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Traditional Chinese Medicine

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At the core of this ancient medicine is the philosophy of Yin and Yang. Both Taoism and Confucianism have had a great influence over the development of medicine in China. One of the main tenets of Confucianism stresses that the body is holy, and must remain intact through life and into death. The Taoists, on the other hand, believe that the key to health is the maintenance of balance between opposing forces in nature, symbolized most powerfully by Yin and Yang. The philosophy of Chinese medicine can be said to exist between these two philosophies: disharmony brings 'dis-ease', and a doctor can cure the patient through detailed and accurate observations of the external and emotional life of the patient.
 

Table of Contents

History of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Chinese medicine is the oldest, continuously practiced, professional, literate medicine in the world. Imperial schools, dating back to about 300-400 AD, were created to ensure quality and consistency in the teaching of this medicine -- a practice maintained by the Chinese government today. These schools practiced side-by-side with the apprenticeship system of learning medicine. By basing treatment on patterns (groupings of signs and symptoms) rather than by disease, Chinese medicine allows the practitioner to treat the whole person. This makes Chinese medicine the oldest 'holistic' medicine in the world with a history of more than 2,500 years. The earliest, still extant written records date back at least 2,300 years ago, although literary evidence suggests that these are a continuation of a much older written legacy, dating back prior to 500 BCE, when the then ruling emperor ordered the burning of all books written prior to his reign.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is the form of Chinese medicine taught in modern-day China, and encorporates various schools of treatment. In China, TCM is practiced side-by-side with Western medicine, with the practitioners of each learning the fundamentals of the other style of medicine. This integrated approach to healthcare has created a better system than either system alone. Chinese medicine has developed internally consistent methods of diagnosing, of creating treatment principles, and of prescribing treatment protocols to deal with most known human conditions. Just as most of the earliest books focused first on how to stay well and then how to treat illnesses, TCM emphasizes prevention above treatment. Over the last 50 years, the TCM medical community in China has developed very high standards of care, ensuring the best healthcare. These standards include peer review of treatments for accuracy and appropriateness.

Benefits of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Chinese medicine tends to produce almost no side effects in its treatment of illnesses. It helps people regain full functionality in their lives without having to give up any specific aspect of their daily living.  Chinese medicine can be used to treat many illnesses treatable by Western medicines without invasive surgery or pharmaceutical drugs.

The World Health Organization has recognized and recommends acupuncture and moxibustion for the treatment of over 40 types of illness including:

  • Internal illness: colds, asthma, bronchitis, hypertension, diabetes, hepatitis, digestive disorders, colitis
     
  • Ear-eye-nose-throat disorders: deafness, tinnitus, poor eyesight, sinus infections, allergies
     
  • Dermatological disorders: eczema, acne, herpes, psoriasis
     
  • Neuro-muscular disorders: arthritis, neuralgias, bursitis, tendonitis, headaches, migraines, cerebral palsy, polio
     
  • Reproductive issues: infertility, impotence, vaginitis, irregular menstruation, morning sickness
     
  • Mental-emotional disorders: anxiety, depression, insomnia, stress

Traditional Chinese Medicine: Treatments

Chinese medicine is divided into eight distinct yet interrelated branches: Mindfulness, Diet, Exercise, Astrology, Feng Shui, Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Remedies, Tui Na Massage. These last three are discussed here.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a treatment method using the insertion of thin filiform needles into specifically identified points of the body in order to help rebalance biological energies. The underlying belief in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is that illness is an expression of an imbalance of physiological energies, whether they are engendered by external pathogens or internal stresses. The insertion of needles can redirect and rebalance these energies to allow a movement towards regaining health.
 

Chinese Herbal Remedies

The administration of Chinese medicinals is probably the most frequently prescribed method of treatment used in modern China, especially for complex, internal illnesses like autoimmune disorders, allergies, or mental-emotional disorders. Throughout Asia, (China, Japan, Korea, etc.), Chinese medicinals are used side-by-side with Western pharmaceuticals for treating most of the illnesses treatable by Western medicine. Chinese medicinals are very effective when prescribed in its traditional manner.

