Why Integrative Medicine matters in this moment

Why integrative medicine matters in this moment.

I’ve been watching the COVID-19 numbers closely. I’ve been observing China stabilize in rate of infection meanwhile the United States is making a steady climb to number one. Although China has 81,285 cases, there are 74,051 recovered and only 3,287 deaths. This matters as we have watched Spain and Italy also ascend the charts in COVID-19 infections and are able to draw comparisons/conclusions between each country’s public health approaches and treatment modalities. 

As many of you know, I have practices in Tucson and in Boston.  Once a month I have the privilege of connecting with clients in Boston.  At the beginning of March I was on a plane traveling back to Tucson from Boston.  At that time there were a total of 1,000 cases in the United States. As we close out March, U.S. infections exceed that of China. 82,177 people have tested positive for the CoronaVirus.  As of today, 3/26/20, China’s rate of infection has stabilized at 81,285.  

Although China was hit the hardest at first, they took aggressive measures to contain the spread of infection. Their recovery rate is 91%. Conversely, as of yesterday, the United States had a negative recovery rate. Meaning, there were more deaths than recoveries. That statistic has improved. Today 2.2% of people recover.  This is sobering. In researching this virus and differences in treatment geographically, I have found important differences in treatment approaches. 

In addition to public health measures such as quarantine, Chinese hospitals have brought in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). 

President Xi Jinping has endorsed and supported the use of TCM in the hospitals alongside western medicine. Beijing reported that 87% of COVID-19 patients received TCM and the  effectiveness rate with that combination is 92%. This mixed treatment approach includes both herbal and acupuncture prescriptions. Their treatment protocols have been shared online. 

Chinese doctors have broken their TCM COVID-19 into three stages. It begins with prevention. 

Imagine if the United States would have taken a similar approach to COVID-19 one month ago and enlisted licensed TCM practitioners in their strategy?  Right now, western medicine is struggling to come to grips with what is happening, from understanding how this virus works,  to how to strengthen the immune system and also lessen the duration of the illness. It would behoove medical professionals to take a look at the 2,500 year-old practice of Chinese Medicine. 

Sure, we sometimes use unfamiliar diagnoses such as wind-heat invasion or the Shao Yang stage but what we are doing is observing the body holistically, we measure each symptom and see how it all plays together or apart. We can identify what organ systems are taking a beating and in need of relief and which ones need strengthening. We understand how to release the exterior, open the pores, and accelerate healing. So what sometimes looks like a bunch of random symptoms to western doctors, makes sense to us because we understand the complex machine that is the human body, differently. 

Traditional Chinese Medicine, my field of expertise, has a long medical history of effectiveness.  It has prevailed over centuries of plagues and epidemics.  It is not quackery or a placebo effect. It is medicine. I am a medical professional. 

We are, in real time, observing the limits of western medicine. With no pharmaceutical, or vaccine protocol they are unsure of how to treat COVID-19 in the early stages. They [rightfully] are trying not to overwhelm ER and ICU facilities and are telling people who are symptomatic to stay at home unless/until at an advanced stage. 

TCM practitioners, such as myself, are able to intervene throughout the stages of this disease and before illness. I practice holistic medicine. I can boost one’s immunity before illness. I treat diseases from moderate to acute and critical stages. I can also alleviate duration of illness. 

Globally, we are in a moment of great flux. What have long been considered commonsense notions around what is needed to manage as societies are now being called into question.  This is a time of opportunity, and creation.  Medicine is in dire need of reconsideration- radicalization even. 

We need to change the system and rediscover the art and balance of medicine.

References:

• https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3076500/beijing-pushes-traditional-chinese-medicine-coronavirus
• https://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/2010-acupuncture-and-herbs-covid-19-coronavirus-findings
• https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/14/asia/coronavirus-traditional-chinese-medicine-intl-hnk/index.html