What are the differences between Chinese medicine and Western medicine?

Chinese medicine and Western medicine are both medicines, but there are huge differences between the two. Western medicine is extracted from plants or animals using some chemical means, while Chinese medicine does not change the original state of the plant. It is generally boiled and then given to patients to drink, or it can be ground into powder and taken orally.

1. The difference between Western medicine and Chinese medicine

1. Western medicine uses chemical means to extract ingredients from plants or animals that are effective in treating pathology, and prescribes the right medicine for the disease; Chinese medicine mostly does not change the original state of animals and plants, and uses methods such as cooling, drying, steaming, and grinding to give to patients.

2. Western medicine takes effect quickly, while Chinese medicine takes effect slowly

3. The efficacy of a Western medicine is very clear, and it only requires the right medicine for the right disease. Traditional Chinese medicine is generally more effective for treating local diseases with local animals and plants, because local water and soil nurture local people. Local diseases are generally caused by changes in local water, soil, and climate, so it is more effective to treat them with local Chinese medicinal materials.

4. From this point of view, Western medicine is better than Chinese medicine, but Western medicine also has its obvious shortcomings. Because according to the laws of nature, the laws of survival of things are occurrence, development, prosperity, decline, and death. Traditional Chinese medicine seems to follow this law more closely, while Western medicine does not follow the laws of nature. Moreover, Western medicine has a strong drug resistance, which means that the virus can lurk in the human body, or the disease may recur, but the symptomatic drugs and treatments used before are prone to become ineffective, and people's requirements for Western medicine are getting higher and higher.

2. These Chinese and Western medicines cannot be taken together

Some Chinese and Western medicines cannot be taken at the same time. You must be careful when taking them, otherwise some toxic and side effects may occur.

1. Antibiotics and Shenqu, Douchi, and Hawthorn

These Chinese medicines have the effect of inhibiting microorganisms and enzymes and should not be taken at the same time.

2. Tetracycline and Niuhuang Jiedu Tablets

Tetracycline is mainly used for inflammatory diseases. It easily combines with inorganic substances such as calcium, magnesium, and iron to form complexes that are difficult to absorb and reduce efficacy. The main ingredient of Niuhuang Jiedu Tablets is gypsum, and the main ingredient of gypsum is calcium sulfate. Therefore, tetracyclines should not be used with drugs containing gypsum.

3. Aspirin, deer antler, licorice and their compound preparations

When patients with peptic ulcers take these drugs at the same time, it will greatly increase the irritation to the gastric mucosa and increase gastric acid secretion, which is not good for the patients.

4. Atropine and Datura stramonium

Datura stramonium contains atropine. If taken at the same time, the safe dosage of atropine will be exceeded and symptoms of poisoning will appear.

5. Vitamin B1 and pomegranate peel, gallnut, dandelion, etc.

These Chinese medicines contain a large amount of tannins, which can make vitamin B1 ineffective. When taking these Chinese medicines, you should supplement with sufficient amount of vitamin B1 after using them for a period of time to prevent vitamin B1 deficiency in the body.