Eastern Science: Providing a Different Perspective to Current Western Science - Essay Example

Eastern science: Providing a different perspective to current Western science I. Introduction For several centuries, Western science has been at odds with Eastern science. Western science goes for systems, standards, measurements, and would not accommodate crude methods that are characteristic of Eastern science without validation efforts to back up claims. In the field of medicine, until now there is the reluctance of Western science to acknowledge what Eastern science can do. Yet, results from Eastern science as far as patients are concerned are workable. Eastern science in medicine leans much on nature to provide solutions to problems about illness. Literature of the orient abounds with illustrations of flowers, birds and insects thought to provide medicine for the ailing body. The position of the sun, the heavenly bodies, the flow of current, the characteristics of flora and fauna are all exploited by Eastern science to teach man the ways of nature in healing man. We read about the early 16th century of Portuguese travels in search for spice and flora. It is said Portuguese ships would sail home from the Indian subcontinent packed with ginger, cloves and nutmeg, and new ships would set sail with European soldiers, diplomats and scientists next (Cultureonline, n.d.). Recently, Western science has finally begun to confirm that meditation practice literally and physically improves brain behavior (Felix, 2003). The Orient traditions that have much respect for the power of prayer have long known about this. As recently reported in the Wall Street Journal Science column (1/10/2003), studies at the University of Wisconsin confirmed that "meditation, Buddhist or otherwise, might change the brain and, in particular, its emotional circuitry." (Ibid.). This paper compares the differences in the approaches of Western science and Eastern science in medicine, and discuss about recent changes. It leans heavily on the observations of McCall (2003) on yoga as a way of treating several maladies and on Lipton (2004) regarding convergence of the two sciences. II. The contrasting methodologies Western science would go all out for what is scientific. Therefore, Western scientists are not expected to place too much weight on case histories (McCall, 2003). Medical school teaches that the so-called anecdotal evidence is notoriously unreliable and subject to false attributions, is with distorted memory, selects only the favorable cases, and deliberately manipulates. On the other hand, Eastern science only has a treasury of anecdotal evidences but which are hard to ignore. While Western science would go for standards, measuring, and parameters, Eastern science would work with wholes and not with parts. Some of yogas aims, like equanimity, compassion, and enlightenment are said to be difficult if not impossible to quantify. While Western science would never look at yoga as legitimate for the cure of diabetics, heart disease, stress, and more, Eastern science easily uses yoga techniques and has established institutions for the purpose. (Ibid). A classic example where Eastern science perspective should inspire Western science is in the matter of prognosis. The Western approach would go for statistical parameters and when exceeded will indicate the syndrome. Lipton (2004) records that the American Heart Association (AHA) has identified 24% of the US population as having “metabolic syndrome" — a precursor to serious diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure. According to AHA (mentioned in Lipton, 2004), when three of the following five conditions are true, patients have metabolic syndrome: A waist circumference that exceeds 40 inches (men) or 35 inches (women); a triglyceride level of at least 150 milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL); and a level of HDL, the "good" cholesterol, below 40 mg/dL in men and 50 mg/dL in women. These would include blood pressure of 130/85 mm Hg or higher; and a fasting glucose levels of at least 110mg/dL(Ibid.). Earlier, McCall (2003) was saying the whole concept of a standardized protocol of Western science runs against what Eastern science believes therapy should be. Orientals believe each patient has a distinct case and cannot be lumped together with several others to be addressed with a ready-made case. They believe science is limited. With them, there can be no standardized anything, because each patient is unique (Ibid.) Different bodies and minds, with different abilities and weaknesses, require individualized approaches. Back to the heart problem given earlier, Dr. Bruce (Lipton, 2004) says Easterners would look at this as bodily processes that have been transgressed. The approach, therefore, is to reverse the process and create a balance. Hence, the series of procedures would consist of: supplementing the spleen, regulating the liver, clearing heat, and dealing with whatever additional symptoms may be manifesting, such as blood stasis, hyperactive yang (high blood pressure) and disturbed shen (manifestations of stress). Some modifications in lifestyle would be in order along with acupuncture or herbal treatments. Oriental Medicine, in the first place, recognizes that all of these factors are related to food intake and digestive efficiency and not to the usual bacteria or virus orientation of other approaches (Ibid.). III. Integrated Western and Eastern Science In research