What is the differences in approaches between the West and the East?

The difference between Western and Eastern medicine lies in the way the body is treated. In short, there is a difference in the approach, whether to deal with the problem for immediate effect or to pursue the cause. Both have their advantages, but it is important to choose the one that best suits your lifestyle.

Western medicine, also known as modern medicine, treats patients by scientifically, topically, and theoretically analyzing their conditions and eliminating the lesions and etiologies that cause their symptoms. The diagnosis is made not only by physical examination and interview, but also by using objective data such as blood tests.

In terms of treatment, there is a significant difference between Western and Eastern medicine. Western medicine diagnoses diseases by narrowing down possible diseases based on the patient's symptoms and progress, vital signs (blood pressure, pulse rate, body temperature, etc.), findings obtained from medical examinations (e.g., pain when the stomach is pressed), and the results of tests using diagnostic imaging equipment such as blood tests and X-rays. Based on the diagnosis obtained, the treatment is carried out by administering therapeutic drugs or surgery for the cause of the disease. In other words, the treatment is to eliminate the cause of the disease on a scientific basis. Western medicine is effective at treating conditions with a clear cause.

Eastern medicine, on the other hand, is an empirical medicine, and diagnoses the current condition based on subjective judgment using Eastern medical examination methods. In Eastern medicine, health is a state in which the body's own healing power is in balance with the seasons, stress, and the living environment, and a state in which the balance is out of balance is called "mibyo”. There are various treatments such as herbal medicine, acupuncture and moxibustion. The treatment method is selected according to the condition of the body and works to restore the original balance.

Eastern medicine is a method of treatment that fundamentally cures physical disorders from the inside out. Eastern medicine is also based on the concept of building up one's resistance to illness by avoiding fatigue.

Neither Western medicine nor Eastern medicine is better or worse than the other. Western medicine has the advantage of being able to treat illnesses in a short period of time, while Eastern medicine takes longer but is gentler on the body. Eastern medicine is characterized by its long-term treatment and its ability to treat the constitution from the root.

Western medicine and Eastern medicine differ in the way they approach illness and injury, but they both aim to "support human health". It is important to face illness and injury from the perspective of both the West and the East, rather than just giving priority to one or the other.