National Wellness Month

Jason T
Aug 19
4 min read

Updated: Aug 21

The blending of Western Medicine and Traditional Medicine to benefit a patient.

National Wellness Month: Blending Eastern & Western Medicine for True Wellness

When we think about health care, two very different philosophies often come to mind: Western medicine and Traditional Eastern medicine. Each approach has unique strengths—Western medicine excels at saving lives in emergencies, while Eastern medicine focuses on prevention, balance, and prolonging life.

What if we combined them into one system that offered the best of both worlds?

Western Medicine: Life-Saving in the Moment

Definition - A system in which medical doctors and other health care professionals (such as nurses, pharmacists, and therapists) treat symptoms and diseases using drugs, radiation, or surgery. Also called allopathic medicine, biomedicine, conventional medicine, mainstream medicine, and orthodox medicine.

Western medicine is built to address acute emergencies—stopping a heart attack, controlling diabetic ketoacidosis, managing infections, or stabilizing trauma. Its tools include advanced diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, and surgical interventions designed to keep patients alive in critical moments.

The limitation, however, is that many Western treatments are short-term solutions. Medications, for example, can control blood sugar or blood pressure but often come with side effects, particularly when used for decades. This makes Western medicine essential for immediate survival but less suited as a sole strategy for lifelong health.

Traditional Eastern Medicine: Building Longevity

Definition - A medical system that has been used for thousands of years to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease.

A patient seeking help from a Traditional Doctor in eastern medicine.

Traditional Eastern medicine—rooted in practices like acupuncture, herbal remedies, tai chi, and nutrition—approaches health as a long-term journey. Instead of only addressing emergencies, it aims to restore balance within the body, support organ function, and prevent illness from developing in the first place.

For example, a patient with diabetes in an Eastern framework might be guided through dietary changes, exercise routines, herbal supplements, and stress management techniques to encourage natural organ recovery and prevent worsening disease. However - Traditional Medicine will "NOT" stop an emergency.

Types of Traditional Medicine:

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) – acupuncture, herbal medicine, qigong, tai chi, cupping, moxibustion
Ayurvedic Medicine (India) – herbal remedies, yoga, meditation, massage, diet balancing (doshas: Vata, Pitta, Kapha)
Unani Medicine (Perso-Arabic system) – diet, herbal therapy, massage, bloodletting, balance of humors
Traditional Korean Medicine – acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal remedies, Sasang constitutional medicine
Japanese Kampo Medicine – standardized herbal formulas derived from Chinese medicine
Tibetan Medicine – herbal formulations, diet, spiritual practices, energy balancing
Native American Medicine – healing rituals, sweat lodges, herbal remedies, spiritual ceremonies
African Traditional Medicine – herbalism, divination, spiritual healing, bone setting, community rituals
Australian Aboriginal Medicine – bush medicine (herbal), spiritual healing, Dreamtime practices
South American Indigenous Medicine – use of plant-based remedies (like ayahuasca), shamanic rituals, healing ceremonies

A Blended Approach: A New Chain of Health

Imagine this system:

Step 1: A patient experiencing a diabetic emergency is stabilized by Western medicine—IV fluids, insulin, and monitoring to prevent immediate death.
Step 2: Once stabilized, the patient transitions to a Traditional Eastern medicine practitioner who focuses on restoring long-term organ function through nutrition, exercise, supplements, and physiotherapy-like care.

This blended approach is like using Western medicine as the “fire extinguisher” and Eastern medicine as the “rebuilding crew.” One puts out the emergency; the other repairs the damage and strengthens the foundation so the emergency is less likely to return.

BUT: Don't we do this already?

The Canadian Health Care Perspective

Here in Canada, health care professionals from both categories work tirelessly to assist people from all walks of life. Yet an important question remains: as a future nurse, how much of your training is truly focused on health rather than illness?

Think about it—how many courses in an four-year medical degree dive into nutrition, physical conditioning, or how natural elements in food affect organ health? The reality is that much of Western medical training emphasizes disease management, not wellness promotion. We call it “Health Care,” but too often we only teach illness.

In Canada - We separate the two forms of Health Care and only provide one complementary.

IMAGINE - Being prescribed a Gym Pass or a blood analyst or a trip to the herbalist to see what your missing in your diet?

A patient talking to a Western medicine doctor.

Why Nursing Students Should Care

As future health professionals, nursing students will be on the frontlines of both emergency care and patient education. Understanding that wellness doesn’t end at the ER is key. Patients need a pathway to not just survive—but thrive. By appreciating both systems, nurses can help guide patients toward healthier lifestyles that combine the life-saving immediacy of Western interventions with the longevity-focused practices of Eastern medicine.

Conclusion

National Wellness Month is about rethinking health beyond survival. Western medicine saves lives in the moment; Eastern medicine builds the resilience to live longer, healthier lives. Together, they form a continuum of care—stopping emergencies while giving the body the tools to heal itself.

If embraced widely, this blended model could mark the start of a new chain of health: one where emergencies are managed swiftly, and long-term vitality is restored, offering patients not only more years of life but more life in their years.

💡 Ready to Get Certified?

Be prepared. Be confident. Learn First Aid Today & Save a Life Tomorrow with Saving Grace Medical Academy Ltd. Now enrolling: Basic Life Support (BLS) & Standard First Aid CPR-C & AED courses designed for healthcare professionals.

📍 Training for First-Year Nursing Students

Join Saving Grace Medical Academy Ltd. for fully certified, CSA-compliant Standard First Aid CPR-C & AED courses—designed for Alberta’s future healthcare professionals.