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Alternative Oriental Medicine Goes Mainstream
Original posting: March 2003 Issue
by CALIFORNIA KAY, graphics editor
Ah, the pains of life. Many of us have had memorable,
sometimes humbling, experiences in receiving the afflictions that the world has to offer our bodies and minds. Some afflictions are minor, such as that lingering hangover you got the morning after New Years. Other afflictions are more complex, such as stress (that overwhelming, tense emotion you take out on your roommate via screaming/hitting – common around finals week). For a few others, life’s physical and emotional pains come when on a visit to the doctor or hospital, when they finally see the medical bill, and wind up having to pay astronomical fees (there go the next few years of tuition fees). But thanks to innovations in the field of medicine, whatever afflictions life has to offer, doctors and scientists have come up with treatments and cures that can alleviate much of our pain, from intense migraines, to midterm stress, to burnt scalps resulting from stunts inspired by Jackass. For most people, taking the pills the good doctor prescribes to reduce muscular pain or intestinal discomfort usually works wonders. For others, however, the side effects and cost of pills and surgery add to the ailments, or simply don’t get the job done. Thus, many Americans have resorted to the growing, and somewhat recent field of study in the United States known as alternative medicine.
Alternative medicine can occur in countless forms, ranging from oriental herbs, to acupuncture, to meditation, to chiropractics, to applied kinesiology, to even less expected forms such as massage, dance, and music therapy (Kaslof, 1978). Just how effective are these forms of treatment compared to traditional Western medicine? When Americans think of alternative medicine, they tend to think of herbs made from ground roots, or acupuncture needles stuck into one’s back. It certainly seems frightening and sounds like an event taken from an episode of Fear Factor. Effectiveness is one thing, but safety is a greater concern. So just how safe are these alternative treatments? With new innovations in the medical field, how have Americans increasingly incorporated a new, holistic approach to medical cures and treatments in recent years?
In order to enlighten pain-stricken Americans about alternative, effective, and safe forms of medicine, the staff of The Worldly turned to Dr. Richard Chang, a specialist in Eastern and holistic medicine, to see what his views are in alternative medicine as a complementary treatment to Western medicine. Dr. Chang was a professor of Eastern medicine at South Baylo University and has been a medical practitioner for five years now. Thanks to him, we can provide our readers with a better understanding of what alternative medicine actually is and what its influence has been on American society.
Worldly: What is your definition of alternative medicine? How does it differ from Western medicine?
Chang: To start off, it’s called “alternative” because it is compared with “conventional medicine,” or what we know as “Western medicine.” Western medicine has been developed through scientific research over the last few centuries, with anatomy, physiology and pharmaceutical companies. It also involves surgeries and researching new medicines. Alternative medicine, on the other hand, has existed for several thousand years, based on the experiences of the patients, and has been tested with trial and error over a period of many years. It has been proven to be useful, and it is still useful now, and because of its usefulness, it has been passed down from generation to generation.
Worldly: American hospitals and other medical facilities have traditionally been reluctant to use alternative medicine to treat patients. Given the controversial issue of incorporating alternative medicine into standard American medical practices, how has today's medical community, as well as the government, generally responded to alternative medicine? What have they done to further develop and research these forms of treatment?
Chang: Many government and medical agencies have started to give alternative medicine a much more thorough look. In 1997, the NIH (National Institute of Health) held a three-day seminar to specifically announce a consensus about the alternative treatment known as acupuncture. That was the first time a federal organization did such a thing. Actually, acupuncture was being accepted in the U.S. gradually after former President Nixon visited China. The practice is very hard to prove from a scientific point of view, but since more than one billion people in China were using it, Western researchers started to try to understand Eastern medicine to further their understanding of human health. Now, lots of universities have their own research centers dedicated to understanding Eastern medicine.
Worldly: How has the public responded to alternative medicine, and how many Americans use it to resolve their physical ailments? Has alternative medicine seen a good growth of usage in recent years, and if so, how much?
Chang: The best evidence of the public’s reactions is that several insurance companies now cover some forms of alternative medicine as treatment. Insurance companies, namely, Blue Shield, Blue Cross, and Signa have now considered acupuncture as a treatment. It’s gaining in popularity only because, for many people, it’s working. That’s why the insurance companies are willing to cover this treatment. Even the state MediCal program now covers acupuncture treatment. In America, there are several million acupuncture visits in the United States every year, and the number continues to grow.
