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What are the similarities and differences between a traditional Chinese medicine doctor with a degree and a modern medical doctor, assuming that they both practice in clinical environments?

I am interested about working in the healthcare realm, and I have considered going to med school. However, recently I came across that you can get degrees in Chinese Medicine Programs. How is this different from simply going to med school, doing the necessary training, and becoming a doctor? I know that with both paths, you can practice clinically, but what does each focus on? #medicine #Chinesemedicine #doctor

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Dan’s Answer

Chinese medicine is essentially considered holistic medicine or adjunctive medicine. What this essentially means is that it can provide assistance to modern medicine but usually isn't studied extensively or it has been studied and results were inadequate or inconsistent. For example, migraines are a type of headache that some people get, medications have been studied to assist in this, whether it is a rescue type of medication or maintenance or even botox injection. These methods have a higher chance of working as it has been studied and correlated to the suspected psychophysiology of migraines. Some patients add on holistic medicine like acupuncture, which may or may not help but shouldn't be the main treatment for severe migraines.

Also, physicians (MD or DO) are trained to examine and rule out other potential diagnosis, some which may be life threatening as well. Example of this would be differentiating between a basilar migraine and basilar stroke.

Physicians are also the only ones that can prescribe medications. There are some movement to allow others to do so as well but it will most likely not go through due to the nature of medicine in general -- i.e you wouldn't want a gym teacher to work as an engineer.

Other forms of holistic medicine are massage therapist, Cranial-sacral, naturopaths and chiropractors. They all have a place in healthcare but the main source is still the run of the mill physician (MD or DO) that you see in outpatient clinics or hospitals.
Thank you comment icon Thank you for answering my questions! Alice
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Kavita’s Answer

As a chiropractor and nutritionist, I have learned that in this day and age, chiropractic, acupuncture, naturopathic medicine, midwivery, and Chinese medicine all have a place in today's realm of healthcare. Many clinical offices even boast about having a holistic approach to treating patients that include Chinese medicine and traditional medicine all working together to reach that one goal of making the patient better.

It is a wonderful time to become a doctor, whether you choose to practice traditional western medicine or traditional Chinese medicine, there is a place for you and you will help patients, and that is all that really matters as you make that decision to become a doctor.

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