issue 09 / volume 41

Modern medicine isn't always the answer

» As in China, traditional medicine should be integrated into the modern healthcare system

Cynthia Yip
The Peak (NUW)

hile modern medicine
is effective in treating
many serious illnesses, I
feel that traditional, native
medicine can often be as
powerful, and should be taken
into account when looking for

ways to cure these illnesses.
Modern antibiotics are
usually seen as having a
quicker effect, but traditional
medicine aims to restore the

Because they both have their
advantages, I feel justified in
suggesting that we combine
the two, thus integrating
traditional medicine into the

modern healthcare system.
Traditional medicine

can be used to innovate the

development of modern

medicine, which can be highly

effective in treating many

to live much longer lives than
in past generations. However,
there is one major drawback
to modern medicine: because
most clinical medications are
manufactured using synthetic
chemicals, using them can
often result in unwanted side-

effects.

Often, one may be forced
to take drugs in order to
counter the side-effects of the
original treatment. Modern
medicine may seem more
effective, but in fact, it often
treats symptoms using direct

harms our bodies.
Among the 300 types of
traditional medicine around

: the globe, Chinese medicine

: in particular has garnered

: increased attention from

: researchers. Traditional

: Chinese medicine treats

: the body as a collection of

: interconnected systems, and

: thus has great potential to treat
: more complex illnesses suchas :

cancer, AIDS, and Alzheimer’s.

Traditional medicine aims

to restore the longterm balance
: of one’s body.

Traditional remedies

: usually use ingredients

: that come from the natural
longterm balance of one’s body. : environment, and are
: therefore much less harmful
: to our bodies. Consequently,
: modern scientists can use

: traditional cures as a starting
: point from which to produce
more effective, less harmful

: medicine.

For example, ginghaosu,

: a herb that has been used to

: treat fever for over 2,000 years
. . : : in China, was scientifically
illnesses and in allowing people : proven to contain anti-
: malarial properties and its

: active compound, artemisinin,

: was then isolated to make

: medicine.

One of the biggest

: concerns with traditional

: native medicines is that they
: have not been scientifically

: vetted. Unlike modern

: medicines, which filter through :
: various tests before being

: mass produced, people usually
: doubt the trustworthiness of

: traditional remedies because

: the knowledge of their

: effectiveness only comes from
methods, which usually further : : y
: cultural experience.

In this regard, it’s

: important to adopt a more

: scientific approach to prove

: the effectiveness of traditional
: medicine. Chinese medicine,

: for example, is a system of

: traditional medical techniques
: that have been gradually

: incorporated into modern

: Chinese medical practices.

Outside of China, many

researchers in Europe and

: the US are also becoming

: increasingly interested in

: using Western techniques to

: analyze complex biological

: systems, as part of the Chinese
: ideology that sees the body

: as a networked whole. They

: do this by studying how

: genes and proteins interact

: throughout the body when a

: disease develops, instead of

; just examining a single gene or

: molecule.

For many years these

: traditional medicines have

: been part of conventional

: academic teachings, and
many universities in China

: offer degrees in traditional

: medicine. Many native cures
: do work; however, they lack
: the formal and systematic
explanations for how they

: work.

While traditional medicine

: has so much history to support
: its use, I, like most people,

: turn to modern medicine more
: often than not. But when it

: comes to treating the root

: cause of certain illnesses, I feel
: that traditional remedies are

: the better answer. With more

: systematic study, it would be

: easier to integrate traditional

: medicine with the modern

: healthcare system—a move

: that would be beneficial for

: everyone.

opinions // 19

 

 

Don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy

» Take it easy and don't burn out too early in the year

 
   
  

Elliot Chan
Opinions Editor
Ȥ Mopinions

4% @theotherpress.ca

ace yourself. For those

who are working and
going to school, taking a
break periodically at the start
of the year can do wonders.
Let’s be honest, the holiday
season is not as relaxing as
you would have wanted it to
be. In fact, some might say
that running around, buying
gifts, attending parties, and
mingling with old friends and
familiar relatives is as stressful
as a communications project.

: Now that you are back into
: the groove, take a moment,
: breathe, and relish in the start

without anticipating the finish.
: Ifyou have chronic stress or :
: if you don’t want to develop it,
: there are few things you need

: to do: avoid exhaustion, stay

: motivated, dismiss cynicism,

: and get cognitive rest and take
care of yourself.

We often overload our

schedule early in the year or

: try to harness the momentum
: that dwindled a bit after the

: festivities. There is a bit of

: holiday hangover though, so

: although we are optimistic,

: we must also be realistic.

: While some people are busy

: making New Year’s resolutions,
: you may consider taking a

: break. Ease up, allow yourself

time to soak in the new

: environment, new classrooms,
: new responsibilities, and new

: Opportunities.

Why do we burn out in

: April when it’s exam season?
: Why do we feel overwhelmed
: and stressed? It’s because we
: weren't taking care of ourselves:
: earlier on. We weren't preparing :
: ourselves properly. Once :
: activities and assignments pile
: up, there is no time to rest, but

: there is plenty to stress.

Instead of doing frivolous

: work or starting anything new,
: consider how far you've come

: since the previous year and

: maybe reassess your goals. Mark :
: milestones you would like to hit :
: throughout the year and plan.
: Planning an event in May will
: give you energy in March, so

: even if you start burning out

: in the latter half of the season,

: know that you'll be rewarded by ; on in the year. You're about to

: climb a mountain, a mountain
: you have climbed many times
: before, a mountain that lasts

: 365 days. Look up, visualize all
: that you want to accomplish,

: and then take one step at a

: time. Most importantly, don’t

: forget to enjoy the view.

: someone who cares: you.

Relaxing is serious
business. While the grind

: up ahead seems daunting

: and preparation is a must,

: relaxation is the act of staying
: attuned with your body and

: mind. A body builder doesn’t

: go to the gym every day and
: doesn’t work the same muscles
: every day. Neither should you.

Trust in yourself that you

: will survive this year with

: grace. Exemplify vitality. Don’t
: beat yourself up for having

: a day where you get to sleep.

: Not every day needs to be

: productive, especially early