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Fundamentals of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a comprehensive medical system that has been developed in China over the last 2,500 years. In contrast to the somatic and microscopic approach of Western medicine, TCM represents a functional and holistic form of medicine. Its findings and forms of therapy are based on biological or psychological life functions and processes.

Health depends on a balance between the opposing forces of yin and yang. As long as yin and yang remain in balance, the body and mind are healthy. However, if one of the forces is excessively strong or too weak, this leads to an imbalance and illness.

In TCM, both sick and healthy people are viewed and treated from a holistic and energetic perspective. Any energetic disturbance should be detected early, before a disease has developed and reached an advanced stage. Over thousands of years, TCM has developed a diverse range of diagnostic procedures for this purpose. Prevention has long been recognized as important and is actively pursued.

Two cornerstones of diagnosis are tongue and pulse diagnosis. By closely observing the shape, color, and quality of the tongue and feeling the 28 different pulse qualities, the therapist or doctor can draw conclusions about the internal processes in the body.

 

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is the targeted therapeutic influence of bodily functions via specific points on the body's surface, known as acupuncture points. By inserting needles to varying depths at over 450 acupuncture points, the qi circulation is balanced and certain organ systems are stimulated or calmed. For classical acupuncture, it is essential that the diagnosis is based on traditional Chinese medicine. A related method, electroacupuncture, works with very weak electrical impulses that are applied to the body through the needles.

Herbs

Chinese medicines contain plant, mineral, and animal substances, with plant substances making up the overwhelming majority. Chinese medicines are not Chinese because they are only found in China: some of the approximately 6,700 known and documented remedies were imported to China; many of the herbs also grow in our latitudes. A Chinese medicine is Chinese because it is classified according to very specific properties. These include taste, temperature, and meridian entry. Based on these properties, the medicines are assigned functions according to the theories of traditional Chinese medicine.

 

Dietetics

Since the early days of TCM, nutrition and individual eating habits have been included in treatment. Chinese nutritional science is as much a part of traditional Chinese medicine as drug therapy or acupuncture. Nutrition based on the principles of TCM is a holistic system of nutritional therapy. Similar to medicines, all foods are classified according to their energetics (temperature, e.g., cooling, warming, neutral) and their taste (bitter, sweet, spicy, salty, and sour). Dietetics tailors nutrition to the individual disharmony pattern of the patient according to the TCM diagnosis.

 

Moxa

In China, moxibustion is considered a therapy on a par with acupuncture when indicated. Moxibustion warms the acupuncture points by burning dried leaves of Artemisia vulgaris (mugwort), also known as moxa wool. Mugwort is a medicinal plant native to Asia and Europe. A point can also be warmed with sticks twisted from mugwort leaves, known as moxa cigars.

 

Cupping / Gua Sha

In cupping, the acupuncture points are stimulated with cupping glasses. Cupping therapy is particularly suitable for treating the outer layers such as muscles and skin. Another ancient and well-established TCM technique is Gua Sha. This method is particularly suitable for complaints of the musculoskeletal system, muscle and joint pain, but also for flu-like infections and similar conditions. The painful area of the body is pretreated with special oils, after which the surface of the body in this area is rubbed with the help of an object with rounded edges.

 

WHO recommendation

The WHO recommendation on acupuncture is available for download here in PDF format (the document will either open automatically in Adobe Acrobat Reader in a new window in your browser, or, if this does not work, you can save the file to your computer by right-clicking on the "WHO recommendation" link below and then selecting "Save target as..." ).