Fundamental Principles of Eastern Medicine

Eastern medicine is a broad range of medicine practices developed in China many years ago. Eastern and Western
medicine both work towards treating various diseases using different methods and theories. Eastern medicine
focuses on treating diseases through more natural remedies, whereas Western medicine deals with more synthetic
drugs. This causes Eastern medicine to have little or no side effects, differing from Western medicine which is known
to cause several different side effects. The basic fundamental principles in Eastern medicine are Taditional Chinese
Medicine practices that include herbs,
massages, diets, and exercise therapy.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, symptoms of

illness are grouped differently upon these
different principles. The first principle is the
basis that all creation has two opposite aspects,
Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang are opposites in
constant motion creating a balance in the
healthy body. Disease results when either Yin
or Yang exceeds the other. Symptoms of illness
such as fever, swelling, or convulsions need to
be healed with Traditional Chinese herbs to
relax and calm the soul. Traditional Chinese
Medicine practitioners are trained to view the
body as one unified system such as the body,
mind, and spirit working as one. Western
medicine focuses on the area of the disease
and separates the body by its different
functions.

Another basic principle of Eastern medicine

deals with the Exterior and Interior. Exterior
conditions consist of the flu, viruses, rashes, or
aching muscles. Interior conditions are all those
diseases that are not exterior such as anything
affecting the internal organs. Another principle
is the cold and hot illness. This is when our body gets too hot or cold which will cause many symptoms. Hot illness
symptoms are supposed to stay away from warmth because the body needs to be cooled down. Similar to symptoms
with cold illness, they must stay away from the cold and contact heat.

The Five Element Theory plays a big part in the Chinese belief that humans physically and mentally are
intertwined with nature. Westerners on the other hand believe that the body and the mind are two completely different
elements. The Five elements that interconnect human nature with the universe are wood, fire, earth, metal, and
water. Each element is associated with a different season and a different body part. The wood element represents
spring, as well as the liver and the gall bladder. Fire represents early summer as well as the heart and small
intestines. Earth corresponds to late summer and deals with the stomach and the spleen. Metal associates with
autumn and responds to the lungs and large intestines. Lastly, water is associated with winter and deals with the
kidneys and the bladder. This theory serves as a tool used by Eastern medicine to diagnose and treat illness.