top of page
Writer's pictureDr. Angie Lipson

Eastern vs. Western Medicine


There is no question that Eastern and Western medicine have incredibly different approaches to wellness, but that doesn't mean that one outweighs the other.


Both Eastern and Western medicine are used commonly across the world, and depending on where you live one may be favored over the other. Both systems have their pros and cons. So let’s differentiate between the two. This is the battle between Eastern and Western medicine. Let’s get ready to rumble!



A Brief History Lesson...

Eastern medicine has been around for over 2,000 years and began when ancient herbalists experimented with plant substances and their effects on humans. There are substances that have been found to enhance health, beauty, and the energetics of the body and mind.


Western medicine on the other hand has been around, in its current form, since the 19th century, although its roots began in ancient Greece and Egypt. It wasn’t until World War II that the development of synthetic drugs really began.



So what's the big difference??

The Eastern philosophy approach focuses on whole-body healing, whereas the Western philosophy takes a more targeted approach. When Eastern medicine doctors try to locate the source of a problem they take the whole system into account whereas Western medicine is more likely to consider only the current complaint that the patient has. Eastern medicine does not evaluate an illness purely based on the symptoms a person is showing, but rather, on complex patterns of disharmony in the body.



Is one method better than the other?

Many people have experienced symptom relief from both Eastern and Western medicine practices. When it comes to getting to the root of the problem Eastern medicine is much more effective at addressing the underlying source, whereas Western medicine more commonly targets the displayed symptoms. Western medicine is excellent for acute injuries such as emergency medicine, neurologic conditions, broken bones, and diagnostic testing to name a few.


As an Eastern medicine practitioner, I work closely with your Western medicine team to best support your health. I enjoy reading your laboratory or imaging results to help guide my treatments for you. There are definitely times that I send my clients to Western medicine doctors to ensure their health is best-taken care of. For many years in America, there was a lot of skepticism surrounding Eastern medicine, but in the last few decades, I have noticed there has been a dramatic increase and fascination with the effectiveness of Eastern Medicine.


If you have questions about how we can support your health or how we work in partnership with your Western team, please don't hesitate to ask. We are here for you!


Yours in health & wellness,





If you or your loved one is ready to give Eastern medicine a try, call or click today to book your New Patient Special.




Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page