TCM vs Western Medicine

Please note that the information on these pages is only intended to explain the views of Traditional Chinese Medicine and foster its understanding in the world. None of the health claims have been evaluated or approved by the US Federal Drug Administration.

In Western Medicine

Edema is the medical term for swelling. Body parts swell from injury or inflammation. It can affect a small area or the entire body. In Western Medicine, Edema is related to kidney disorders, endocrine, heart failure or malnutrition.

In TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine)

In TCM, body fluid is excreted and delivered throughout the body by a variety of pathways. The fluid is transported to the lungs through the spleen's transportation function. From the lungs they are disseminated to the rest of the body.  After circulating through the body, the lungs separate and divert impure fluids of the kidneys. The kidneys vaporize the body fluids and regulate their metabolism by sending the impure wastes to the bladder to be excreted. The triple burner also acts as a distribution pathway for body fluids. A dysfunction of the lung, spleen, and/or kidney in transporting and transforming body fluids leads to water retention. Hence TCM focuses on strengthening these organs with an appropriate formulation of herbs and other preventive measures.