Health 411- Traditional Chinese Medicine

Long before western modern medicine became popularized, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) had already been in practice from anywhere between 3,000-5,000 years ago, during the Shang Dynasty of China. Unlike western medicine, traditional Chinese medicine focuses on balancing the energy of the body. The primary belief in TCM is that the reason you fall ill and contract diseases is if one or more of the bodies' systems is out of balance. There are many ways to treat these imbalances according to TCM, including herbal remedies, physical treatments, and lifestyle changes. Today, Dr. Jonathan Karp and student producer Kaya Basatemur discuss the history of TCM, how it works, it's application in modern western society, and how it differs from reductionistic medicine (treating diseases by breaking the components down into smaller, more manageable treatments). Don't miss this episode of Health 411!