China Akupunktur Praxis

Traditional Chinese medicine is one of the methods of alternative medicine. It is increasingly valued and used for many diseases and ailments, and is also an ideal complement to Western medicine.

The TCM doctors all come from China and have completed 5–6 years of university studies as doctors in China, and all have over 15 years of TCM experience.

TCM diagnostics

Four classic methods of diagnosis

In TCM, both sick and healthy people are viewed and treated from a holistic and energetic perspective; any energetic disturbance should be identified as early as possible to prevent illness from developing.

Over thousands of years, TCM has developed a diverse range of diagnostic procedures. The two cornerstones of diagnosis are tongue and pulse diagnosis: by closely observing the shape, color, and quality of the tongue and by feeling the 28 different pulse qualities, the therapist or doctor can draw conclusions about the internal processes in the body.

These diagnostic procedures are supplemented by information obtained from questioning and observing the patient. By combining these four classic diagnostic methods, Chinese medicine doctors and therapists develop a picture of the disharmony (physical and/or psychological) that is to be corrected by the therapy.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture, or "needling," is the best-known form of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapy in Europe. Acupuncture points are particularly suitable locations on the skin from which the energy flow (qi) in the meridians and the associated organs can be easily reached and influenced. The needles are left in place for approx. 40 to 60 minutes. The person's energy is brought back into balance.

Acupuncture is supported/enhanced by the following additional therapies:

• Moxibustion:
  The acupuncture points/energy zones are stimulated by burning moxa cigars, moxa herbs (mugwort) on needles or ginger slices, or with the moxa box. This method is as old as acupuncture itself and is closely linked to TCM. It is mainly used for (cold symptoms).
  
• Cupping:
  Glass balls (cupping balls) are heated and placed on the body. Cooling creates a vacuum. The resulting strong suction stimulates blood circulation.
  
• Star hammer:
  This is used to stimulate acupuncture points.
  
• Ear acupuncture:
  The ear reflects the body and its organs. Ear acupuncture can be used to stimulate acupuncture points and meridians.
  
• Electrotherapy:
  The effect is enhanced by vibrating the needles during acupuncture. This form of therapy can also be achieved by attaching electrodes to the needles.
  
• Heat therapy:
  A special heat lamp supports the effect of the needles.

Tuina massage

Tangible help
Tuina is traditional Chinese massage. Tuina is particularly effective for disorders of the musculoskeletal system, but also for many other problems such as osteoarthritis, after a stroke, for injuries or for tension.
Tuina primarily uses special hand techniques and manipulations such as pushing, stroking, pressing, rubbing, tapping, clapping, and even vibration techniques. The various massage techniques of Tuina can also be used to positively influence internal disharmonies.
A special form of Tuina has a wide range of applications in pediatrics. Children respond very well to pediatric Tuina. This enables the effective treatment of numerous clinical pictures without having to insert acupuncture needles into the body or treat the child with medication.

Cupping

In cupping, the meridians are stimulated with cupping glasses. Cupping therapy is particularly suitable for treating the outer layers such as muscles and skin.

Ear acupuncture

Ear acupuncture is a special chapter within acupuncture, as it is a separate, closed system and can be performed independently of body acupuncture.
There are over 100 ear reflex points within the ear that are connected to organs (functional circuits), body parts, or specific bodily functions via a neural reflex (mutual connection through nerve pathways), meaning that these points can be used for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

Moxa

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 both Asia and Europe. A point can also be warmed with so-called moxa cigars, which are sticks rolled from mugwort leaves.

Medicinal herbs

The secret of the mixture: Chinese medicines contain plant, mineral, and animal substances, with plant-based active ingredients clearly predominating. Not all herbs important to TCM grow only in China.

TCM medicines are not "Chinese" because their ingredients can only be found in China. Rather, a medicine is "Chinese" because, according to the theories of traditional Chinese medicine, it has specific healing properties (taste, temperature, and meridian entry are important).

Some of the approximately 5,000 known and documented remedies were imported to China in earlier centuries; many of the herbs also grow in our latitudes. Some TCM therapists in Switzerland also consciously use Western medicinal plants that are classified according to Chinese criteria.

As tea, tablets, or extract
The 400 most commonly used Chinese medicines are usually prescribed as complex formulations; the ingredients are finely balanced to optimally tailor the mixture to the patient. In ancient China, herbs were prepared as decoctions, i.e. as tea freshly brewed every day, or, in the case of tonics (strengthening agents), steeped in alcohol or processed into pills with honey.

In Switzerland today, decoctions and modern forms of administration are predominantly used: granule extracts, tablets, and water or alcohol extracts. Chinese herbal medicine therapy is often combined with acupuncture.