Is it better to treat bone injuries with Chinese medicine or Western medicine?

Traditional Chinese medicine has an orthopedics department, and many traditional Chinese medicine hospitals are called orthopedic hospitals. Western hospitals also have orthopedics departments. What is the difference? If you have a fracture or dislocation, should you choose traditional Chinese medicine or Western medicine for treatment? This article teaches you the right choice.

Traditional Chinese orthopedics has actually played a huge role in the history of our country. Especially in the era of war and chaos, the Chinese did not have Western medicine. Although there was also the practice of bone scraping to treat injuries, most bone injuries were treated through non-surgical bone setting and other methods.

However, with the introduction of Western medicine, surgical methods such as surgical osteosynthesis and plate fixation have gradually become popular. However, both have their own strengths and weaknesses in the treatment of bone injuries. The correct choice will reduce pain, reduce costs, and get better quickly.

Traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of orthopedic injuries

Traditional Chinese medicine orthopedics has continued from ancient times to the present day, and has accumulated rich experience and been passed down. Especially some bone-setting techniques and tendon-regulating techniques, bone-setting techniques passed down from ancient Chinese medicine are still practiced among the people and even in some large hospitals. There are mainly four steps: manual reduction, fixation, internal and external medication, and functional exercises.

Traditional Chinese medicine has great advantages in rehabilitation. Generally, patients can take Chinese medicine orally or externally for auxiliary treatment to help the bone injuries recover quickly. Mainly use some traditional Chinese medicines that can reduce swelling and pain, relax muscles and activate collaterals, stop bleeding, promote muscle growth, promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, such as commonly used medicines such as Panax notoginseng, Chuanxiong, peach kernel, safflower, red peony root, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Puhuang, frankincense, myrrh or other medicines. A recipe composed of them. There are also confidential prescriptions like Yunnan Baiyao, which are very effective in treating bruises, blood stasis, swelling and pain, and internal injuries and bleeding.

Western medicine treats bone injuries

Western medicine relies more on instruments and surgery, so fixed reduction is accurate. In the past, old Chinese medicine relied solely on hands. The bone injury site is within the skin, and there may be deviation. Therefore, Western medicine is slightly better than Chinese medicine in this aspect. In the recovery process, Western medicine obviously has very few medicines that can be used, and can only use some anti-inflammatory and analgesic medicines. Unlike traditional Chinese medicine, there are not many medicines available that can activate blood circulation, promote muscle growth, relax muscles and activate collaterals, and relieve pain. Regardless of whether it is treated with traditional Chinese or Western medicine, bone injuries basically heal on their own after fixation. With traditional Chinese medicine treatment, recovery may be relatively faster.

With the development of modern medical technology, TCM treatment of bone injuries has been combined with advanced technical means for auxiliary treatment, so the shortcomings such as inaccurate reduction and fixation have been improved. Western medicine now often draws on the traditional treatment methods of traditional Chinese medicine for fractures of limbs. Some Chinese patent medicines will also be prescribed to patients for recovery. So in this era, there is not much difference between the two.

For patients

When Western medicine orthopedic surgery treats fractures, the patients experience greater pain and the recovery period is relatively longer, especially for the elderly. When it comes to surgery, it is better to give priority to traditional Chinese medicine. Western medicine is more suitable for achieving anatomic reduction or better functional reduction of fractures that cannot be reduced by manual reduction. Effective internal fixation (steel nails, etc.) can enable patients to get out of bed in advance and reduce the complications of muscle atrophy and joint stiffness. disease.

Introduction to Dr. Bu Yao

Doctor, licensed pharmacist, senior nutritionist, protects life and health, rejects fake health regimen, and takes care of you to maintain a healthy you!