Wellness Wednesdays: The differences between Eastern and Western medicine

When Western, or conventional, medicine is found lacking, you may wonder about Eastern medicine. Do you ever wonder if there is a better way to better health? If so, what are the differences between both types of medicine?

"I was trained in Western medicine," explains Dr. Karen Latimer to AOL Lifestyle. "We learned to diagnose disease and treat symptoms with medication, surgery and other orthodox remedies."

"These remedies are effective," she continues. "Sometimes, they are difficult to comply with or have side effects or are unappealing for other reasons." And this is when patients may look for alternatives, including Eastern medicine.

Chinese medicine falls into the latter category. At over 2,000 years old, unlike Western medicine, it takes a deductive method by taking a holistic approach to the mind body connection. As for treatment and rehabilitation, it uses herbal medicines, acupuncture, tai chi and other dietary therapies. Chronic pain, infertility and anxiety are just some of the conditions proven to be healed by Chinese medicine.

But neither is necessarily better than the other. Dr. Latimer breaks down why in the video above in this week's episode of Wellness Wednesdays.

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