OstenZen  OstenZen's Blog What is Chinese medicine?
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What is Chinese medicine? |
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) includes practices such as herbal medicine, acupuncture and massage (Tui Na) . Qigong exercise is also strongly affiliated with TCM. TCM often includes other traditional East Asian medical systems such as traditional Japanese and Korean medicine. To a lesser extend it also includes Tibetan medicine.
TCM sees health as the balance and unity of the body, mind and spirit. Each individual is unique and when it becomes sick the person is presented with their own pattern of disharmony. Therefore 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 Chinese Medicine, lifestyle is closely related to health and disease.
Therefore, changes in lifestyle, exercise or diet may be advised. Chinese Medicine recognizes the effect negative emotions have on our health. Longstanding frustration, anger, fear and stress can be a precursor of disease. Changing poor health habits must accompany medical treatments if optimum health is to be achieved. It takes commitment and time to regain health. Creating positive habits is essential to this process.
TCM theory is based on the philosopy and theory of Yin-Yang, the Five Phases, Meridian System, Zang Fu Organ Theory, and others medical theories. Diagnosis and treatment are conducted with reference to these concepts. TCM does not operate within a western scientific paradigm but some practitioners make efforts to bring practices into an evidence-based western medicine framework.
TCM consists of the five main treatment modalities Acupuncture ,Chinese Bodywork, Cupping ,Moxibustion and Chinese Herbs. Chinese medicine is still kept alive even though western medicine is now very prominent in China as well.
To get a feel for Chinese culture and to experience the vast agricultural heritage it's recommended to take a trip to your nearest chinatown.
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