Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: carreerslut on 30/07/2009 20:42:08

Title: Who does Chinese and Western medicine compare?
Post by: carreerslut on 30/07/2009 20:42:08

Western approach, the medical religion of the West, or the tradditional chinese approach, the equivalent of the East?  Leaving aside other medical forms such as ayuverdic, homeopathy etc., would be interesting to compare these two different approaches.  Both are steeped in hundreds if not over a thousand years of traddition, but have come to different conclusions regarding the diagnosis and treatment of diesease.  No bias from me, just want to know what people think.

Title: Re: Who does Chinese and Western medicine compare?
Post by: _Stefan_ on 31/07/2009 04:04:25

Western allopathic (i.e. Science-based) medicine is the only form of medicine that relies consistently upon scientific evidence to determine its safety and efficacy.

Some traditional Chinese treatments may be safe and effective, but there is no good way to determine this without scientific evidence. And once the evidence is available, the treatment becomes absorbed by the Science-based medical system.

You could go so far as to say that any medicine that distinguishes itself from Science-based medicine, is not medicine at all.