Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Chinese traditional medicine is thousands of years old. The principles are found in the study and practice of Tai Chi Chuan and meditation. It developed from Taoism, which is a natural science and based in observation of the Universe and Man's place in it, and how to evolve with the environment. Through meditation the ancients learnt how the human body functions from the inside to the outside. They developed theories and practices which have been proved from generation to generation.
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a range of traditional medical practices used in China that developed during several thousand years. These practices include
acupuncture,
moxibustion,
herbal medicine,
acupressure,
massage,
cupping,
therapeutic exercise and
nutrition. TCM is notated by its principle of internal balance and harmony, or life force regulation through energy channels. As it says processes of the human body are interrelated and constantly interact with the environment, the theory looks for the signs of disharmony in the external and internal environment of a person in order to understand, treat and prevent illness and disease.
In remote antiquity, our ancestors created primitive medicine during their struggles against nature. While searching for food they found that some foods had the specific property of relieving or eliminating certain diseases. That was the beginning of finding and using herbal medicines. While warming themselves around a fire they discovered that the way of local warming with hot stone or earth wrapped in bark or animal skin would relieve or eliminate certain symptoms of diseases. They practiced and improved this method repeatedly and then gradually brought into being the therapies of hot medicated compress and moxibustion. In the course of using stone implements as tools of production, they noted, by chance, that the pain in one part of the body would be alleviated when some other part was pricked. Then treatment with stone needles and bone needles came into being. This gradually resulted in acupuncture therapy. Afterwards the therapy of channels was born. The theories of TCM come mainly from practice and have been continually enriched and expanded through practice.
In the West, TCM is often considered alternative medicine; however, in the area of Greater China, it is widely considered to be an integral part of the health care system. Considerable diagnostic skill is required to observe what are described as subtle differences. A training period of years or decades is said to be necessary for TCM practitioners to understand the full complexity of symptoms and dynamic balances. According to one Chinese saying, a good (TCM) doctor is also qualified to be a good prime minister in a country.
Modern TCM treatments consist of herbal medicine or acupuncture as the primary method, with other methods such as massage, qigong, or food therapy playing a secondary role. The modern practice of TCM is increasingly incorporating techniques and theories of Western medicine in its praxis. TCM, with its unique diagnostic methods, systematic approach, abundant historical literature and materials, has attracted many attentions from the international community. TCM is well recognized for its remarkable effectiveness in offsetting the side effect caused by the toxic and chemical treatment of cancer cases in the Western medical system.
TCM is an integral part of Chinese culture. It has made great contributions to the prosperity of China.
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