Comparing Western and Chinese Medicine

The following article is result of several inquiries, over the years regarding the primary differences between western and Chinese medicine.

Age: Western medicine is a little over 200 years old. Chinese medicine dates back 8000 years ago.

Western medical philosophy: Wait for symptoms to appear, then treat the symptoms. Rooted in the concept of a collection of body parts and chemicals. Treatment methods involve the repair and replacement of body parts (surgery) and the "correction" of body chemistry by other chemicals (drugs).

Chinese medical philosophy: Prevent the occurrence of symptoms by keeping the entire mind-body-spirit in balance. Rooted in the concept that the body comprises complex energy systems continuosly striving to keep itself in balance.

Focus of western medicine: Trauma, emergency & surgical medicine. Analytical and compartmentalized approach. Superior in defending and eliminating external pathogens that threaten life.

Focus of Chinese medicine: Acute and chronic non-emergency medicine. Holistic approach. Superior in fundamentally prevention of disease and associated processes.

Western medical Cost's: Pay insurance premiums in order to have the right to have an average co-pay of $15 - 20 for office visits and $10 - 20 for prescription medications and annual deductible of $2000. Average monthly premium is between a car payment or mortgage payment or combination of the two ($200-1100 per month). Average family of four annual premium is $10,000, which approximates the annual salary of a minimum wage worker. Annual costs: $2400-13,200 + co-pays + average of $2000 deductible = $4400 - 15,200.

Chinese medical Cost's: Pay out of pocket for treatments. Average monthly maintenance & wellness treatments approx. $250. (1 acupuncture treatment, 1 massage, and custom herbal formulas). Annual costs for maintenance & wellness treatments are approximately $3000.

Western medical Care Responsibility: Managed care dictates that each patient relinquish control of their health and wellness over to the managed care provider (health insurance company).

Chinese medical Care Responsibility: Individual patient assumes control of their own health and wellness; works with their health care practitioner on obataining optimal results without third party insurance interference.

How western medicine succeeds: Insurance systems work best when the fewest number of participants actually use it (i.e. make claims). This way an insurer makes profit and is supposed to lower the premium which, in turn, brings more paying participants who are happy NOT TO USE the insurance, especially if it does not cost them too much. Remember, we are talking about real insurance and truly "insurable event" - something that is definitely undesirable.

How Chinese medicine succeeds: Health or wellness systems works best when the most people use it (i.e. get checkups, tests and preventative, maintenance treatments).

Western medical satisfaction: Managed health care, unfortunately, satisfies nobody. It enrages health care practitioners and consumers alike when it limits or denies payments on the grounds that the particular treatment or service is not medically necessary. It also frustrates insurers by mandating payment for routine services, whether they are really necessary or not. 46 million in US can not afford to have health insurance. 60% of uninsured are under the age of 35.

Chinese medical satisfaction: Those who are willing to take responsibility for their own health and wellness are the most satisfied, since they are working with their health care practitioner on a workable plan to attain optimum wellness.

Western medical Value System: Another basic problem with the current system: it's the belief that health care is a benefit of employment. So if you are unemployed, self-employed or employed by someone who lacks the negotiating power of big businesses - health insurance is not for you. The current fundamentally irrational health insurance system is designed for conflicts and lawsuits rather than providing the best health care at the best prices.

Chinese medical Value System: The value of Health is set predominately high versus placing high values on living a lifestyle or adopting habits that are counterproductive to health, longevity and wellness. Based on the concept of balance: mentally, physically, spiritually at a cost that is comparable to or less than health insurance premiums.

Western medical physician Malpractice Insurance: The cost of malpractice insurance has caused good doctors to leave there practices, due to ever increasing premiums, which are passed on to patients as increased treatment fees.

Chinese medical physician Malpractice Insurance: Since holistic medicine is less invasive, the risk of injury or death is dramatically lower, allowing for relatively low malpractice premiums, which allow for reduced fees for patient care.

Meridian Harmonics