Worldly: Does alternative medicine also assist patients with emotional or mental conditions?
Chang: Yes, it does. One of the purposes of alternative medicine is to help people maintain balance. In oriental medicine, it is believed that some mental problems occur because the patient is not in balance both mentally and physically. Acupuncture, for example, works to keep people’s “qi” (energy flow) in balance. When there is something wrong with a person’s body, it throws them out of balance physically and they are affected in many ways because of it. “Qi” is a human body’s vital force, or energy flow, and this is what acupuncturists try to fix in order to solve the patient’s problems.
Worldly: What innovations are currently underway in the field of alternative medicine?
Chang: Unfortunately, there’s not that much being done to innovate this field because Western researchers are still trying to understand and prove the intricacies of alternative medicine, and most particularly in Eastern medicine. There is still much to discover about alternative medicine, and until we are more knowledgeable about these forms of medicine, we’re unable to innovate further than what we already know.
Worldly: How effective has alternative medicine been? What can alternative medicine administrators do to help people become aware of the alternatives to traditional Western medicine?
Chang: The major business of alternative medicine comes from people who need to relieve pain and help their sleep patterns. Many patients also use acupuncture to calm their mental state. For these things, alternative medicine is most useful. As for making people aware, there are lots of reports through the media – newspapers, magazines, and TV programs. Also, a lot of awareness comes from recommendations from patients to their friends.
Worldly: How effective is alternative medicine when used in combination with Western medicine?
Chang: One example of how the two can be used together is with stroke patients. After a stroke, patients usually stay in rehabilitation facilities, but with the help with acupuncture treatments, they can quicken their progress in the handling of their daily life. I once treated an 81 year-old stroke patient in a rehab center [using Eastern medicine to supplement her Western medicine]. She was discharged in 40 days, compared with the average stay of 60 days. The Western doctors were very surprised, and they seemed interested and watched when I did the treatments. Even though it obviously helps patients in hospitals, it is still not covered by some insurance agencies. Because of this, it can’t be integrated with Western medicine because of the lack of coverage, therefore costing a lot for patients to obtain.
Worldly: How often do American medical schools incorporate alternative medicine into their curriculum?
Chang: Close to 100% of all medical schools in the United States already offer an introductory class for oriental medicine. Today, universities and medical researchers have become more aware of the importance and advantages of incorporating alternative medicine into their studies
Worldly: Are there comments that you’d like to add to the topic of alternative medicine?
Chang: Since billions in China and many others are currently using alternative treatments worldwide with positive results, it is unfortunate that most Americans have not given alternative medicine the chance to prove its effectiveness in our country, especially when combined with conventional medicine. Such treatments are relatively cheap and effective, and free from side effects, which many Western treatments have.
Thanks to Dr. Richard Chang and his expertise, many of us now have a better knowledge of what alternative medicine and treatments are. Some of us still remain skeptical about incorporating alternative treatments into standard medical practices. After all, like other things in life, what may work for one person might not work for another. That’s why today’s American universities and hospitals currently have armies of researchers trying to solve the complexities of alternative medicine. Maybe one day, with the perfect combination of conventional and alternative treatments, we’ll find the perfect cure for every ailment life throws our way – from exam stress to hangovers. Wouldn’t it be cool to finally have a remedy for every injury resulting from stunts inspired by Jackass? Think of how many stunts you could pull off in one lifetime! Whatever the case may be, alternative medicine has certainly found a new, growing place in American medical society. By knowing more about alternative medicine, the American public has less to fear about it. Heck, maybe some of us will find that some of our long-time, Western treatments are alternative too. After all, which sounds more appealing: bitter tasting, hard-to-swallow, take-every-four-to-six-hours pills, or a bowl of warm chicken broth?
Supplemental research: Kaslof, Leslie. Holistic Dimensions in Healing – A Resource Guide. Doubleday and Company, Inc. Garden City, NY: 1978.
Many, many thanks to Dr. Richard Chang, who shared his knowledge and time with all of us.
The responses made by Dr. Richard Chang do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of the author or the staff of The Worldly. The goal of this article was not to persuade anyone to use alternative medicine, but rather, keep an open mind on this complex topic and the treatments that other forms of medicine may offer. As with any medical treatment, conventional or alternative, research and consultation with experts should be taken before seeking such treatments.
