Traditional Chinese Medicine: What You Need To Know (2024)

FAQs

What do you need to know about traditional Chinese medicine? ›

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a complete medical system that has been used to diagnose, treat, and prevent illnesses for more than 2,000 years. TCM is based on a belief in yin and yang, defined as opposing energies, such as earth and heaven, winter and summer, and happiness and sadness.

Holism is a core principle of TCM, emphasizing the interconnectedness of the body, mind, and spirit. In TCM, the human body is viewed as an intricate system where the balance of vital energies, known as Qi (pronounced "chee") and the harmony between Yin and Yang, play a pivotal role in health.

The set of tools or techniques that have evolved from these foundational ideas are called the Five Pillars of Chinese Medicine and they consist of Acupuncture, Herbology, Moxibustion, Tui Na and Qi Gong.

The Eight Principles consist of four pairs of opposing terms: yin or yang, hot or cold, excess or deficiency, and internal or external. Yin and yang serve to organize the six other principles. Cold, deficiency, and internal all belong to yin, while hot, excess, and external all belong to yang.

Some psychological and/or physical approaches used in traditional Chinese medicine practices, such as acupuncture and tai chi, may help improve quality of life and certain pain conditions. Studies of Chinese herbal products used in traditional Chinese medicine for a range of medical conditions have had mixed results.

TCM's model of the body is characterized as full of pseudoscience. Some practitioners no longer consider yin and yang and the idea of an energy flow to apply. Scientific investigation has not found any histological or physiological evidence for traditional Chinese concepts such as qi, meridians, and acupuncture points.

TCM uses the Yin Yang concept to diagnose patterns of disharmony and determine treatments to restore balance. The Five Elements consist of wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Each represents different properties, functions or appearances under which all things in the universe can be classified.

Each of the Five Elements – Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water – represents a distinct quality of the Qi energy that is vital to the continual health and flow of nature. The Ancient Chinese observed that just as these essential energetic qualities can be found in nature, so can they be found in every living being.

In summary, when utilizing Chinese medicine for any ailment, it's advised to steer clear of raw, cold, greasy, strongly scented fish, pungent, barbecued, roasted, and fried oily foods. Opting for lighter, blended meals is highly recommended during this period.

The basic theory of Chinese medicine attempts to explain the nature of life cycle and disease changes. It includes five theories:Yin and Yang, the five elements, how to direct one's strength, zangfu (internal body organs), and channels.

What are the 6 stages in Chinese Medicine? ›

In the "Shang-Han-Lun", a famous old formulary in traditional Chinese medicine, the exogennous diseases are classified into six stages of syndromes according to the progress of the illness in general terms for tai-yang, shao-yang, yang-ming, tai-yin, shao-yin and jeu-yin stages.

TCM can be characterized as holistic with emphasis on the integrity of the human body and the close relationship between human and its social and natural environment. TCM focuses on health maintenance and in the treatment of disease emphasizes on enhancing the body's resistance to diseases.

TCM believes that the body's vital energy, called qi (pronounced chi), flows along specific channels or meridians. If the qi is balanced then the person has spiritual, emotional, and physical health. But when the qi isn't in balance, disease may occur. Qi can be blocked, causing unbalance between the yin and yang.

Empty cold

Chilliness, cold limbs, dull-pale face, no thirst, listlessness, sweating, loose stools, clear-abundant urine, a deep slow or weak pulse and a pale tongue with a thin white coating. Empty cold arises from a deficiency of Yang.

The fundamental principle of diagnosis and treatment in TCM is the “dialectical theory of treatment,” which was founded on the four diagnoses of “looking, listening, questioning, and feeling the pulse.” According to the principle of the four diagnoses, practitioners analyze and synthesize all types of clinical ...

Traditional Chinese medicine aims to restore the body's balance and harmony between the natural opposing forces of yin and yang, which can block qi and cause disease. Traditional Chinese medicine includes acupuncture, diet, herbal therapy, meditation, physical exercise, and massage.

Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists look at the balance of body, mind, and spirit to determine how to restore the yin-yang balance (qi) and good health. They have extended clinical practice, advanced training, and substantive theoretical knowledge.

One of the main goals of TCM is to balance the effects of the body's “qi”, known in the West as the “Vital Force”, to live in harmony with the surrounding “qi”.

The benefits of traditional Chinese medicine vary, but many patients report experiencing decreased pain and inflammation, less stress and faster recovery times after injury. Some studies have suggested that certain traditional Chinese medicine treatment options may improve fertility as well.