Modern vs Traditional Medicine - Essay Example

Medical research has advanced incredibly in all streams of medical interventions. Methodologies and techniques to tackle serious medical conditions has been standardised by researchers. Advances have been made in the detection and prevention of diseases and other medical conditions. These days, nations are setting aside a good portion of their budget for researches and developmental programmes in medicine. This must be read together with the fact that the factors relating to health and medical conditions of the population of a particular country are important determinants of the development index of that nation. It can also be seen that international organisations which are involved in developmental activities also spend a lot of effort in the area of medicine. While the modern advancements in medicine rely on calibrated usage of chemical substances and mechanical methods, there are medical interventions which were traditionally followed with the aid of naturally available materials and their combinations. Both these approaches in medicine have its own advantages and disadvantages. The objective of this essay is to critically compare and contrast modern medicine and traditional medicines. The Approach In order to analyse the two different streams in medicine, it is important to understand the approaches of both modern medicine and traditional medicine. As explained earlier traditional medicine is the branch of medicine which does not depend on manmade systems and chemicals to intervene with the body and tackle a medical condition. On the other side, it utilises naturally available materials, its combinations, its extracts and traditionally shared knowledge to deal with medical conditions. Wherein, modern medicine relies on different combinations of chemical substances to suppress medical conditions. Here we can observe that the methodologies vary to a vast extend. Taking this observation into account and while analysing the reason for this wide gap, it can be assumed that the approach of these two different kind of medical interventions differ a lot within itself. Steig (2011) has opined that the basic difference between traditional medicine and modern medicine is in their approach towards diseases and health. However, there are literatures available proving that there is ample difference between disease and illness. Disease is an abnormality in either the function or structure of organs and systems associated with it or a combination of both. This is merely a biological condition. However, illness has a larger perspective covering the psychological, physical and social status of the patient. Illness has been defined as the patient’s perception and experience of certain states which are disvalued in social terms. This would mean that illness extends its effect beyond a disease. In other words, all diseases are illness, but all illnesses are not diseases. This principle has been widely agreed upon by researchers and has been confirmed by Dr. Arthur Kleinman, a noted medical anthropologist (Steig, 2011). The basic difference in modern medicine and traditional medicine can be related to this principle. It is these two different approaches that make the two streams of medicine so different from each other. To explain it further, modern medicine deals merely with a biological condition of the body. Wherever, there is an abnormality in human organs or systems, modern medicines and methodologies intervene to correct these. Modern medicine detects this disorder precisely and either cure or delay the damage being caused by the abnormality. In contrast with this, illness which covers a larger spectrum including the spiritual, psychological condition in association with the disease is dealt by natural medicine. This would mean that traditional medicines involve a holistic intervention not limiting to the physical situation. This must be read together with the fact that the psychological and spiritual wellness of a person is important for a long term impact of a medical intervention. In this context, it can be said that traditional medicines are more holistic and its curative capacity is more long term than modern medicines. The Philosophy The philosophy of modern medical system is entirely based on scientifically calibrated principles, theories, practices and understandings. Various national and international organisations have formulated principles and ethics for medical practitioners to follow. These are formed and updated according to observations and findings made in the medical industry time to time. Another interesting fact on this philosophy of modern medicine based on code of conduct is that, it differs from region to region and system to system. For example the European medical standards are very much different from Asian or African medical system. Adding to this, it is also observable that different medical organisations within a geographical location have different medical standards. It will be interesting to note here that a practitioner of modern medical system who is trained in Asia is not allowed to carry out medical interventions in Europe without getting professionally adapted to and getting professionally qualified according to European standards. This proves that though the theories and science behind modern medical system are the same universally, its philosophy varies with many social theories associated with hygiene, values etc. Traditional medical systems are largely based on philosophical systems traditionally known and shared through generations. Many philosophical thoughts like worship of nature, Buddhism, thoughts from animism, pantheism and many other philosophical approaches (Bang, 2009). However, the generic philosophy of tradition medicine is that it helps human body to adapt to the systems of nature. (Bang, 2009). There are evidences in almost all forms of natural medicines which relates to this philosophy. In the case of Ayurveda, the Indian traditional medical stream, the philosophy is that everything in the universe is connected with each other. Based on this connections Ayurvedic interventions try to reinstate the lost balance between human body and other natural systems which will help the patient to regain balance of mind and purity (Bang, 2009). Another system of natural medicine, Shamanic medicine is based on the philosophy of driving out evil spirits and blessing the body to have effective relationship with nature. It involves psychological treatment of patients (Bang, 2009). Chinese system of traditional medicine also is based on a similar philosophy. It balances the systems of the body so that human is in unison with nature. Unhealthy thoughts, behavioural problems and imbalanced lifestyle are observed by the Buddhist system to be the causes of illness. The simplest medicine for many of the illnesses in this system is a perusal of a simple life style (Bang, 2009). However, it must be noted that these philosophies are passed on through traditional knowledge sharing methods. This may lead to loss of values based on the particular person involved. Systems for scientific documentation and sharing of these philosophies are less compared to the modern medical systems. The Cost Benefit Analysis The basic difference in between the natural and modern system of medicines in terms of its impact is the time period for the cure to take place. In general, modern medicines show quick signs of cure. This effect comes handy when dealing with critical medical conditions which need urgent interventions. The antibiotics which serves the antibodies of the body, brings down the symptoms of the medicine at a quicker pace. However, in the case of traditional medicines, the impact takes a longer time. Thus in traumatic conditions, these medicines are generally used. However, if this is analysed based on the philosophies of the medical systems being discussed, it can be found that the effect of traditional systems are longer than that of the modern ones. This is because of the simple reason that traditional medicines heal the illness as such and not just the symptoms of a biological imbalance. It has been argued by a number of scientists that modern medicines treat the systems than the illness. Taking into account the cost of treatment, it can be found that apart from the monetary cost involved, modern medicines involves a lot of physiological, psychological and social costs. The process of diagnosis itself will involve exhaustion of biological resources within the body. In other terms, it will involve unpredictable and predicable side effects. A disastrous fact associated with this is that these side effects may lead to further illness. Moreover, this will lead the patient to a peculiar psychological state involving social costs like deprival of peace of mind, livelihood, and change in life patters etc. On the other side, traditional medicines by taking a holistic approach, improves the psychological status of the patient in the long term. Conclusion While comparing traditional and modern systems of medicine, both have advantages and disadvantages. Considering the longer term of impact, traditional medicine is to be considered as a part of life style. The traditional system of medicine is getting popularity across the world as patients are increasingly being aware of the side effects of modern medicine. A study which was published in Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that patients in America had the same inclination towards traditional practitioners as they had for modern medicines. This proves that both the streams of medicines are being pursued by sick people. There are efforts worldwide to integrate these systems of medicine so that the advantages of both are combined to minimise the disadvantages of both. For example, the calibration and standardisation techniques used by modern medicine can be integrated into the traditional system. Similarly, the holistic approach of traditional practitioners can be used in modern medical systems. References Steig R L (2011), Modern vs Traditional Medicine, National Pain Foundation, Retrieved on 20 October, 2011, from Bang C C (2009), Traditional Medicines: Promising Alternatives to Animal Experimentations, Chinese Animal Protection Network, Retrieved on 20 October, 2011, from Read More