According to a survey, more than 50% of patients who have visited a Chinese medicine practitioner sought treatment for musculoskeletal issues, such as back pain.
In fact, the range of conditions that Chinese medicine can alleviate extends beyond this.
Chinese medicine can also address a variety of complex conditions, including infertility, gynecological issues, digestive problems, skin diseases, insomnia, autonomic nervous system disorders, anxiety, and pediatric conditions, among others, all of which can be improved through Chinese medicine.
Currently, Chinese medicine practitioners have accumulated considerable experience in treating the following conditions:
This includes muscle, tendon, and joint pain, headaches, migraines, stomach pain, abdominal pain, neuralgia, UTIs, and haemorrhoids, among others.
Conditions such as menstrual pain, excessive or scanty menstrual bleeding, irregular menstruation, premenstrual syndrome, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, chocolate cysts, uterine fibroids, and subluxation. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can regulate and improve these issues, while Western medicine can be used for monitoring and examination.
Traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, and herbs can enhance conception chances. Recent studies indicate that acupuncture and Chinese medicine improve fertility outcomes. A 2011 Australian study found that after four months of Chinese medicine treatment for infertility, the success rate of conception was twice as high as with Western medicine or IVF (Daily Mail Australia, 2011).
Modern Chinese medicine excels at analyzing menstrual cycle changes, identifying infertility causes, and regulating the cycle to promote smooth ovulation and pregnancy. It also boosts IVF success rates. Research shows that IVF patients receiving acupuncture alongside treatment can increase their conception rate from 42.5% to 64.7%. Additionally, Chinese medicine mitigates side effects of ovulation drugs, such as severe nausea and vomiting, making infertility treatment less distressing and more sustainable (Judith et al., 2009).
For conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, and hives, Chinese medicine can address both symptoms and root causes through different stages of treatment. It begins with symptom relief, and once the symptoms are under control, it focuses on regulating the body’s constitution to achieve a more long-term resolution. This approach reduces, or even eliminates, the need for prolonged use of drugs like steroids or antihistamines, which are not suitable for long-term use.
This approach can improve patient survival rates, reduce discomfort and side effects from Western treatments, and enhance quality of life.
Conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux, flatulence, constipation, diarrhea, and loss of appetite may be alleviated with acupuncture and herbs. With appropriate treatment, dietary changes, and lifestyle adjustments as advised by the practitioner, symptoms often resolve without recurrence.
While Western medicine relies on antihistamines or steroids for short-term relief of conditions like eczema, contact dermatitis, hay fever, and asthma, Chinese medicine offers better long-term control through the holistic ways of treatments.
Conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be effectively managed with Chinese medicine. A 1998 study published in the American Journal of Medicine demonstrated its efficacy. In the study, IBS patients were divided into three groups: one received standardized Chinese medicine, another received personalized Chinese medicine based on body type, and the third received a placebo. Results showed that the first two groups outperformed the placebo, with longer-lasting effects when treatment was tailored to the individual.
While Chinese medicine may not cure high blood pressure or diabetes, it can alleviate related side effects, such as numbness in the hands and feet of diabetic patients, improving their quality of life.
Chinese medicine focuses on regulating a pregnant woman’s body to reduce discomfort, like morning sickness, and support stable fetal development. Many postpartum women experience blocked or inflamed mammary glands, causing hardness, severe bloating, or pain that hinders breastfeeding. Chinese medicine practitioners use lactation remedies to unblock glands, reduce pain, and improve breastfeeding.
Why is TCM capable of treating those difficult and stubborn diseases?
Both Western and Chinese medicine have their strengths, with fundamentally different logical approaches, offering alternative possibilities for disease treatment. The diagnostic methods of Western and Chinese medicine differ. For example, when observing a large tree, Western medicine focuses heavily on the changes in the tree itself, from cellular structures to microtubules, continuously dissecting and refining it to the most detailed level. However, it struggles to address uncertainties or things that cannot be seen.
In contrast, Chinese medicine is holistic and integrative, focusing on the environment surrounding the tree, such as the quality of the soil, the tree’s position in the forest, and the effects of climate changes on it. It emphasizes dynamic balance. Chinese and Western medicine represent two completely different systems of thought and philosophies. There is no basis for comparison in terms of which is better or worse; mutual respect is needed. The true skill lies in the ability to heal the patient.