Original posting: March 2003 Issue
by CALIFORNIA KAY, graphics editor
Ah, the pains of life. Many of us have had memorable,
sometimes humbling, experiences in receiving the afflictions that the world has to offer our bodies and minds. Some afflictions are minor, such as that lingering hangover you got the morning after New Years. Other afflictions are more complex, such as stress (that overwhelming, tense emotion you take out on your roommate via screaming/hitting – common around finals week). For a few others, life’s physical and emotional pains come when on a visit to the doctor or hospital, when they finally see the medical bill, and wind up having to pay astronomical fees (there go the next few years of tuition fees). But thanks to innovations in the field of medicine, whatever afflictions life has to offer, doctors and scientists have come up with treatments and cures that can alleviate much of our pain, from intense migraines, to midterm stress, to burnt scalps resulting from stunts inspired by Jackass. For most people, taking the pills the good doctor prescribes to reduce muscular pain or intestinal discomfort usually works wonders. For others, however, the side effects and cost of pills and surgery add to the ailments, or simply don’t get the job done. Thus, many Americans have resorted to the growing, and somewhat recent field of study in the United States known as alternative medicine.Alternative medicine can occur in countless forms, ranging from oriental herbs, to acupuncture, to meditation, to chiropractics, to applied kinesiology, to even less expected forms such as massage, dance, and music therapy (Kaslof, 1978). Just how effective are these forms of treatment compared to traditional Western medicine? When Americans think of alternative medicine, they tend to think of herbs made from ground roots, or acupuncture needles stuck into one’s back. It certainly seems frightening and sounds like an event taken from an episode of Fear Factor. Effectiveness is one thing, but safety is a greater concern. So just how safe are these alternative treatments? With new innovations in the medical field, how have Americans increasingly incorporated a new, holistic approach to medical cures and treatments in recent years?
In order to enlighten pain-stricken Americans about alternative, effective, and safe forms of medicine, the staff of The Worldly turned to Dr. Richard Chang, a specialist in Eastern and holistic medicine, to see what his views are in alternative medicine as a complementary treatment to Western medicine. Dr. Chang was a professor of Eastern medicine at South Baylo University and has been a medical practitioner for five years now. Thanks to him, we can provide our readers with a better understanding of what alternative medicine actually is and what its influence has been on American society.
Worldly: What is your definition of alternative medicine? How does it differ from Western medicine?
Chang: To start off, it’s called “alternative” because it is compared with “conventional medicine,” or what we know as “Western medicine.” Western medicine has been developed through scientific research over the last few centuries, with anatomy, physiology and pharmaceutical companies. It also involves surgeries and researching new medicines. Alternative medicine, on the other hand, has existed for several thousand years, based on the experiences of the patients, and has been tested with trial and error over a period of many years. It has been proven to be useful, and it is still useful now, and because of its usefulness, it has been passed down from generation to generation.Worldly: American hospitals and other medical facilities have traditionally been reluctant to use alternative medicine to treat patients. Given the controversial issue of incorporating alternative medicine into standard American medical practices, how has today's medical community, as well as the government, generally responded to alternative medicine? What have they done to further develop and research these forms of treatment?
Chang: Many government and medical agencies have started to give alternative medicine a much more thorough look. In 1997, the NIH (National Institute of Health) held a three-day seminar to specifically announce a consensus about the alternative treatment known as acupuncture. That was the first time a federal organization did such a thing. Actually, acupuncture was being accepted in the U.S. gradually after former President Nixon visited China. The practice is very hard to prove from a scientific point of view, but since more than one billion people in China were using it, Western researchers started to try to understand Eastern medicine to further their understanding of human health. Now, lots of universities have their own research centers dedicated to understanding Eastern medicine.
Worldly: How has the public responded to alternative medicine, and how many Americans use it to resolve their physical ailments? Has alternative medicine seen a good growth of usage in recent years, and if so, how much?
Chang: The best evidence of the public’s reactions is that several insurance companies now cover some forms of alternative medicine as treatment. Insurance companies, namely, Blue Shield, Blue Cross, and Signa have now considered acupuncture as a treatment. It’s gaining in popularity only because, for many people, it’s working. That’s why the insurance companies are willing to cover this treatment. Even the state MediCal program now covers acupuncture treatment. In America, there are several million acupuncture visits in the United States every year, and the number continues to grow.
