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What is Traditional Chinese Medicine
To define Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
means describing a complete system of healing that was developed
thousands of
years ago in China. TCM is an accumulation of many different
theories. It is my belief that the original form of TCM is more
effective for people practicing methods and traditions of ancient
China than it is for today’s modern population. I believe
TCM is constantly evolving, due to our continual ever changing
environment. It is a system that adapts to the unending changes
in our spiritual, emotional, and physical health.
Traditionally trained TCM practitioners do
not treat a symptom of physical illness alone. It is by keen
observation and questioning
of the patient that they gain an understanding into the underlying “cause” of
their symptoms. It is in looking for and addressing the “cause” of
one’s symptoms that a TCM practitioner gains success in
bringing about healing for their patients. It is the belief of
the TCM practitioner that true and complete healing comes from
looking at the total picture of one’s health, not simply
one’s symptoms.
Thorough questioning will be asked, such as:
- Is there a cyclic nature to your symptoms?
- Is there
a specific time of the day when the symptom occurs?
- Have you been able to determine what makes it
better or worse?
- Is it affected by heat or cold?
These are just a few of the
many variations of questions that could be asked by a TCM
practitioner to gain insight into understanding
the nature of the illness.
Upon examination, many types of observations will
be made, such as:
- Coloring of skin, such as: gray, green, yellow,
pale, etc.
- Texture and color of tongue.
- Health of nails.
- Symmetry of facial features.
Again, these are just examples
of the various observations by a TCM practitioner.
The ancient Chinese believed there is a universal life energy
called Chi or Qi present in every living creature. This energy
circulates through the body along specific pathways called meridians.
As long as this system of energetic balance flows with ease,
homeostasis is present. Once the flow of energy is blocked or
disrupted, symptoms of pain and illness begin to surface.
Acupuncture works to “re-program” and restore normal
function and flow of the body’s Chi by disrupting or breaking
down the energetic roadblock, which is hindering the natural course
of one’s energy.
TCM’s primary objective is to re-establish
a state of equilibrium of the internal environment of the body.
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