Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine
TCM is a complete medical system that has been continuously practiced, studied, and developed for over 4,000 years. It’s relatively simple principles weave together into an intricate and complex system that holistically considers patients physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs. Beyond the initial years of study, TCM practitioners enter a lifelong journey of learning as our minds, bodies, and world are constantly evolving. We view nature to be within us as well as surrounding us, as we are a part of the natural world. Therefore, to achieve health is to achieve harmony within ourselves, and in relation to the natural world.
What is Qi?
Qi is the basis of all TCM theory, often described as vital energy or life force. Qi is the impulse behind our heart beating, it is what brings inhalation and allows for exhalation, it is what turns our food into energy, it is what creates ideas, dreams, goals in our hearts and minds. There are different forms of qi within the body, representing the idea of Yin-Yang opposites; yin being all that is structural, nourishing, heavy, cool; yang being all that is functional, moving, light, hot. It is through these lenses along with the five elements, TCM organ systems, and considering external pathogens that we observe the health imbalances in our patients, ultimately treating the person, not the disease.
Chinese Herbal Medicine
CHM is a gift from the Earth; it is the oldest aspect of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and it is the most comprehensive, documented system of herbal medicine in our modern world. In the ancient TCM texts, there are over 10,000 single herbs/substances and over 100,000 recipes/formulas. For over 4,000 years, CHM has evolved and grown into a system that is used in many countries, often alongside conventional medicine. Unlike pharmaceuticals, herbal medicine is holistic by working energetically as well as via active constituents. It is used to treat not only the distressing symptoms of a disease, but the underlying cause at the same time; resulting in side effects that are as beneficial as treating the main concern.
How does Acupuncture work?
Acupuncture is the use of fine, sterile needles inserted at specific points to activate their corresponding channels throughout the body. These channels bring energy and nourishment < qi > through our tissues and organs, this flow is sensitive to influences of emotions, lifestyle, diet, relationships, age, season, climate, etc. Imbalances in the flow of qi can present as symptoms such as pain, fatigue, depression, digestive disturbances, menstrual irregularity, insomnia, among many others. Careful point selection regulates imbalances, restores the natural rhythm and encourages the body’s ability to heal itself holitstically.
There is more to it than the needles!
There are multiple bodywork modalities within TCM. Tui Na is a massage style that utilitzes different hand techniques with the same principles of acupuncutre. Gua Sha, or “scraping” uses smooth-edged tools to treat the superficial muscle layers by promoting blood circulation and opening the pores of the skin. Cupping is essentially the inverse of massage; the use of heat creates a vacuum within the cup which draws uncirculating blood, lymph and tissues up to be released. Electro-stimulation is the addition of micro-doses of electrical charge between two different points. This is especially effective in treating pain, but can be manipulated for all conditions.
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