| The holistic philosophy of Oriental medicine is neither contrary nor exclusive to modern medical practice, and its modalities may be used as a form of primary, secondary, specialty, allied, complementary, supplementary, or alternative healthcare, depending upon the circumstances. Like other contemporary forms of medicine, its methodologies seek to be scientific and evidence-based, always attempting to reverse the ill effects of a disease or injury and to eliminate potential causes of future recurrences. |
| Oriental medicine utilizes a triage form of diagnosis, first treating the obvious and acute symptoms, and then isolating and treating the root cause. For example, if someone were to be treated for low back pain, the AOM practitioner might note that the individual was prone to low back injuries and pain due to a weakness in their "Kidney" physiology. In this case, the acute pain could be treated with acupuncture, moxa, heat, and manual therapy, while the Kidney weakness would be best addressed with an herbal prescription. |
| Another example of the similarities might be where western medicine uses "antibiotics" to treat a "bacterial infection," Oriental medicine would use "heat-clearing" herbs to treat a "heat pathogen." Since these two systems are in harmony with their methodology, it is not surprising that antibiotics would be classified as "cold herbs," and that Chinese herbs traditionally classified as "cold" often contain "natural" antibiotics, and both types of medicine taste bitter. |
| Ultimately, in the pursuit of optimal health and medical care, certain aspects of these differing medicines will overlap and merge into one. This has been happening in select hospitals in China, Korea, and Japan, where they have experimented with mixtures of drugs and herbs that are designed to maximize therapeutic effects, while minimizing dosage and negative side effects. In the United States, many practitioners and patients alike inherently recognize that diverse approaches can be used simultaneously to treat certain conditions, while other conditions must be treated with a singular and narrowly focused procedure, such as surgery, where western medicine excels. |
| Oriental Medicine practitioners are also strong proponents of preventative medicine, since their medicine utilizes diet, nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes, as well as acupuncture, bodywork and other approaches to promote and maintain an optimal state of health. Optimal health increases resistance to disease and trauma. |
| Some acupuncturists and doctors of Oriental medicine are primary care providers within the American system of medicine, and, like all other healthcare providers, have a core knowledge of basic sciences and clinical medicine. This is a necessary component to the smooth integration of the arts, sciences, and practitioners of the two systems of medicine. |
| A number of hospitals and clinics in the United States and elsewhere are utilizing the skills of acupuncturists. In China, they have used acupuncturists to provide anesthesia for some surgical procedures, and herbalists to provide remedies for common, and not-so-common maladies. Starting in about 1995, Kaiser Permanente hospitals of northern California began hiring licensed acupuncturists to provide treatment for chronic pain patients, setting the stage for full integration. |