| Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), or sometimes called Chinese medicine (CM), is a traditional medical system. It has a holistic approach to diagnosing, preventing and treating diseases by identifying patterns and then applying the individual or combined therapies of acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, tuina - a therapeutic massage; and other techniques. Its unique characteristics which distinguish it from ‘orthodox’ medicine are rooted in the "concept of holism - zheng ti guan nian" and "treatment according to syndrome differentiation - bian zheng lun zhi". It is essential to recognise that the fundamental theory of TCM includes those of Qi, Yin Yang, the five elements, zang-fu, the four diagnostic methods and syndrome differentiation systems. |
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Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is one of the world's oldest medical systems still widely practised today. It is a unique and independent medical system which originated from China and developed down through the centuries imbued with the spirit of Chinese civilisation and culture. For thousand of years, TCM has played a major role in maintaining the health of Chinese people.
Chinese Medicine was established through centuries of trial and error processes, taking a very long time from the beginning of the practice of Chinese Medicine to the establishment of a complete theory.
Thus although physical evidence for TCM reveals its origins to be over two thousand years ago, its social history, traditions and roots predates this, making it a fundamental part of Chinese civilization.
Chinese Medicine directly and indirectly influenced the development of many herbal medicines around the globe, including but not limited to the herbal medicines in Japan, Korea, Tibet, Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, etc. Through the Silk Road and other cultural exchanges, Chinese Medicine had been exported to Europe and other continents hundreds and thousands of years ago, being practiced in more than 100 countries around the world, and influencing the development of many other herbal medicines in regions outside Asia. The influence of Chinese Medicine on other alternative medicines (including homeopathy, naturopathy, chiropractic, physical therapy, etc.) can potentially be much more profound and significant than most people realize.
Therefore, Chinese Medicine is in a leading position in the Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), and serves the largest CAM patient population in the world. Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) alone has millions of patients in the world, making Chinese Medicine a world medicine. Today, the term "Chinese Medicine" refers not only to the Chinese Medicine practised inside China, as the word "Chinese" has lost its original regional or ethnic meaning, and has become an abstract term representing a world medicine.
Acupuncture
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Acupuncture works by stimulating the acu-points which lie on lines or channels, through the insertion of thin, fine needles at various points on the body. Through centuries of observation, the body's reaction to each stimulus point and the combination of such points has been noted for their effectiveness in treating different diseases. In recent years these actions have been systematically refined and verified by modern scientific research methods. Currently, there are different forms of acupuncturists in the West; our members only practice Chinese acupuncture which is defined as above. |
Chinese Herbal Medicine
| Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) therapy involves the use of natural plants, minerals and even some small amount animals, each having its own specific characteristics and particular medical use to treat diseases, rectify the over-activity or under-activity of yin and yang, and help restore the body to its normal physiological functions. Chinese herbal therapy must be given by qualified TCM practitioners. Normally, the practitioner must |
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| have a diagnostic consultation, such as asking you questions that relate to your health problems, taking your pulse and observing your tongue, before making a prescription. A prescription can be defined as a preparation which, on the basis of the differentiation of syndromes and the establishment of therapeutic methods, organically combines various herbs for the treatment in accordance with established principles. |
Tuina
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Tuina literally translates as push and grasp and is a Chinese therapeutic massage closely related to acupuncture in its use of the meridian system. It is considered to be effective for treating a similar range of health problems, and is regarded alongside herbal remedies, diet, qigong and one of the fundamental arts of Traditional Chinese Medicine. |
In practice it is the context and objectives which distinguishes these branches. In terms of theory and techniques they have much in common. Central to all is the idea that massage affects not only the physical body but also the Qi body (the network of meridians and points) and the mental body (emotions, thoughts and spiritual faculties). Since both physical and mental health are dependants on a smooth and abundant flow of Qi, massage can effectively treat all three levels.
Tuina is primarily focused on the meridians and points where qi gathers and can be easily manipulated.
Tuina massage for specific health problems is based on a full case history using the four examinations to identify a complaint, an underlying pattern and treatment principles. This full logical analysis is what gives Tuina its power and raises it above other systems of massage. Based on the treatment principles specific techniques are combined to treat the presenting complaint and underlying pattern.
Tuina massage can help heal a large scale of conditions, especially musculoskeletal conditions. Chinese sources list over 140 medical conditions which respond well to tuina. These include not only musculoskeletal problems but many internal diseases, for example in treating abdominal and digestive problems related to Spleen emptiness or Liver qi stagnation.
Infant tuina is specifically good for infant diarrhoea which of course requires specific hand techniques.
What conditions can Chinese acupuncture/herbal medicine help?
In respect of the diagnosis and treatment of illness, the knowledge and experience of the TCM practitioner is of vital importance. A thorough analysis of the patient's experiences and symptoms, the causes, nature and location of the illness as well as the patient's physical and emotional condition must all be taken into account for successful treatment.
In general, acupuncture is more responsive to pain conditions, such as muscular –skeletal pain, arthritis, migraine, although acupuncture also can treat malaria and diarrhoea;
Chinese herbal medicine is more widely used for internal conditions, such as chest infections, and cystitis.
Tuina, it is more effective to relieve pain, especially in muscular problems.
