Traditional Chinese medicine has been present in Western media sphere for decades – with some of its concepts entering our daily vernacular. However, there is still a divide separating the "regular" medicine from the modalities and practices imported from China. It seems that the Eastern exoticism can work against mainstream acceptance of this ancient practice; but as the Internet brought the world more closely together, a shift in perception started to happen.

Pain is the method through which our body first diagnoses any newfound issue. Sometimes it is a fleeting feeling that leaves us as soon as it passes; other times, it persists and drives us – quite literally – to the doctor's office. En route there, our fears give way to rationality, while our darkest thoughts spring to life. We're not accustomed to this newfound condition, and rarely do we attempt to rationalize it. Unfortunately, when we arrive at the doctor's office, we often find ourselves treated as a broken down vehicle that can be given a simple fix and sent on its merry way.

In the west, patient's mindset takes a backseat to the current physical state. There is a huge gap between administering help and engaging in conversation, leading to what can be denoted as the Ping-Pong Effect: the patient arrives, gets better, goes back, eventually gets worse – and the cycle continues. The symptoms are treated, but the root of the issue is never even mentioned, nor is the patient's personal experience ever being defined.

There is a sore need for restructuring of this relationship, and some steps are being taken already. Fortunately, there is a lot that an individual can do, since every outward change starts from the reality of an individual. The first step is obtaining the necessary viewpoint, the understanding of where You are Now, taking on a deep vow, set on changing your ways through personal discipline.

Western medicine has started to embrace the mind-body connection that their Eastern peers put at the forefront of their studies for a millennia and more; and by doing so it is playing catch-up with the frustrated patients. The World Wide Web has changed the way the game is played, and resourceful individuals have ventured forth and done their research. By doing so, these individuals came to grips with their individual situation while forging a path for others to follow.

Today, pain management is one of medicine's big topics. There are techniques that can represent a viable alternative to body saturation with pharmaceuticals, an answer to depression that does not lie in another bottle of barbiturates. Some of the biggest issues of modern life, like anxiety and insomnia can be treated not by drugs, but by meditation, Chi Gong, acupuncture; tried and true methods, completely attuned to the life we lead today.

An inquisitive mind features a healthy outlook; this is an issue that both patients and doctors can agree upon. New methods require a new mindset – and sometimes the road to enlightenment leads towards the rediscovery of knowledge.