Eastern and Western approaches to medical practice have often been seen as complete opposites. In fact, many studies have show this view to be folly, and Eastern, also known as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), practices are proven to help alleviate ailments ranging from arthritis, gynecological pain, and migraines to cancer treatment side effects. It has been a mystery why exactly the implementation of acupuncture, yoga, and other TCM practices seem to work, but a new scientific discovery is clearing up the Eastern medicine phenomena that has puzzled Western practitioners.
This past March, a team of doctors led by researcher and doctor of pathology Neil Theise of NYU’s Langone School of Medicine discovered what they are referring to as a new organ.
It’s name―the interstitium.
Using pCLE, a revolutionary form of microscopy, Theise and company discovered what they discovered to be fluid-filled channels that run throughout the body. These channels are essentially an internal highway for the passage of lymphatic and other bodily fluids, and may explain why TCM practices do work, and how cancer metastasizes.
Learn more about the hacking the interstitium to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western medicine and how it may change our understanding of the body with the infographic below.