Western Medicine vs. TCM vs. Ayurveda: Finding What Works for You
For most of my life, I thought of health as something you either had or didn’t have—you were either "healthy" or "unhealthy," and if something went wrong, you just fixed it. Simple, right? But the deeper I’ve gone into different healing systems—Western medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and Ayurveda—the more I’ve realized that health isn’t a destination, it’s an ongoing process.
Everything in nature is constantly shifting—the seasons, the weather, the ocean tides. Our bodies are no different. We are ecosystems, not machines. You don’t just “fix” your health once and for all. It’s about making small, consistent changes that build up over time—what people call marginal gains. The little things you do daily matter far more than the occasional big effort.
Western Medicine: Quick Fixes & Crisis Care
Let’s start with what most of us grew up with—Western medicine.
Western medicine is brilliant when it comes to emergencies, infections, and surgery. If you break a bone, need antibiotics, or have a life-threatening condition, it’s your best bet. But where it falls short is chronic health issues—things like IBS, hormonal imbalances, fatigue, and skin conditions.
Why? Because Western medicine tends to treat symptoms, not root causes.
Got acid reflux? Here’s an antacid.
Got acne? Here’s a prescription cream.
Got anxiety? Here’s a pill.
Western medicine works on the idea that health is the absence of disease. But that’s not the full picture. You can feel off, sluggish, or unwell long before anything shows up in a blood test—and that’s where deeper healing systems like TCM and Ayurveda come in.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): Balance & Energy Flow
TCM is based on Qi (life force energy) and meridians (energy channels) in the body. It sees health as a state of balance—between Yin and Yang, hot and cold, excess and deficiency.
Instead of looking at isolated symptoms, TCM looks at patterns in the body:
A dull, pale complexion? Blood deficiency.
Waking up at 3 AM every night? Liver imbalance.
Feeling cold all the time? Yang deficiency.
One of the most fascinating things about TCM is how it reads the body for clues—your tongue, pulse, skin, and even the sound of your voice can reveal imbalances long before a Western doctor would diagnose anything.
For example:
A swollen tongue with teeth marks? Digestive weakness.
A red tip on the tongue? Emotional stress affecting the heart.
Cold hands and feet? Poor circulation and Yang deficiency.
TCM isn’t about quick fixes—it’s about long-term balance. Acupuncture, herbal medicine, and Qi Gong work by adjusting energy flow in the body, which takes time.
Ayurveda: The Elements & The Power of Marginal Gains
Ayurveda is the healing system that made me completely rethink health. Unlike Western medicine, which focuses on symptoms, and TCM, which focuses on energy flow, Ayurveda looks at your body as part of nature.
We are all made up of the five elements—earth, water, fire, air, and ether—and our unique constitution (dosha) determines how those elements show up in us. Your body isn’t fixed; it’s constantly shifting based on:
The seasons
What you eat
How much you sleep
Your stress levels
For example:
In winter, the cold and dryness increase Vata (air & space), which can lead to dry skin, joint pain, and anxiety.
In summer, excess heat can aggravate Pitta (fire), leading to irritability, acid reflux, and skin breakouts.
In damp, heavy weather, Kapha (earth & water) can slow digestion and make you feel sluggish.
Ayurveda teaches that health isn’t about perfection—it’s about constantly adjusting. The elements within us are always in flux, just like nature.
And here’s where marginal gains come in. Ayurveda doesn’t expect you to overhaul your entire life overnight. It’s about small, daily adjustments that add up over time.
Swapping iced drinks for warm herbal tea? That’s a marginal gain.
Eating your biggest meal at lunchtime when digestion is strongest? Another marginal gain.
Going to bed before 10 PM to support deep rest? One more step in the right direction.
Each small shift nudges your body back toward balance.
Mother Nature Always Gives Us Cues
One of the most beautiful things about Ayurveda and TCM is that they teach us to observe our bodies the way we observe nature. The body is always sending signals—the problem is, most of us ignore them until they become too big to ignore.
Examples of how your body gives you cues:
Nails breaking easily? Deficiency in minerals or weak digestion.
Hair thinning or falling out? A sign of high stress, hormonal imbalance, or poor circulation.
Tongue looking pale? Blood deficiency or low energy.
Waking up tired even after 8 hours of sleep? Your body isn’t truly resting—digestion, hormones, or stress might be out of balance.
Western medicine might dismiss these signs until they turn into something more serious, but Ayurveda and TCM treat them as early warnings—your body’s way of whispering that something needs attention.
So… Which One is Best?
The truth is, no one system has all the answers.
If I break a bone? Western medicine.
If I need help balancing my energy and stress? TCM.
If I want a daily system to keep me in balance long before problems arise? Ayurveda.
Healing is a journey. It takes trial and error, patience, and consistency. The body is an ecosystem, constantly shifting with the seasons, your diet, your emotions, and your environment. There is no one right way—only what’s right for you in this moment.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned? Pay attention. Your body is always telling you what it needs. Health isn’t about finding a magic pill—it’s about learning how to listen, adjust, and adapt.
Final Thoughts: Small Changes, Big Results
If you’ve ever felt frustrated trying to "figure out" your health, know this: it takes time. The right approach for you will evolve, just like nature does. Focus on marginal gains—small, daily improvements that add up over time.
Swap processed foods for whole foods grown in good soil.
Pay attention to your tongue, skin, hair, and nails—they are telling you something.
Work with the seasons, not against them.
Don’t expect to be "sorted" overnight—health is a journey, not a destination.
If you’re curious about how Ayurveda can help you tune into your body and create a lifestyle that works for you, book a FREE discovery call with me , Let’s find what small changes will make the biggest difference for you.