Formulas are made from groupings of 3 to 25 medicinals, tailored for each unique individual in such a way as to alleviate the condition and mitigate potential side effects. Their effectiveness has been proven by literally up to 2500 years of clinical practice. Formulas can be taken as raw medicinals that are decocted into water, wine, or tea or powdered and mixed with honey or other binders to form pills. They are also presently available as powdered or tinctured extracts, which can then be placed into capsules or vials for administration.

Modern China has placed conservation laws into effect in order to protect endangered species from being made extinct because of their medicinal value. An example of this is the Tiger Bone, which is a very powerful medicinal for atrophy or arthritic syndromes. Since the tiger is an endangered species, the tiger bone has been replaced by water buffalo bone that acts in almost the same way.
 

Tui Na Massage

Tui Na (pronounced "two-AY nah") is a traditional adjunctive therapy in both the treatment of and prevention of disease. Tui Na literally means push and hold. It can be used in painful syndromes, abdominal and digestive complaints, women's and men's issues, colds and flus, and many other types of illnesses. It is based upon channel and muscular meridian theory. There are several techniques that can be used from simple massage techniques to more acupressure styles. Simple tui na techniques can be used by patients at home and can be a powerful adjunctive method in their recovery.

Yin and Yang   

Yin and yang are one of the most fundamental concepts in TCM because it makes up such a large chunk of the foundation of diagnosis and treatment. First appearing in the Book of Changes (Yi Jing), the theory has probably been around since prior to the Warring States Period (pre 221 B.C.). The common meaning of the traditional characters for yin and yang stand for the dark and light sides of a hill, respectively (simplified characters in parentheses).

Yin  yang
This leads us to the basic metaphor of yin and yang being the cycle of the day, with yin being night and yang being day. The two are opposite, true. However, one will eventually lead into another in an endless cycle. Furthermore, the two define themselves by being the opposite of the other.

The ancients then looked in nature for other representations of this dichotomy. They began with fire and water and went on from there. To the yang side went all that is bright, exciting, moving and warm. To the yin side went all that is dark, dull, still and cold. When they were done they had a list which placed every natural occurrence and state into one of the two camps. Here is a small example:

YangYin
Fire
Sun
Male
Excess
Active
Energy
Function
Water
Moon
Female
Deficient
Inactive
Matter
Form

The yin-yang symbol (tai ji tu), again draws off of the day and night association of yin and yang. The story goes that the ancients plotted a graph made up of 6 concentrically larger rings. In the center they placed an 8 foot high stick and measured the shadow cast by the sun throughout the seasons. They then colored in where the shade landed and where there was none. When they looked at the graph from above, they ended up with a picture that extremely resembles the yin-yang without the two dots on either side. (For the whole story go to www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/yinyang.htm).

The addition of the smaller black and white circles are inserted into the opposite sides to further show the inseparable relationship between the two. A fun explanation of yin and yang is to think of a coin with yang being heads and yin being tails. They are two sides of the same thing. Now take that coin and spin it on a table and watch it make what looks like a globe. That is how close their relationship is.

Tao Te Ching

Softness and Flexibility

Softness and flexibility are greatly prized in Chinese philosophy of the Tao (the Way) on which both Traditional Chinese Medicine and T'ai Chi are based. The book, the Tao Te Ching, (also spelled "TaoDeJing") written about 2,500 years ago by Lao Tzu (also spelled Lao Tze), has been long revered throughout China. The book on the left (available at Amazon for about $12) is beautifully illustrated and is considered a classic translation. See the Amazon review below.


 

Amazon Review



The Tao and the Tao Te Ching celebrate water because water seems so soft and powerless -- yet it can patiently overcome mountains which seem so permanent and powerful. So the Tao reminds us that in softness and flexibility is found the greatest power and strength. There are many different translations of the Tao Te Ching. One translation is at: http://www.chinapage.com/gnl.html.

Here are some of the verses about flexibility and softness from that site:




In TCM, all illness is believed to be caused by blockages and imbalances in the flow of energy or life force (chi) . The goal of TCM is to restore harmony and to open the channels so that the energy (chi) can flow.

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