Week 7: How does a TCM approach to cancer differ?

The TCM approach to cancer is, like it's medicine: wholistic. Whereas the Western approach reflects our analytic mindset, breaking everything down into their component parts; the TCM perspective is that "cancer development is due to a weakened body that makes individuals susceptible to different carcinogens". TCM sees cancer as "systematic disorder, with multiple factors that repeatedly act on the body" ultimately leading to internal disharmony, organ dysfunctions and meridian disorders. So, the tact that TCM takes is to assist and support the individual to regain balance and achieve homeostasis, using therapies such as herbs, acupuncture and massage.

Generally, the tactics used by TCM are more supportive to the whole organism and are less aggressive than those used by Western medicine whose approach has "little concern for the overall condition of the body", and which frequently cause more damage than good. Also, TCM is "safer, effective, affordable and accessible to most cancer patients", while "controlling symptoms, shortening recovery time, improving survival rates and quality of life". Truthfully, these days, most folks use a combination of Allopathic and TCM approaches to cancer; trying to mitigate the less desirous side-effects of Western medicine (chemotherapy, radiation) with the support of more gentle TCM approach.