Does Anyone

[bodhitree]

Does anyone here not use westen medicine and only use TCM? Does anyone use a TCM doctor? Whats your experiance? Is anyone here a TCM doctor? If so, Was getting experiance and education in it difficult? Thank you all!!!

[Christopher M]

Originally posted by bodhitree
Does anyone here not use westen medicine and only use TCM?

Fabulously bad idea. Internally inconsistent too: contemporary TCM docs encourage use of western medicine, and the CM community has nothing but the highest praise for western surgery in particular.

[ZIM]

Oh no, not on my life! I regard TCM and other traditional therapies as complementary and preventative.

[yuanfen]

One has to know a good TCM practioner rather than go to a wannabe. Just as knowing who is a good MD also helps.
A good TCM person these days knows the strengths and limits of allopathy as well. My TCM doctor went to TCM school in the PRC
and wasa professor there too. They first had to go through some of the same courses as the MDs. My TCM doctor is a good one-
but I wouldnt ask him to resew a severed arm. But neither would I ask my GP to do accupuncture which has helped me.

My late father was a top flight MD and a research professor of medicine... but his advice always was ---if a healer helps you that is what really matters.... wthether its a MD, a TCM, a Homeopath
etc.

Ultimately, one has to take charge of one's own health- all surgeons. GPs, specialists are not coequal. Same for TCM specialists. No substitute on homework.

NTC who posts from time to time knows about TCM. He has an excellent background in wing chun as well BTW.

[Jack Squat]

Bodhitree

As an AP, I can say that I regularly refer patients to MD's. Western Medicine has some great strengths, so why not use them? If the TCM doctors of old had access to an MRI, you can bet that they would've used them.

However, TCM is more than preventitive, as it can address SOME medical conditions much more effectively (treating the root and not just the branch) and more safely than Western Medicine. I feel the future (and best way) is in the integration of both. As others have said, just make sure you are going to a "good" (licensed and competent) TCM doctor. Just like all professional fields, some are better than others. Also, some TCM doc's may specialize in areas that may or may not be your condition. Some focus on pain, some on internal medicine, etc.

As far as education goes, I graduated from an accredited four year program in Oriental Medicine. Many Western courses were taught (A&P, Microbiology, Radiology, Pathology, etc). We studied herbs extensively, and herb-drug interactions. In addition, we attended medical autopsies. So, don't buy into the anti-TCM hype that we don't know anything about Western Medicine and we can't recognize serious medical conditions that are beyond our scope to treat. Many of our instructors were MD's.

The program was quite difficult, and harder than I anticipated it would be. Of course, there were some who chose to "squeak by" and those are the AP's to avoid!!!!!

If you are considering a career in TCM, I recommend that you move to another state. In PA, an AP (Acupuncture Physician) must have a referral from an MD. This severly limits your practice.

I hope this helps.


Jack

[bodhitree]

Thanks guys, appreciate the imput!

[chen zhen]

When sick, go to a doctor. And preferably a doctor that can help you with your illness.
Common sense.

[bodhitree]

Thanks all!
I just wanted to know what peoples experiances were with TCM!

[Repulsive Monkey]

On the hwole I use TCM and 5 Element acupuncture as my first call and then if that doesn't do the job I will use Western Medicine because to go down dying due to failure of a single commitment to a single view is ignorant, and suicidal.

But on thw whole I do use TCM and Traditional 5 Element stuff 80% of the time.
Not all people may want this approach, but then isn't variety a wonderful thing?!?

[bodhitree]

I agree RM
dying due to failure of a single commitment to a single view is ignorant, and suicidal. Repulsive Monkey

I just wanted to hear some experiances people had with TCM.

[norther practitioner]

I'd have to agree with most of you...
I try to use TCM more preventitively...

[Ming Yue]

I'm just gonna jump on this thread hugely late....

My TCM doctor and my western doc actually communicate to each other (perhaps a virtue of living in a small town). so my regular doc knows what herbs I'm taking, etc.

Frankly I see my western doc only about once a year, and I see my TCM doc more than that, but still, the two disciplines have served me well.

)
C