centers of Eastern environs, there is not any hesitance in integrating Western methodologies if they do not run counter to their philosophies. They marry the two orientations in an effort to understand disease and other maladies and come up with workable solutions. In fact, Timothy McCall (2003) records that about a most extensive medical research on yoga therapy is being done in India, but expresses doubt if it will ever be accepted by Western medicine. McCall (2003) records that many of the projects on the aspect of how Yoga is able to restore one’s health are carried out in the research laboratories at Prashanti or in conjunction with the local hospitals. India appears ready in accommodating Western wisdom. Although Western science bars Eastern science from recognition, there is said to be a middle ground to all these contentions and that is the outcomes studies. "Outcomes studies" is a type of research that exists as compromise between uncontrolled observations and reductionist science. (McCall, 2003) In these experiments, no effort needs to be made to standardize the approach or to isolate single interventions. One could change the treatment plan every five minutes and that would be just fine. In outcomes studies, one can just simply compare how well people with a certain condition react when treated with one approach versus another. Therefore, to reverse heart disease used this technique, one may need to investigate a comprehensive lifestyle program that included yoga, a low-fat vegetarian diet, walking, and several other elements (Ibid.). Western scientists are said not to be too fond of outcomes studies, however, because one never can tell exactly which elements of the program are effective and such studies are considered less rigorous, and so less believable (McCall, 2003), In other words, Eastern science is ready to integrate Western science in its approaches, but not vice versa. IV. Conclusion While Western science believes physiology and behaviour are linked to the [domain of genes], and the control of anatomy, Eastern science believes they are linked to energy fields and environment. (Gancao.net, n.d.). Eastern science maintains an energy-based vitalistic philosophy emphasizing the organizing role of body, mind and spirit. While Western science believes the universe is matter, Eastern science believes the universe is energy. As recorded by Lipton (2004), there are two instances in history that disproves the claims of materialistic Western science. The first is the case of physical atoms. The story goes that in 1893, the chair of physics at Harvard University boasted that science had established the fact that the universe was composed of physical atoms obeying the laws of Newtonian Mechanics. Within two years of that declaration, the discovery of subatomic particles, X-rays and radioactivity challenged that concept of matter-only universe. Within ten years, it was discovered that the universe was actually made of energy and could be described by Quantum Mechanics (Ibid). The second and most recent instance is described by the journal, Nature (vol 408, 2001 issue, cited in Lipton 2004), reporting on the conclusions of the Human Genome project. David Baltimore, one of the world’s most prominent geneticists, was addressing the issue and put out that for a long time scientists have been saying our biological fates are written in our genes. However, the Human Genome project reveals that the “control” of life is not in the genes but in the organization and activation of the genes. All the while Eastern science had been right. This emerging new biological model is said to unify and validate their basic philosophies about conventional medicine and spiritual healing. In sum, there is much that Eastern science can teach Western medicine. Although it is crude and comes bare of standards, parameters, and documented evidences, the strength of eastern science maybe in the fact that it never runs contrary to nature but mimics its course and gets its inspiration from nature for its procedures. This may also explain why Eastern science is not pressured to present documents and measurements but finds validation in outcomes in terms of the many patients healed through its philosophies and its techniques. References Felix, R. (2003). Western Science Confirms Eastern Spirituality. Seeker Magazine. Retrieved December 12, 2005, from http://www.seekermagazine.com/v0503/felix.html. Lipton, B. H. (2004). Eastern Medicine and Western Science: The Grand Convergence. Retrieved December 12, 2005, from http://tcmabc.org/articles/Eastern-medicine-western-science.html. McCall, T. B. (2003, February). Western Science vs. Eastern Wisdom. Retrieved December 12, 2005, from http://www.yogajournal.com/health/844_1.cfm. [McCall is the author of Examining Your Doctor: A Patients Guide to Avoiding Harmful Medical Care .Citadel Press, 1996.] Western Science Discovers the Consequences of Spleen Dampness. Posted by Dr Bruce. Acublog: Western Research, Eastern Medicine. Reinterpreting Biomedical Research Through the eyes of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Gancao.net. January 05, 2003. Retrieved December 12, 2005, from http://gancao.net/weblogs/archives/acublog/000060.html. Western science, Eastern art. Plant cultures. Exploring plants & people. Cultureonline website. Department of culture, media, and sports. Retrieved December 12, 2005, from http://www.plantcultures.org.uk/themes/arts_western_science,_eastern_art.html Read More