Traditional Chinese Medicine Explained
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been continually evolving over the past couple thousand years and encompasses a wide range of techniques, all with one purpose – to help the body heal itself. TCM gives the power back to the individual so real healing can occur. It is a model of medicine that looks at each person as an integrated whole, with each part influencing and being influenced by other parts of the body. Dysfunction in one area of the body will have a ripple effect on the whole body. Add to that each person is unique and responds to stimuli differently, so one person suffering from a disease will have a completely different experience compared to another person with that same disease. This is the beauty of TCM, it treats each person as an individual taking into account all aspects of the person when creating a treatment plan.
One of the primary methods of TCM is acupuncture, which literally means “to penetrate with a needle” in Latin, a method where very thin needles (think hair strand thin) are inserted into specific points on the body in order to manipulate the flow and distribution of qi within the body and mind. Qi (pronounced chee) can be thought of as the many types of life force in all things, and it flows through the body in a vast network of meridians and channels,
akin to a water system of rivers, creeks, and streams. When a river is running low of water, the creeks and streams downstream will also be running low or empty. This is how our bodies work, if one channel or meridian has an excess or deficient amount of qi or is blocked, this effects the whole flow of energy and nagging symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and emotional imbalances occur. Acupuncture looks to restore the proper flow of qi so the body can function at its optimal level.
Explained through the eyes of modern science, the stimulation of acupuncture points send messages to the brain, which then responds by sending the appropriate type of help to the area of concern. Modern research shows that acupuncture modulates the neuro-endocrine-immune network. It stimulates various biochemical and physiological changes within the body by activating the body’s sensory receptors. These sensory receptors stimulate nerves that act as messengers to the brain. Once the brain receives the message, it releases various neurotransmitters, modulates hormones, or stimulates the immune response. This is why acupuncture treats a wide range of conditions, because it helps regulate bodily processes.
Since TCM unlocks the bodies own healing resources, it is a medicine that complements Western medicine greatly. When used together the power of each medicine multiplies, creating a more efficient health care network where the patient feels better faster and is better prepared to combat future illness or injury. In this time of modern technology it is important not to throw away the ancient healing arts, but embrace their power.
One of the primary methods of TCM is acupuncture, which literally means “to penetrate with a needle” in Latin, a method where very thin needles (think hair strand thin) are inserted into specific points on the body in order to manipulate the flow and distribution of qi within the body and mind. Qi (pronounced chee) can be thought of as the many types of life force in all things, and it flows through the body in a vast network of meridians and channels,
akin to a water system of rivers, creeks, and streams. When a river is running low of water, the creeks and streams downstream will also be running low or empty. This is how our bodies work, if one channel or meridian has an excess or deficient amount of qi or is blocked, this effects the whole flow of energy and nagging symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and emotional imbalances occur. Acupuncture looks to restore the proper flow of qi so the body can function at its optimal level.
Explained through the eyes of modern science, the stimulation of acupuncture points send messages to the brain, which then responds by sending the appropriate type of help to the area of concern. Modern research shows that acupuncture modulates the neuro-endocrine-immune network. It stimulates various biochemical and physiological changes within the body by activating the body’s sensory receptors. These sensory receptors stimulate nerves that act as messengers to the brain. Once the brain receives the message, it releases various neurotransmitters, modulates hormones, or stimulates the immune response. This is why acupuncture treats a wide range of conditions, because it helps regulate bodily processes.
Since TCM unlocks the bodies own healing resources, it is a medicine that complements Western medicine greatly. When used together the power of each medicine multiplies, creating a more efficient health care network where the patient feels better faster and is better prepared to combat future illness or injury. In this time of modern technology it is important not to throw away the ancient healing arts, but embrace their power.
The physician should not treat the disease but the patient who suffers from it. - Maimonides