Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can detect imbalances in the body and provide treatments before disease develops. It is great preventative medicine. Chinese Medicine started about 5,000 years ago, but it is known to the Western society only since the late 20th century.
When our body is in harmony, our vital, subtle energy called Qi circulates via channels to all parts of the body. Any blockage of Qi flow results in pain and ache, dysfunction, or disease. It is important to know that blockage of Qi in one part of the body causes diminished Qi there, it can lead to excessive buildup of Qi in another area. TCM opens the blockages, restoring the function of meridians and organs.
Meridians form a highly-complex invisible network. Qi is directed through meridians to every part of the body including arms, legs, torso, heart, organs, and systems. Through meticulous observation, experiments, and mistakes, Chinese acupuncturists were able to map the locations of meridians with specific acupuncture points.
Why our Qi become blocked? It can be affected by Internal or External Forces such as infectious or contagious diseases, poor nutrition, toxic substances, malfunction of organs, traumas, surgeries, car accidents, emotional responses (anxiety, stress, worry, anger), weather (wind, cold, heat, dampness, dryness).
Concept of Yin and Yang is a cornerstone of TCM. In traditional Asian philosophy and culture, everything in universe carries both, Yin and Yang. Yin represents darkness, white, cold, passive, night, Moon, shade, etc. Yang represents light, black, warm, active, day, Sun, etc. They are never static, always fluctuating, and indivisible. In order to have a good health, Yin and Yang of the body need to be in equilibrium.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Techniques:
- Acupuncture - involves stimulating certain points on the body (most points are located along meridians). It is done by inserting hair-thin needles through the skin, to cause a change in the physical functions of the body. Acupuncture is well-known for treating pains. It is also very effective for many other health conditions and calming the mind. Many people fall asleep during an acupuncture treatment.
- Moxibustion - form of heat therapy in which dried plant materials called moxa are burned on or very near the surface of the skin. The intention of moxibustion is to warm and invigorate the flow of Qi in the body and dispel certain pathogenic influences. Moxa is usually made from the dried leafy material of Chinese herb Mugwort - Artemisia.
- Cupping - used to treat asthma, acute Cold, back pain, inflammation, and other disorders. It releases toxins, moves Qi and Blood, and breaks up blood stasis. It improves the circulation of lymph and other vital fluids of the body. During the cupping treatment glass, bamboo or plastic cups are placed on the skin for a few minutes to create suction. During my work at hospitals, we used cupping to prevent pneumonia in patients after surgeries. We also used cupping when someone had a cough due Cold or Flu.
- Gua Sha - used for acute Cold, chronic pains and aches, stiffness. Practitioner applies oil on your skin and uses a smooth-edged tool to scrape the skin to produce petechiae. It releases toxins, moves Blood, promote healing. Gua Sha can be used for facial treatments. Modern research shows Gua Sha produces an anti-inflammatory and immune protective effect that persists for days following a single Gua Sha treatment. This accounts for its effectiveness on pain, stiffness, fever, chill, cough, wheeze, nausea, vomiting, etc.
Image above - Skin after Gua Sha treatment
In China, treatments with Gua Sha and Cupping are widely available from national and public hospitals to private massage shops.
- Chinese Herbs - used medicinally over 2,000 years. Herbal formulas are based on standard, classical prescriptions that have been tried and tested through centuries of medicinal use, and can be modified to fit each individual depending on symptoms. Herb plants produce and contain a variety of chemical substances that act upon the body. Herbs can be prescribed in the form of decoction, tinctures, powders, or pills.
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- Chinese Nutrition - an important component of health. All foods are categorized into temperature, from hot to cold, and variety of flavors (pungent, spicy, sweet, sour and salty). Different temperatures and flavors of food influence the body in specific ways.
- Medical Massage (Tui Na) - rhythmic compression techniques along meridians of the body to establish harmonious flow of Qi, bringing it back to balance. Many of Tui Na techniques are similar to a Western massage like friction, rolling, gliding, shaking, kneading, vibration, tapping, pulling, and pressing. Tui Na is very beneficial in reducing pains of neck, shoulders, arms, back, hips, thighs, legs and ankles. It is a very effective therapy for arthritis, pain, sciatica and muscle spasms.
- Tai Qi and Qi Gong - slow, gentle, flowing movements, specific postures, controlled breathing, mental focus, and relaxation. Tai Chi originated as a martial art in ancient China. Presently, it is used for stress reduction, increasing mobility of joints, improving balance, and is a great form of therapy for anxiety.
Sources:
"The Acupuncture Answer Book: What Everyone Needs to Know About the World's Fast-Growing Health Care Method." White Dove Publishing. Laguna Woods, CA. 2001
Braun, et al. “Effectiveness of Traditional Chinese ‘Gua Sha’ Therapy in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized Control Trial” Pain Medicine" 2011; 12:362-369
Chan, et al. “Guasha-induced Hepatoprotection in Chronic Active Hepatitis B: A Case Study” Clinica Chimica Aca" 412 (2011) 1686-1688
Kwong, et al. “Bioluminescence Imaging of Heme Oxygenase-1 Upregulation in the Gua Sha Procedure” Journal of Visualized Experiments 2009; 1-3
Nielsen, et al. “The Effect of Gua Sha Treatment on the Microcirculation of Surface Tissue: A Pilot Study in Healthy Subjects” Explore September/October 2007, Vol. 3, No.5
Ody, Penelope. "The Chinese Medicine Bible: The Definitive Guide to Holistic Healing." Sterling Publishing Co., New York. NY. 2010