Chinese Medicine

Chinese medicine or traditional Chinese medicine finds its roots more than 5000 years ago in the oral teachings of Shen Nung – the Father of Chinese medicine. Given the status of alternative medicine in the Western world, TCM is in fact a large part of the primary health care system in China and other Oriental countries.

Principles Of Traditional Chinese Medicine

There are several principles on which the entire system of Chinese medicine is based. These principles are to be taken as is and do not require to be proven by empirical evidence.

• Man is a part of the universe. He cannot be separated from the universe. All changes in the universe and surroundings inevitably cause changes in the human body.
   

• The Universe and every process therein tend to balance themselves eventually. Optimum health can be achieved by living harmoniously with the Universe and changing as required to maintain balance. Lack of change can lead to stagnation while too much change can cause catastrophe. In either case the delicate balance of energies within the body is lost and causes illness.
   

• Everything is interconnected and hence one must use a systematic approach to life and medicine.

Traditional Chinese medicine thus, regards the body as a miniature universe unto itself. It has a complete interconnected set of systems that work harmoniously to maintain the balance of energies. If the balance of the body is maintained it functions effectively. A loss of balance results in disease.

Philosophical Aspects Of Traditional Chinese Medicine

• Dao is the Chinese way of life that preaches moderation in all things. It believes that man is an intrinsic part of nature and nature balances its energies by default. It is only because of an abusive lifestyle that we cause imbalances in the body’s energies and become ill. By leading a life of moderation we can maintain the natural balance and live longer and healthier.
   

• Humans are fueled by three treasures: Chi or Qi or life force. It is pronounced as ‘chee’. Shen or the spirit and Jing or the essence. Qi refers to the force flowing through all beings and objects and connecting them. Shen is like the soul that gives brightness to life. Jing is responsible for growth, development and reproduction. All humans are born with a limited amount of Jing. Leading a lifestyle close to Dao can preserve Jing whereas abusive lifestyles deplete Jing.
   

• Yin and Yang represent the order and rhythm of an apparently chaotic universe. Everything has two opposing aspects of Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang struggle with each other and try to control the other. However, one cannot exist without the other. They are interdependent. Yin and Yang share a symbiotic relationship and can also be interchanged. Yin can become Yang and vice versa if the growth is uncontrolled. There is always a bit of Yin and a bit of Yang in everything. Excessive Yin or Yang can lead to illness. To maintain health the two must always be in balance. Yin is the dark, passive, female energy and Yang the light, active, masculine energy.
   

• The 5 element theory is also an important part of Chinese medicine. The theory uses the fundamental processes of the Universe to understand the human world. The five elements are Fire, Earth, Water, Wood and Metal. The Shen or Nourishing cycle indicates how each element is mother to the next. Water nourishes Wood, Wood nourishes Fire, Fire nourishes Earth (ashes), Earth yields Metal and Metal condenses Water. The Ko or Regulating cycle represents the destructive cycle. Water can extinguish Fire, Fire can melt Metal, Metal can cut Wood, Wood can contain Earth and Earth can absorb Water.

Treatment Techniques Used In Traditional Chinese Medicine

Chinese medicine uses five primary methods of treatment: Tui na, Acupuncture, Moxibustion, Herbology and Qigong. Herbs and drugs are used only as an absolute last resort. This is in keeping with the Chinese belief that the human body has an innate ability to find the problem, allocate resources, direct energy as required and heal itself without the interference of outside forces.

Acupuncture: This form of Chinese therapy inserts needles into specific acupoints on the body. Acupuncture believes that Qi flows through the human body in Jing Luo or invisible channels. The acupuncture holes or acupoints are locations where the Qi of the channels rises to the surface of the body. There are 12 main meridians, 6 Yin and 6 Yang and many minor ones. When Qi flows freely through the channels the body is healthy. However, if the Qi is blocked or starts stagnating the physical, emotional and mental well being gets affected negatively.

To restore the balance of the Qi, Acupuncture points are stimulated. If the Qi is too cold, the Acupuncturist will stimulate acupoints to warm it. If is it is too weak he will seek to strengthen it. Thus, Acupuncture aims to restore balance in the body.

Moxibustion: This form of Chinese therapy uses moxa or mugwort herb. The moxa is aged, ground into fluff and burned to effect healing. Sometimes it is further process into a cigar shaped stick – but it is never smoked. It is often used with acupuncture needles or burnt directly on the skin.

The theory is that the moxa warms the acupuncture points and other regions and stimulates circulation through these areas. This ensures a smoother flow of Qi and affects healing. It is used against cold in the body and to turn and deliver breech babies.

Tui Na: This form of Chinese therapy uses massages, traction and manipulation along with Acupressure. It is generally effective to treat acute and chronic musculoskeletal problems.

Qigong: This form of Chinese therapy is taught mainly for maintenance of a healthy body but sometimes used for therapeutic purposes also. Qigong literally translates into ‘breath work’. It is the art of maintaining good health by managing the breadth. Qigong teaches various physical routines that coordinate different patterns of breathing with different movements of the body to achieve good health.

Thus, traditional Chinese medicine primarily works on the principle of restoring balance of Qi within the human body to prevent or cure illnesses.