Among the stories shared during coverage of the Beijing Olympics, I have enjoyed the lifestyle and history ones the most. I am fascinated by the Chinese people, their way of life, and their transition to the new millennium.

Of course, their stories point out the similarities and differences between our Western way of life, and their very Eastern viewpoint. While our faces and bodies may look different, we are reminded that biologically, we seem to function in mostly the same ways. Yet, one of the major differences in our lifestyles is the way we take care of ourselves. East and West approach health, wellness and medicine very differently.

What we in the West consider to be traditional medicine is the form most American doctors practice, called allopathic medicine. The allopathic approach treats disease with manufactured drugs or forces which target specific symptoms. Antibiotics, chemotherapies, radiation – these have been developed to cure or relieve specific diseases or conditions.

Traditional Chinese medicine is what we Americans call complementary or alternative medicine (CAM.) CAM is more focused on the whole body and its energy system, than on specific symptoms. These treatments have existed for thousands of years, and may include movements and manipulations such as massage, yoga or acupuncture. For other problems, patients may swallow or apply herbs or other substances that grow naturally.

As we Americans find improved access to knowledge about CAM remedies, more and more of us are interested in exploring possibilities for using them to relieve our own symptoms or to improve our health.

Of course, patients must always be honest with their doctors. What I’ve learned from many of you is that your doctors aren’t too enthusiastic about CAM remedies, so that honesty may be challenged. When my friend Glen asked his doctor about an alternative therapy, his doctor replied, “I serve hamburgers. If you want pizza, you’ll have to go down the street.”

As patients, we need to consider our doctors’ points of view. While more of them do seem to be showing interest, and may be willing to discuss CAM therapies with us, we need to remember that most have never been trained to understand CAM. Doctors can’t recommend to us what they don’t know.

How do we solve that conundrum? I’ll provide some tips for you in my next column, coming in two weeks.

See Part 2 of East, West and Wellness