TCM
Traditional Chinese Medicine
A central mainstay of Chinese Medicine, acupuncture refers to the application of very thin, solid, single use needles to "acu-points" dispersed all over the human body. Though not completely understood in the manner of modern Western Medicine, needles inserted on or near specific acupuncture points stimulate both the central nervous system (brain and spinal nerve system) and the autonomic nervous system (cells and fibers dealing with automatic reflexes, such as the heart, lungs, digestive system or pupil dilation). In addition to stimulating nerves, which influence the movement of Ch'i (Energy) throughout the body, acupuncture is also thought to produce prompt biochemical responses in the body such as releasing relaxation endorphins that help decrease or eliminate pain, by assisting the body in self-healing and maintaining proper balances of all body chemistry systems.
Acupuncture, which first gained popularity in the United States in the early 1960s, was first documented in China as early as 1,200 BC. Since then, acupuncture has been studied, documented and improved upon by its practitioners all over the globe. Unlike traditional Western Medicine, acupuncture is a holistic health-care therapy system that is closely tailored to a patient's expressed needs. Needles are inserted by the practitioner, points and/or combinations may be adjusted based on the response of the patient to each application, making acupuncture diagnostic (per Chinese Medicine terms) as well as therapeutic, and allowing the practitioner and patient to work closely together in finding the exact cause of each ailment and treating it at its root.
Acupuncture, when administered regularly, works to improve the body's immune system and to ward off potential health problems before they arise rather than masking symptoms with medication, risking side-effects and possible adverse reactions. Practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine believe preventative care is an important aspect of optimum health and healing.
Acupuncture is used to treat a wide variety of conditions from headaches to fertility to digestive issues to body aches and pains. In the official report, "Acupuncture: Review and Analysis of Reports on Controlled Clinical Trials," the World Health Organization (WHO) listed the below symptoms, diseases, and conditions as being effectively treated by acupuncture in controlled trials:
Neck Pain Low Back Pain Sciatica
Tennis Elbow Knee Pain Periarthritis of the Shoulder
Sprains Facial Pain Headache
Dental Pain TMJ Dysfunction Rheumatoid Arthritis
Induction of Labor Morning Sickness Nausea & Vomiting
Post-Operative Pain Stroke Essential Hypertension
Primary Hypotension Renal Colic Leucopenia
Peptic Ulcer Acute & Chronic Gastritis Acute Epigastralgia
Primary Dysmenorrhea Acute Bacillary Dysentery Biliary Colic
Correction of Malposition of Fetus (breech presentation)
Depression (including depressive neurosis and depression following stroke)
Adverse Reactions to Radiation or Chemotherapy
Allergic Rhinitis, including Hay Fever
Herbal Medicine
Ancient Chinese medical practitioners began using herbs and cataloging their effects in maintaining and restoring health as early as 200 BC. Today, more than 3,200 herbs and 300 mineral and animal extracts are documented to have medicinal applications in Chinese herbal therapy. Chinese herbal remedies are usually made up of a number of herbs, depending on the ailment that is being treated. Herbs are categorized in a variety of ways, including "flavors" (acrid/pungent, bitter, sour, salty, sweet, bland) and "natures" (hot, warm, cold, cool). Specific properties are associated with specific categories of herbs or herbal combinations. These health-restoring properties include such processes as "downward-draining" and "dampness-transforming" or "interior-warming."
While Western Medicine often is limited to treating symptoms of an underlying illness with medication, herbal remedies seeks to pinpoint the root cause of an illness or health issue and use their medicinal properties to restore the body back to a healthy balance by addressing deficiencies and weaknesses of the body's innate system.
In order to detect these imbalances, the practitioner of herbal medicine begins with a thorough examination of a client's skin, hair, tongue, eyes, pulse and voice. A client is also asked to describe his or her health history, as well as any current health concerns in detail. Based on the information, the practitioner will prescribe one or more herbal formulas that may contain 1 to 15 different ingredients. Herbal therapy is administered in a number of forms, including teas, powders, granules, tinctures, pills, or syrups.
