Syndrome differentiation and treatment:
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, edema is believed to originate from these organs: lung, spleen and kidney. The basic principle is that when these organs fail to transport and transform body fluids, water is stored up all over the body and edema results. A Chinese doctor or an acupuncturist is able to identify and treat the underlying deficiencies and imbalances that cause edema, by utilizing both herbs and acupuncture. As edema is usually considered as a symptom of a "deficient" condition in Chinese medicine, it would likely require 10-12 sittings to achieve a lasting effect.

Western medicine looks at edema from a different perspective. It simply considers it as an abnormal buildup of fluid beneath the skin, or in one or more cavities of the body. Generally, the amount of fluid is determined by homeostasis; and the enhanced secretion of fluid into interstitial spaces or impaired removal of this fluid causes edema. Acupuncture treats the underlying metabolic imbalances that result in edema. In Chinese Medicine, edema has two varieties: Qi Edema and Water Edema. Chinese doctors can be able to assess which type of edema you have and the organ systems that are affected. The doctor will accordingly choose the right acupuncture points and herbal formula for you.

In Chinese medicine, when treating a disease, the doctors take everything into into consideration, including climatic changes, environmental variations, emotional changes, the diet, the urine and the stool, the sleep, and the disorder of sex life. That is the feature of the Three Pathogens Theory in TCM. This etiology doctrine built on the basis of the macro methodology entirely differs from that of Western medicine. It is on the basis of the microscopic and pathologic anatomy. But it is exactly a biological, psychological, social and new medical model that Western medicine is attempting to pursue. While Chinese medicine established its own system with this medical model two thousand years ago.

Chinese doctor doesn’t considers static anatomy as a starting point for understanding the diseases, and does not rely on detection equipments. On the contrary, Chinese doctor depends on the unique ways of TCM diagnosis to experience and study the human dynamic life information. Also it is based on syndrome differentiation to guide the disease therapy. This method not only can save a lot of examination fees for patients, but also can help doctors exchange with patients more closely, thus reflecting a real humanistic spirit.