Western medicine looks at the discrete physical symptoms of a patient and uses interventions such as drugs or surgery to directly treat or manage a problem. Although nutrition, dietary and lifestyle advice are given, they are usually secondary to those previously mentioned interventions. Western medicine also views the mind and body and seperate entities or systems and treats them accordingly.
Chinese medicine views the patient holistically and examines physical, mental, and emotional symptoms to create a holistic diagnosis. It will acknowledge the patient’s symptoms, but in the context of the whole, and trace these symptoms back to the root cause of an illness or given health problem.
Treatment includes the use of acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage, and Chinese exercise such as Tai Chi or Qi Gong, along with dietary and lifestyle guidance to help reverse ill health.