

            This web page offers the definition of Western Medicine, and what contribute to Western Medicine, such as chemotherapy, radiation, x-rays, surgery and much more. I will use this to define Western Medicine, and describe its techniques comparatively to Eastern Medicine.

Eastern Medicine

Shen (2011). Tradititional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Cancer. A proven Alternative. Retrieved From: http://www.drshen.com/chineseherbsforcancer.htm     

            This article discusses what Cancer does to the body, disrupts the flow, and how this flow can be fixed, with Traditional Chinese Medicine. Because the nature of Cancer, sometimes tumorous, it causes stagnation (clogs in blood flow) and a weakening immune system. This article offers techniques with herbs on how to reduce stagnation and re-boot the immune system. I will integrate this article into my paper to give supportive information on which doctors rely solitary on eastern medicine, and offer ideas for integrative medicine.