Traditional Chinese Medicine: Traditional Medicine

Living on a planet that is constantly at war with maladies, humans are developing new medical technology every day. With this new technology, there is a choice: natural or unnatural? Traditional Chinese medicine uses herbal medicines and various mind and body practices, such as acupuncture and tai chi, to treat or prevent health problems (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health). Western medicine is a system in which medical doctors and other healthcare professionals such as nurses, pharmacists, and therapists treat symptoms and diseases using drugs, radiation or surgery. Traditional Chinese medicine is from the ancient philosophy of Taoism, originated in China and has evolving over thousands of years. Taoism is a religious

Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese tradition that, today, is a graceful form of exercise involving a series of movements performed in a slow, focused manner and accompanied by deep breathing (Mayo Clinic). If practiced quickly, tai chi can also be a form of combat or self-defense. It is supported by many associations such as The National Parkinson Foundation and Diabetes Australia. Diet and exercise are the cornerstone of diabetes management. People with diabetes who exercise regularly have better control over their blood glucose levels and fewer complications such as heart disease and stroke (Tai Chi for Health Institute). Tai Chi is considered a generally safe practice and is believed to be useful in treating a number of human ailments. Typically, tai chi is used to reduce stress. Tai chi has also been proven to help with Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects movement (Mayo Clinic). This disease develops when there is a loss of nerve cells in the brain which produce a chemical called dopamine (UCB Canada). Parkinson’s disease affects 1 in every 500 people in Canada, over 100 000 Canadians are living with Parkinson’s today and approximately 6600 new cases of PD are diagnosed each year in Canada (UCB

Carbidopa-levodopa, the most effective Parkinson 's disease medication, is a natural chemical that passes into your brain and is converted to dopamine; this drug includes side effects such as nausea and lightheadedness (Mayo Clinic). After years, as your disease progresses, the benefit from levodopa may become less stable, with a tendency to wear off (Mayo Clinic). Western medicine is when medical doctors treat symptoms and sicknesses with practices such as radiation, drugs, or surgery. It first emerged from “western civilizations” (countries populated or settled by Europeans). Western medicine is considered relatively newly developed and involves more modern technology than traditional Chinese medicine. Doctors in the practice of western medicine are typically more interested in vital signs such as weight, height, body temperature and blood