What is Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) ?
Traditional Chinese Medicine has been recorded in Chinese history for over 4000 years and it is based on the philosophy of Taoism. Even though the fundamental concept has never changed, how TCM can be used and incorporated into daily living has changed in China in the past few decades. To date, TCM is taught and used along side with western medicine in China. (1)
How does TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE work?
TCM is very different from Western medicine in the sense that it emphasis greatly on prevention rather than treatment of the disease. It focuses on the theory of holism, also known as “Zheng Ti Guan Nian” in Chinese. (2)
There are 2 main components in the theory of holism:
There are 2 main components in the theory of holism:
- The human body strives to seek physical, emotional and spiritual harmony and is an integrated unit that is in constant interaction with its environment, organs, tissues and bony structures. Based on the theory of meridians, our organs, tissues and bony structures interact is through Qi (vital energy) and the blood circulatory system. Any pathological changes that can disrupt such harmony, regardless of how small the changes are, will cause an imbalance in Qi in tissues and organs in the body. This imbalance in harmony will lead to disease. TCM works by correcting the imbalance and restoring harmony. (2) (3)
- The onset and progression of a disease are not the sole consideration in terms of treatment. External factors such as change in climate, geography, social and environmental factors are also taken into consideration when treating a patient. (2)
Reference:
1. National center for complementary and alterative medicine. Updated January 18, 2012. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/whatiscam/chinesemed.htm. Accessed July 2, 2013
2. Overview of traditional Chinese medicine. eastwesthealingcenter.net/powerpoint-TCM.ppt. Accessed July 3, 2013
3. Toronto school of medicine. http://www.tstcm.com/html/what_is_tcm.html. Accessed July 2, 2013
1. National center for complementary and alterative medicine. Updated January 18, 2012. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/whatiscam/chinesemed.htm. Accessed July 2, 2013
2. Overview of traditional Chinese medicine. eastwesthealingcenter.net/powerpoint-TCM.ppt. Accessed July 3, 2013
3. Toronto school of medicine. http://www.tstcm.com/html/what_is_tcm.html. Accessed July 2, 2013