In the past couple blogs, I have been discussing how a TCM practitioner does take into account subjective factors, like stress, when treating a pain case. I pointed out how most Western practitioners do not factor in such factors when treating pain. I left off discussing a pain case that I treated at the end of the last blog. Let’s continue on with this case…

The patient explained that her pain level was about a six (on a scale of 1-10). She also stated that she felt the pain most when she was moving. When taking my intake, I am always thorough when asking about the patient’s history. She discussed the history of the ailment and explained the circumstances that caused the pain. She stated that the pain was a long-term issue that she has been dealing with.

I will use this case to highlight the differences between a TCM practitioner and Western one in dealing with such an illness. Without getting too involved, most Western practitioners are trained to focus their treatment on the symptoms associated with the ailment. In this case, a typical Western practitioner would treat the symptom of the associated pain. He would focus his treatment on the left-lateral aspect of the knee which is where this patient is feeling her pain.

On the other hand, a TCM practitioner takes into account more variables surrounding the injury than the physical pain, itself. The resulting treatment plan reflect this. I mentioned how different the intake was between both fields. Before continuing, I must emphasize that my understanding of how the Western practitioner practices is only from my own experience in following and talking with doctors.

Unlike your typical Western clinician, I am trained to look at an ailment as integrated with the whole body. Again, most Western clinicians want to look at the ailment in isolation and not as integrated with the whole body.

You maybe asking what exactly I mean by this?…