On a quiet spring afternoon, Auntie Li, a retired teacher, sits in her cosy little living room, the leaves of the sycamore trees swaying gently in the wind. Her brow furrowed, as if she was troubled by something. Auntie Li is in her sixties and has always been health-conscious, but recently, her joint pain seems to have become more frequent and severe. In the small medicine box at home, Western medicine and Chinese medicine coexist, as if it is a portrayal of her long-term hesitation and hesitation about the treatment method.
Not long ago, Aunt Li visited her family doctor again. The doctor prescribed her some anti-inflammatory painkillers, which seemed to work in the first few days, and the pain in her joints eased. But soon after, the pain quietly returned. She began to wonder, what is the reason for this? Is Western medicine only "treating the symptoms" rather than "curing the root cause"?
"Western medicine treats the symptoms, Chinese medicine treats the root cause", this idea seems to have been circulating among old friends in the community. Aunt Li silently recited this sentence in her heart, confused and curious. She decided to get to the bottom of the reasoning. To this end, she embarked on a journey of discovery, wondering what the truth behind this sentence was, and what it really meant to "treat the symptoms" and "cure the root causes".
In Aunt Lee's story, we will explore this question together. We will step into Auntie Lee's life and find out how she demystified this medical topic through her own experiences, consulting doctors, reading, and research. Let's see if Aunt Li can finally find the answer in her heart and what we can learn from her story.
Aunt Li's joint pain seems to have become a regular visitor in her life. Whenever the weather changes, or she is overtired, those old pains will remind her mercilessly. The painkillers given to her by Western medicine seemed to be only a temporary solution, and she began to think about the old question: "Is this really the case when Western medicine treats the symptoms and Chinese medicine treats the root cause?"
In search of answers, she embarks on her own journey of discovery. She consulted a number of Western and TCM experts, read books on integrative medicine, and read a large number of relevant popular science articles. She has come to understand that the concepts of "treating the symptoms" and "treating the root cause" are not an either/or choice, but strategies for different pathologies and stages of treatment.
In her explorations, one case caught her particular interest. This is the story of a middle-aged man who has similar health problems to Aunt Li. After experiencing rapid pain-relieving treatment from Western medicine, his symptoms were temporarily relieved, but it didn't take long for the pain to return. After that, he turned to TCM treatment. TCM physicians not only paid attention to his symptoms, but also made comprehensive adjustments to his Xi and diet. After a few months, his condition improved significantly.
This case made Aunt Li realize that Western medicine treatment is often more rapid and direct, especially in controlling symptoms and providing first aid. Traditional Chinese medicine, on the other hand, focuses more on the holistic approach and achieves long-term healing effects by regulating the balance of the body.
Aunt Li's exploration made her think that perhaps combining the essence of these two medicines was the key to solving her health problems. Western medicine can quickly relieve her pain, while Chinese medicine can help her fundamentally improve her physical fitness and reduce the recurrence of pain. She decided to manage her acute symptoms under the treatment of Western medicine and at the same time cooperate with the conditioning of Chinese medicine in order to achieve a more comprehensive health recovery.
Through this period of learning and Xi understanding, Aunt Li not only increased her medical knowledge, but also had a deeper understanding of the saying that "Western medicine treats the symptoms, and Chinese medicine treats the root cause". She realizes that each treatment has its own unique advantages and limitations, and the key is how to choose and match it according to her specific situation.
Aunt Li's research journey eventually led her to an experienced integrative medicine doctor. The doctor patiently explained: "Western medicine treats the symptoms, Chinese medicine treats the root cause" is an oversimplification. In fact, Western medicine is not only concerned with the alleviation of symptoms, but also involves the study and treatment of the causes, while while Chinese medicine attaches great importance to holistic conditioning, it also has its own unique features in symptom control. Only then did Aunt Li realize that her understanding of "treating the symptoms" and "curing the root cause" was one-sided before.
In an in-depth conversation, the doctor came up with the idea of an integrated treatment. For Aunt Li's joint pain, the methods of Western medicine can quickly relieve the pain, while the conditioning of Chinese medicine can fundamentally improve her physique and reduce the recurrence of the disease. Aunt Li began to realize that combining the advantages of both medicines might be the most ideal treatment option.
The doctor further explained: "In modern medical practice, 'treating the symptoms' does not mean superficial treatment, but direct and rapid intervention against the condition. In contrast, 'cure' emphasizes in-depth research and long-term management of the cause. He also mentioned some specific data, such as research on the efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine and Western medicine in the treatment of specific diseases, to help Auntie Li understand the two medical systems more comprehensively.
At the end of the article, Auntie Li's story concludes: "When facing health problems, the most important thing is to understand the advantages and limitations of different treatments, rather than blindly pursuing a single treatment plan. Whether it is Western medicine or Chinese medicine, choosing the right method can truly achieve the maintenance and improvement of health. ”
The article ends with a gentle but firm tone, encouraging readers to actively consult a professional doctor for comprehensive and objective medical advice when facing health problems, rather than relying solely on the Internet or non-professional opinions.