Traditional Chinese Medicine & other non-Western medical traditions

It seems to be a quite a popular tend nowadays for medicine/health research to go back to the "roots" (pun intended). For example, all these craze about "green tea", ginkgo, etc in diets. Acupuncture has been making it's way into western medical practices.

Does anyone here practice these alternatives to western medicine professionally? Or, do any of you use it at home?

Chinese medicine seems to be fairly wide-known these days (maybe the 1/5 of the world might have something to do with this). What other traditions do you practice or know of?

Furthermore, along with globalization of the world, what other examples of integrative medicine do you know of?

Witchcraft! Works like a charm. =D

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Originally Posted by jadebunny9

Witchcraft! Works like a charm. =D

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really?! want to teach me some?

I am not a big fan of it. I believe there's good science and effective treatment in Chinese medicine, especially in professional centres; but there is too much crap surrounding it. Too much money making orientated, too many 'practitioners' without adequete training, too many sheeps out there willing to dish out loads for placebo effect and then blame western medicine for any drug interaction.

Other naturotherapies are even more BS. But I guess paying for it is good as long as you get the placebo effect you wanted.

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Originally Posted by S Beaver

really?! want to teach me some?

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Go to the jadebunny9 Wicca Works for details.;)

I'm not into taking medicine for every little thing, so I usually wait it out.
but when I do take medicine, it's usually Western things. Though since one of our family friends is a very good Chinese medicine doctor, I get stuff from her sometimes.

My mother makes soup with Chinese herbs (different combinations for different purposes) regularly.

I prefer to see a (licensed) practitioner of Chinese medicine when I have a sore throat or cough, mainly because Western-trained doctors tend to prescribe medicines that cause immense drowsiness, and I can't afford to be drowsy, drive (to/from work) and work at the same time. But once I develop a fever (I usually don't, btw), I'll go see a Western-trained doctor.

I also prefer the practitioner to prescribe herbs that are ground into powder on the spot, mixed with water and drunk, or whole herbs that are boiled and drunk, instead of formulae that are pre-packed/bottled Western-style. I feel better seeing the herbs; stops me from wondering what's actually inside the transparent capsules or stinky dark-coloured liquid.

Another reason to visit the practitioner of Chinese medicine is for better/quicker (in my opinion/experience :p) relief for sprains and such.

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For other medical problems, I visit Western-trained doctors.

It's always good to have many choices around to choose from.

The key is choosing the right one for the appropriate condition. :)

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Furthermore, along with globalization of the world, what other examples of integrative medicine do you know of?

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Hypnotherapy. I came across this while finding useful information to treat my friend's phobia (on birds). Despite its controversy it is still accepted as a medical profession. Edit: I mean I'm not so sure how effective hypno can be nor does it work for everyone but here are its uses: Uses of hypnosis.

Sarah Palin was healed by a witch-hunter in her Church.

True story.

it always amazes me how chinese doctors can tell what's wrong with you just by feeling your pulse. On my last trip to Beijing I went to see one and he could describe my symptoms and I didn't even give anything away, didn't cough or anything.