Worldly: Does alternative medicine also assist patients with emotional or mental conditions?
Chang: Yes, it does. One of the purposes of alternative medicine is to help people maintain balance. In oriental medicine, it is believed that some mental problems occur because the patient is not in balance both mentally and physically. Acupuncture, for example, works to keep people’s “qi” (energy flow) in balance. When there is something wrong with a person’s body, it throws them out of balance physically and they are affected in many ways because of it. “Qi” is a human body’s vital force, or energy flow, and this is what acupuncturists try to fix in order to solve the patient’s problems.
Worldly: What innovations are currently underway in the field of alternative medicine?
Chang: Unfortunately, there’s not that much being done to innovate this field because Western researchers are still trying to understand and prove the intricacies of alternative medicine, and most particularly in Eastern medicine. There is still much to discover about alternative medicine, and until we are more knowledgeable about these forms of medicine, we’re unable to innovate further than what we already know.
Worldly: How effective has alternative medicine been? What can alternative medicine administrators do to help people become aware of the alternatives to traditional Western medicine?
Chang: The major business of alternative medicine comes from people who need to relieve pain and help their sleep patterns. Many patients also use acupuncture to calm their mental state. For these things, alternative medicine is most useful. As for making people aware, there are lots of reports through the media – newspapers, magazines, and TV programs. Also, a lot of awareness comes from recommendations from patients to their friends.
Worldly: How effective is alternative medicine when used in combination with Western medicine?
Chang: One example of how the two can be used together is with stroke patients. After a stroke, patients usually stay in rehabilitation facilities, but with the help with acupuncture treatments, they can quicken their progress in the handling of their daily life. I once treated an 81 year-old stroke patient in a rehab center [using Eastern medicine to supplement her Western medicine]. She was discharged in 40 days, compared with the average stay of 60 days. The Western doctors were very surprised, and they seemed interested and watched when I did the treatments. Even though it obviously helps patients in hospitals, it is still not covered by some insurance agencies. Because of this, it can’t be integrated with Western medicine because of the lack of coverage, therefore costing a lot for patients to obtain.
Worldly: How often do American medical schools incorporate alternative medicine into their curriculum?
Chang: Close to 100% of all medical schools in the United States already offer an introductory class for oriental medicine. Today, universities and medical researchers have become more aware of the importance and advantages of incorporating alternative medicine into their studies
Worldly: Are there comments that you’d like to add to the topic of alternative medicine?
Chang: Since billions in China and many others are currently using alternative treatments worldwide with positive results, it is unfortunate that most Americans have not given alternative medicine the chance to prove its effectiveness in our country, especially when combined with conventional medicine. Such treatments are relatively cheap and effective, and free from side effects, which many Western treatments have.
Thanks to Dr. Richard Chang and his expertise, many of us now have a better knowledge of what alternative medicine and treatments are. Some of us still remain skeptical about incorporating alternative treatments into standard medical practices. After all, like other things in life, what may work for one person might not work for another. That’s why today’s American universities and hospitals currently have armies of researchers trying to solve the complexities of alternative medicine. Maybe one day, with the perfect combination of conventional and alternative treatments, we’ll find the perfect cure for every ailment life throws our way – from exam stress to hangovers. Wouldn’t it be cool to finally have a remedy for every injury resulting from stunts inspired by Jackass? Think of how many stunts you could pull off in one lifetime! Whatever the case may be, alternative medicine has certainly found a new, growing place in American medical society. By knowing more about alternative medicine, the American public has less to fear about it. Heck, maybe some of us will find that some of our long-time, Western treatments are alternative too. After all, which sounds more appealing: bitter tasting, hard-to-swallow, take-every-four-to-six-hours pills, or a bowl of warm chicken broth?
Supplemental research: Kaslof, Leslie. Holistic Dimensions in Healing – A Resource Guide. Doubleday and Company, Inc. Garden City, NY: 1978.
Many, many thanks to Dr. Richard Chang, who shared his knowledge and time with all of us.
The responses made by Dr. Richard Chang do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of the author or the staff of The Worldly. The goal of this article was not to persuade anyone to use alternative medicine, but rather, keep an open mind on this complex topic and the treatments that other forms of medicine may offer. As with any medical treatment, conventional or alternative, research and consultation with experts should be taken before seeking such treatments.
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