Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Oriental Medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM, is one of the oldest continuous systems of medicine with records dating four thousand years. Contrast this with American or Western (Alopathic) forms of health care, which started it's "official" existence with the birth of the AMA in 1847, but I will venture to place around the middle ages, as bodies (mostly corpses) were tagged, identified and dissected for identification and pattern regularities and abnormalities in function, substance and reaction to trauma and 'medicines'.
Having a deeper and richer history and documentation, Chinese medicine is quite complex and can be difficult to comprehend in a brief tutorial or class. This is because TCM is based, at least in part, on the Taoist belief that we live in a universe in which everything is interconnected. What happens to one part of the body affects every other part of the body. The mind and body are not viewed separately, but as part of an energetic system. Similarly, organs and organ systems are viewed as interconnected structures that work together to keep the body functioning. In addition, from a practical point, social and religious taboos did not handily allow the wholesale methods of the West that are mentioned above. Often, it was observing similar phenomena in the body that can be illustrated in nature, figuring out how nature balanced things out, and attempting to apply the same measures to the body. For these reasons, TCM focuses on points, herbs, massage, nutrition and movement or exercise.
Many of the concepts emphasized in traditional Chinese medicine have no true counterpart in Western medicine. One of these concepts is qi (pronounced "chi"), which is considered a vital force or energy responsible for controlling the workings of the human mind and body. Qi flows through the body via channels, or pathways, which are called meridians. There are a total of 20 meridians: 12 primary meridians, which correspond to specific organs, organ systems or functions, and eight secondary meridians. Imbalances in the flow of qi cause illness; correction of this flow restores the body to balance. Other concepts such as the Yin/Yang and Five Element Theories are equally important in order to have a true grasp of traditional Chinese medicine, and you may want to take a moment to go to those pages before continuing if this interests you.
Many people often equate the practice of acupuncture with the practice of traditional Chinese medicine. This is not entirely true. While acupuncture is the most often practiced component of traditional Chinese medicine in our society, it is simply that – a component, an important piece of a much larger puzzle. Traditional Chinese medicine encompasses several methods designed to help patients achieve and maintain health. Along with acupuncture, TCM incorporates adjunctive techniques such as acupressure and moxibustion; manipulative and massage techniques such as tuina and gua sha; herbal medicine; diet and lifestyle changes; meditation; and exercise (often in the form of qigong or tai chi).
Traditional Chinese medicine should not also be confused with "Oriental medicine." Whereas traditional Chinese medicine is considered a standardized version of the type of Chinese medicine practice before the Chinese Revolution, Oriental medicine is a catch-all phrase for the styles of acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage and exercise that have been developed and practice not only in Asia, but world-wide.
Although the principles of Traditional Chinese medicine may be difficult for some to comprehend and/or put into practice, there is little doubt of TCM's effectiveness. Several studies have reported on traditional Chinese medicine's success in treating a wide range of conditions, from nausea and vomiting to skin disorders, tennis elbow and back pain. Many Western-trained physicians have begun to see the benefits traditional Chinese medicine has to offer patients and now include acupuncture, at least on a limited basis, as part of their practice. More Americans are also using acupuncture, herbal remedies and other components of traditional Chinese medicine than ever before. The reasons for this vary, but the increasing interest in, and use of, TCM is due in large part to its effectiveness, affordability and lack of adverse side-effects compared to Western medicine.
*Certain annotations and paragraphs from the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine News Source "The ABCs of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture" Acupunture Today; MPA Media.
Traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM, is one of the oldest continuous systems of medicine with records dating four thousand years. Contrast this with American or Western (Alopathic) forms of health care, which started it's "official" existence with the birth of the AMA in 1847, but I will venture to place around the middle ages, as bodies (mostly corpses) were tagged, identified and dissected for identification and pattern regularities and abnormalities in function, substance and reaction to trauma and 'medicines'.
Having a deeper and richer history and documentation, Chinese medicine is quite complex and can be difficult to comprehend in a brief tutorial or class. This is because TCM is based, at least in part, on the Taoist belief that we live in a universe in which everything is interconnected. What happens to one part of the body affects every other part of the body. The mind and body are not viewed separately, but as part of an energetic system. Similarly, organs and organ systems are viewed as interconnected structures that work together to keep the body functioning. In addition, from a practical point, social and religious taboos did not handily allow the wholesale methods of the West that are mentioned above. Often, it was observing similar phenomena in the body that can be illustrated in nature, figuring out how nature balanced things out, and attempting to apply the same measures to the body. For these reasons, TCM focuses on points, herbs, massage, nutrition and movement or exercise.
Many of the concepts emphasized in traditional Chinese medicine have no true counterpart in Western medicine. One of these concepts is qi (pronounced "chi"), which is considered a vital force or energy responsible for controlling the workings of the human mind and body. Qi flows through the body via channels, or pathways, which are called meridians. There are a total of 20 meridians: 12 primary meridians, which correspond to specific organs, organ systems or functions, and eight secondary meridians. Imbalances in the flow of qi cause illness; correction of this flow restores the body to balance. Other concepts such as the Yin/Yang and Five Element Theories are equally important in order to have a true grasp of traditional Chinese medicine, and you may want to take a moment to go to those pages before continuing if this interests you.
Many people often equate the practice of acupuncture with the practice of traditional Chinese medicine. This is not entirely true. While acupuncture is the most often practiced component of traditional Chinese medicine in our society, it is simply that – a component, an important piece of a much larger puzzle. Traditional Chinese medicine encompasses several methods designed to help patients achieve and maintain health. Along with acupuncture, TCM incorporates adjunctive techniques such as acupressure and moxibustion; manipulative and massage techniques such as tuina and gua sha; herbal medicine; diet and lifestyle changes; meditation; and exercise (often in the form of qigong or tai chi).
Traditional Chinese medicine should not also be confused with "Oriental medicine." Whereas traditional Chinese medicine is considered a standardized version of the type of Chinese medicine practice before the Chinese Revolution, Oriental medicine is a catch-all phrase for the styles of acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage and exercise that have been developed and practice not only in Asia, but world-wide.
Although the principles of Traditional Chinese medicine may be difficult for some to comprehend and/or put into practice, there is little doubt of TCM's effectiveness. Several studies have reported on traditional Chinese medicine's success in treating a wide range of conditions, from nausea and vomiting to skin disorders, tennis elbow and back pain. Many Western-trained physicians have begun to see the benefits traditional Chinese medicine has to offer patients and now include acupuncture, at least on a limited basis, as part of their practice. More Americans are also using acupuncture, herbal remedies and other components of traditional Chinese medicine than ever before. The reasons for this vary, but the increasing interest in, and use of, TCM is due in large part to its effectiveness, affordability and lack of adverse side-effects compared to Western medicine.
*Certain annotations and paragraphs from the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine News Source "The ABCs of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture" Acupunture Today; MPA Media.