WHAT IS IT?

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM)
The food we eat and the water we drink are essential to providing the energy for all of the activities involved in life, including the maintenance of health and healing diseases. Chinese medicine recognizes the same physical mechanisms involved in the process of digestion as does the West.
TCM goes beyond TWM in understanding the important roles that our mental/emotional and spiritual aspects have regarding the diagnosis and treatment of GI imbalances.
You also need to have a minimal level of holistic harmony to prevent and treat problems related to appetite and body weight.

TRADITIONAL WESTERN MEDICINE (TWM)
Disorders of digestion is a broad category that includes many diverse diseases. The primary concern of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the processing and assimilation of nutrients which provide the necessary substrates and energy for the body to function. Any disruption to this process can lead to disease and discomfort. Diseases can involve any portion of the GI system, from the mouth to the rectum, as well as all the central nervous system (CNS) controls via hormones, catalysts and feedback mechanisms.

The causes of GI diseases may be infectious, toxic exposure, genetic, cancer, autoimmune or idiopathic (unknown).

Examples: irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); Chron’s disease; diverticulitis; ulcers; acid reflux; celiac sprue; ulcerative colitis; GI influenza; halitosis; herpes virus; malabsorption syndromes; weight control; and so on.


What are the symptoms?

TCM & TWM
The symptoms will vary according to the organs involved and the nature of the disease. The main difference is how the symptoms are grouped and interpreted. Chinese medicine will record all the pertinent physical symptoms and also record all the emotional/mental and spiritual symptoms as well.

Some of the possible symptoms are: nausea; vomiting; constipation; diarrhea; reflux; cramping; back pain; abdominal pain; fever; chills; increased or loss of appetite; anger; sadness; worry; allergies; fatigue.

How are they treated?

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM)
A healthy digestive system requires the coordination of several factors to ensure normal, asymptomatic function. Choosing the proper kind, quality and amount of food to be eaten is fundamental.

Attention must be paid to the mechanics of eating as well. Eating in a relaxed, thoughtful manner enhances the digestive process and prevents poor assimilation and elimination.

The five major organ systems in the body must be in balance to avoid digestive problems. The more routinely these factors are part of your daily diet, the greater the likelihood of recovery from a problem becomes and the less likely it will return.

Acupuncture and herbal therapy are commonly used to treat the physical part of the GI problem and to treat the related emotional/mental and spiritual imbalances associated with it. These interventions are proven to be effective in the majority of GI disturbances, even those imbalances TWM calls autoimmune and idiopathic.

Chinese medicine is also effective in correcting eating disorders and helping to achieve and maintain a more ideal body weight.

TRADITIONAL WESTERN MEDICINE (TWM)
Digestive diseases caused by infections are treated with antibiotics. Inflammatory diseases are symptomatically controlled with diet changes, anti-inflammatory drugs and steroids. GI diseases that fail to respond to more conservative measures are treated with psychiatry and/or surgery (partial or total removal of the involved organs).