Western Medicine
Western medicine focuses on symptomatic treatment, treating the diseased part. It seems that the viewpoint of "preventing disease" is somewhat lacking there. The development of effective medicines and advances in surgical methods have been remarkable, but they are all symptomatic treatments. In the first place, it is important to know what to do to prevent getting sick from the beginning.
In addition, as Western medicine progresses, advanced specialization and subdivision are progressing. Therefore, each doctor has come to see only "parts" of the human body. The human body is connected and interlocked. Even if you can treat the specialized part, if you do not notice the signs of abnormalities in other parts or abnormalities in the whole body, the patient's health condition may worsen.
Humans have hearts. The mind and body are intimately influenced by each other. Even if you treat only your body, if you don't change your mind, you may end up with the same disease again. Conversely, improving the patient's mental state may also improve physical condition. Western medicine has focused on the body for many years, but it seems that it has not paid much attention to the "relationship between mind and body."
Treatment costs money. Doctors need money too. Some doctors may want money to prolong treatment and charge high fees. Whether or not you can use insurance will also affect your treatment decisions. Even if the treatment is necessary, if it is too expensive and burdensome, there may be cases where you have no choice but to give up the treatment.
Preventive medicine, the balance of the whole body, the relationship with the mind, and the cost of treatment are issues that Western medicine should reconsider.
*Return to Departure from Europeanism
