by Dr. Kate Boonyakiat, Ph.D. LAc. – Terra Acupuncture
Instead of asking, ‘what drug matches up with my symptoms? Have you ever asked yourself, “Why did I have this problem in the first place?” Or even have you been told that all your tests check out and that you are fine – but that you still did not feel well?
If you are in good health, you should not have symptoms. Symptoms are your body’s way of telling you that something is not right and things are not working as they should be.
Let me give you a clear idea: If there was a fire in your home and the fire alarm was screaming, would you deal with the loud, disturbing noise by just removing the batteries from the alarm? Of course not! You would find the cause of the fire and put it out. But what we are doing today with our health is like just taking the batteries out. Root cause medicine is about finding the fire. Symptoms are the body’s alarm system telling us that something is not right, and it is our job, as physicians, to try and figure this out and help the body heal.
Helping patients understand the root cause of their disease is the first step. We need to help patients implement the changes necessary to reverse their condition through personalised nutrition, health coaching, and individualised care. Each person has their own needs, challenges, and preferences.
1. Looking at how well your organ’s function (are doing their job).
Your health is like a ‘tree’ with your symptoms being the ‘branches’ – it’s what you see and feel. But what’s causing health problems is often in the ‘roots’ – your organ health as the root cause. Chinese medicine treats both the symptoms (the branch) and the root cause (the roots) of health issues.
2. What you eat has an enormous effect on your health.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, we advise foods that will help your organ health rather than hinder it. Specific organs like and dislike particular foods.
3. If your body runs too hot or cold, it won’t run very well like any engine.
We look at your temperatures and their effect on digestion, hormone production, and organ health.
4. You were born with a natural self-healing ability, although it often seems not to work until you are trained or educated on using it.
In conclusion, Western and Oriental medicine both offer unique perspectives fundamental to healthcare today. The development of biomedicine has had significant success in treating acute, life threatening diseases. However, the holistic concept of Traditional Chinese Medicine shows a unique advantage in preventing and treating chronic, non acute illnesses.
