How Traditional Chinese Medicine Defines Disease And How It Differs From The Allopathic Concept

Different cultures have varying perceptions about diseases. Most Western cultures would consider disease as a natural phenomenon that normally occurs when the body is exposed to extreme heat, wet and cold. However, some cultures perceive that diseases occur due to bad luck and that human beings have minimal control over their health.Traditional Chinese Medicine, also called oriental medicine, is an ancient method of healing that has been around for thousands of years but continues to be of use worldwide. In fact, more and more people are taking advantage of this traditional method of healing as it does bring satisfactory therapeutic benefits minus the side effects. For thousands of years, this medical system has been used to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases. It primarily aims to restore balance and harmony in the body to promote health and fitness.Chinese has a different and complex explanation on how diseases occur. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, diseases occur as a result of disharmony which may be triggered by some external and internal factors. It happens when the organs responsible for digestion, regulating aging and breathing are not in tune with the outside forces.The allopathic anatomy system of a human body is actually comprised of 10 distinct systems that come with their own set of functions. Allopathic medicine is conventional healing practice that is designed to counteract the effects which diseases bring about. According to Wikipedia, this conventional medicine practice makes use of physical interventions or pharmacologically active agents to alleviate the symptoms or treat diseases.Traditional Chinese Medicine is less concerned with anatomical structures and systems. Instead, it focuses on identifying and examining different factors that play important roles in the process of breathing, aging and digestion. It is a holistic method of healing which is based on the concept of balance and harmony. It also helps in stimulating the body’s natural curative powers in order to treat and prevent diseases.The body is said to contain Qi or life energy which flows along the meridians of the body. When the flow of energy or qi is blocked or weakened, health diseases begin to transpire. Basically, the occurrence of health illnesses is mainly triggered by a blockage in the flow of life energy.Traditional Chinese Medicine aims to find treatment to the underlying causes of diseases. Practitioners will use distinct diagnostic methods to determine some patterns which cause disharmony. Once the underlying causes of harmony are identified, the practitioner will recommend the best methods which are capable of restoring balance in the body such as massage, herbs and acupuncture.In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the human body is viewed as an organic whole. According to this system, the organs of the body are divided into three subtypes, the yin (zang), the yang (fu) and the extraordinary fu organs. These organs are interconnected through the map of collaterals and meridians. According to ancient Chinese medicine, a human body is composed of the yin and yang energies, and five basic elements which include air, water, earth, metal and fire.In western medicine, the human body is seen as a separate entity which can be affected by seasonal and climate changes but the two are not seen as united just like how Chinese view it. Geography is also seen as a major factor that affects the health condition of a human body. A change in geography usually accompanies a change in climate which can create an impact to the body. Through time, the body will be able to adapt to these changes.Day and night also create impact to the body. Yang is said to increase externally in the morning and circulates at noon and daytime. When the night comes, the energy becomes internal thereby making people fall into sleep. With this scenario, we can conclude that the yang energy is the active and external while the yin is the nurturing and internal energy.Aside from the varying concept of diseases between western medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine, treatment also varies. Normally, patients sharing the same diseases and symptoms are given the same treatments. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, therapists treat the patients, not the health illness. Practitioners believe that patients may have the same health condition and similar complaints but the underlying causes of the condition vary. Thus, each patient should receive different treatment therapy depending on his or her needs.

Tele Medicine and the Future Of Health Care Today – Why You Need Tele Medicine

Tele Medicine is the future of health care. People just don’t know it yet. Tele Medicine has been around for about 10 years for the rich and famous. Medical convenience has always been around for those who have had the money for a doctor on call. Think of this service as that old time country doctor who made house calls on request. This kind of service is defined as none emergency medical discussions of symptoms that can be discussed through a web cam or over the phone. Most doctors involved with this service like the web cam because they can see the patient and it is a little more personal. If a person feels uncomfortable using a web cam they can just use the phone. Online services like Tele Medicine is just now starting to come to the attention of the media and the online community. Even though this service has been on line for 10 years. Ask the average person and they have no idea what Tele Medicine really is. This kind of on line service gives the patient convenience and time savings like nothing they had before through their health care provider. There are on line services today that are giving people the option of an app for the iPhone or the Android phone that let you do everything through your cell phone. Tele Medicine is an advance in health care that gives convenience to the patient as well as savings.Do you remember how 25 years ago people use to think of the cell phone as a fade? People use to look at a cell phone as a luxury of convenience. Now we see grandma using a iPhone at the store or even text messaging and who would thought. Why have so many people gone to using the cell phone? Very simple it’s all about convenience, time savings, and having peace of mind. I remember the days being out on the road looking for a pay phone to make a phone call. Now kids would look at a pay phone and say what is that Dad. Makes a person think their getting kind of old (LOL). What is my point to all of this!! These on line medical services are Medical Cares next cell phone ( Think about that ). If you were to define what Tele Medicine really is in one word it would be “Convenience.” Just like your cell phone you use everyday.This on line interaction gives you options to discuss symptoms, prescriptions, script issues, or care related issues such as heart disease or other long term diseases. These on line doctors can even relay information to your primary care giver. That means blood pressure readings, blood sugars, pulse rates and other simple readings can be documented and passed on to your general doctor. You may be wondering where Tele Medicine could be going in the future. This is just the beginning. As on line medical services will be common place in the doctors offices in the future. You will see new doctors coming out of the medical colleges. Wanting to give this on line medical service to their patients because of the convenience and time savings. All in all you are foolish to not at least look at Tele Medicine as being apart of your general health care long term plan. If you love the idea of convenience, time savings and just peace of mind. Which means you know you can get a hold of a doctor any time of the day or night. Then Tele Medicine is your next service you must have.Join the future in health care and be part of the revolution that could change the face of long term health care and the insurance industry. Where we could see Tele Medicine used in our everyday life when it comes to Medical care. Just like the x-ray machine used everyday in Medical field. This is not just a fade its a service here to stay in the long term. You will see people using this service more and more as time goes on. Tele Medicine is not just a service its a revolution of convenience.