Miami University Hosts Chinese Medicine And Philosophy Lecture

By Claire Williams

Miami University journalism student

The relationship, or lack thereof, between philosophy and medicine was the focus of a recent lecture at Miami University.

On Feb. 27, the Miami University Humanities Center hosted Judith Farquhar, Max Palevsky Professor of Anthropology at the University of Chicago. Farquhar spoke about the differences between American and Chinese medicine and philosophy.

Farquhar lived and worked in China during the 1980’s, researching traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM, and how it differed from western medicine.

She says what she learned was that compared to Western doctors, Chinese medical professionals used a more philosophical basis to access and help their patients. This was compared to Western and American professionals who she says take a more scientific approach.

“In my opinion, biomedical physicians have not been very good philosophers.”

Farquhar says that in Western medicine, most doctors refer to what they have learned in school and look over a patient with a preconceived notion of how to diagnose them. She says Chinese doctors try to give each patient a specialized kind of care.

Farquhar says traditional Chinese medicine takes a holistic, whole body approach to medicine -- with practitioners working to understand how ailments in specific parts of the body impact overall health.

The patient and doctor work together to go over all the symptoms and ailments the patient is experiencing, Farquhar says, calling it a kind of partnership.

However, she does say that in China, patients often bounce from one doctor to another, each one assessing them differently. Patients try a variety of different medicines and treatments and move on to the next physician if they see no results.

“Chinese patients are shoppers,” Farquhar says.

A Balance Of Philosophy And Science

Farquhar also explained that in traditional Chinese medicine there is a hierarchy of balance and reaction. Even the smallest thing can have a big impact on someone's overall health. She also pointed out that traditional Chinese doctors often look for connections between very different ailments. For example, a mental issue could be causing some physical issue.

Farquhar's lecture was part of the Humanities Center's Altman Program. Every year, the Humanities Center Steering Committee selects a focus for the Altman Program. This year's is the intersection of medical science and the humanities.

“Chinese traditional medicine is sometimes dismissed as primitive or old-fashioned, but it has been shown to be highly effective in managing so-called life-style issues and chronic illness," Humanities Center Director Timothy Melley says.

Melley says Farquhar was invited to participate in the Altman Program because her work helps people understand that medicine is not simply the application of science to human bodies.

“Farquhar’s research helps us see that our own model is rooted in assumptions that we often do not recognize.”

Humanities And Medical Students

Amy Miller, a junior applying to medical schools this spring, says the lecture has helped her rethink her approach to medicine.

"I guess I never thought about how one thing can affect another. Treating a whole body instead of just the one problem."

Miller believes that Western doctors should be more open to trying a more holistic approach to diagnosing patients.

"Maybe it would lead to a bit more understanding on both parts, doctor and patient. And make a patient feel more confident, knowing a doctor is looking at you and not just a sick person."

Upcoming Altman Program lectures focus on how narrative in medicine and whether human rights are threatened by medical science.

Photo: The Miami University's 2016-2017 Altman Program is designed to help people understand how the humanities influences the way we think about health and wellness. -- Photo by Claire Williams