“Think of Western medicine as looking at the tree and Eastern medicine as looking at the whole forest.” Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine often cite this analogy to describe their alternative medicines and practices. The practices do not contradict each other, but rather take two different approaches – while Western medicine looks at nerve endings linking to muscles and organs, Eastern medicine looks at the lack or excess of energy.
Ancient written texts such as, “A Treatise On Cold Damage,” and “Basic Questions of Internal Medicine” were written 3,000 years ago, and were the results of oral traditions that started 5,0000 years ago.Since the Nationalist government feared missing out on scientific progress, classic Chinese medicine was fobade in the 1930′s. Mao Zedong chose ten respected doctors to generate the standardized practice called Traditional Chinese Medicine thirty years later. Today TCM is taught in all Chinese schools and has even made its way around the world, opening schools in England, the US and Russia.
“Yin” and “Yang” , from the Taoist ideas, are one of the basic principles of TCM.The school of Chinese medicine uses the term to describe series of opposites; for example, dark and light, movement and stillness, hot and cold. The body goes through constant motion, just like the seasons. The body naturally breaks down if the cycle of equilibrium is disrupted by an excess or deficiency of something.
The Zang Fu Theory of traditional Chinese medicine describes the functions and interrelation of various organs within the body. For instance, a Yin organ like the lungs is required to disperse Qi (energy) throughout the body. The lungs govern skin, hair and thwarting external illnesses. If the lung is weakened by dryness or emotional grief, then the sufferer may show signs of eczema, coughing or may be prone to the flu.
In addition to medical procedures like Chinese acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine covers things like herbal remedies. TCM practitioners say the answers are easier than one would think. You don’t need Lunesta to help you sleep. Instead, a chamomile tea and some light meditation just before bed will help you fall asleep right away and you will wake up feeling rejuvenated. Or instead of Tums for your bellyache, a mint leaf could do the trick: Natural Medicines
Tags: accupuncture, alternative medicine, chinese medicine, herbal remedies, herbal supplements