The way I see it western (modern) medicine is the best when it comes to emergency care. But as far as long term care eastern medicine is better.
I used to do IT work for a doctor's office and every time the drug reps came in all the kept saying was "it relieves the symptoms" never anything about fixing the issue. Eastern medicine tends to treat the body as a whole, the cure isn't as fast but it's a cure. You normaly don't see western doctors telling the 250+ lbs 5'8" guy complaining of all sorts of health issues to "lose the weight and exercise dumbass" it's usualy "we can give you this med or that med and you should try to lose some weight".
Herbal medicine is where all our modern medicine comes from we just think it's better to synthesize the chemicals found in the medicinal herbs than to use the herbs themselves because of mass production and "quality control"
sorry for the rant
Joe Stitz
"Black belt and white belt are the same, white belt is the beginning of technique. Black belt is the beginning of understanding. Both are beginner belts."
- Doug Perry -Hanshi, KuDan -Shorin Ryu ShorinKan