Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Donna Ambrose
Dr. of TCM, BSc. (HONS)
(Click Doctors picture for Bio and
Fees)
What is it?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a complete medical
system that has diagnosed, treated and prevented illness for more than
5,000 years. From the perspective of TCM, ill health is an imbalance in the
body, and therefore treatment is a matter of restoring the natural balance.
The foundation of TCM is its emphasis on the innate ability of the human
body to heal itself. The healing process helps you develop physical, emotional
and spiritual awareness and improves your body’s ability to adapt to
change.
TCM's strength lies in prevention and in its ability to
address chronic illness. TCM attempts to change the course of a disease
pattern before it becomes more serious. It can improve the quality of life
for those who suffer from many chronic disorders. Traditional Chinese
Medicine recognizes that emotions can be a strong factor in the development
of disease and disharmony, and the treatment process addresses emotional
issues.
What does it do?
The World Health Organization recognizes TCM as an
appropriate system for treating many conditions or being used as adjunct
therapy to help to control chronic symptoms, such as:
● Respiratory
Disorders: asthma, sinusitis, bronchitis, common colds, allergies,
influenza.
● Gastrointestinal
Disorders: constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers,
indigestion, acid reflux, gastritis (acute and chronic), acute and chronic
colitis, hiccups, paralytic ileus, abdominal bloating, hemorrhoids.
● Gynecological
Disorders: PMS, irregular or painful menses, menopausal symptoms,
morning sickness, endometriosis, fibroids, infertility in men and women.
● Urogenital
Disorders: urinary tract infections, sexual dysfunction, prostatitis.
● Musculoskeletal
and Nervous System Disorders: headache, migraine, sciatica, back pain,
stiff neck, tennis elbow, arthritis, paralysis following a stroke, Bell's
Palsy, fibromyalgia, trigeminal neuralgia, peripheral neuropathies,
Meniere's disease, neurogenic bladder dysfunction, nocturnal enuresis,
intercostal neuralgia, shingles, bursitis, tendonitis.
● Circulatory
Disorders: anemia, hypertension, angina, edema.
● Eye, Ear,
Nose and Throat Disorders: conjunctivitis, earaches, toothaches,
rhinitis, acute and chronic pharyngitis.
● Emotional
Disorders: depression, anxiety, nervousness, insomnia.
● Other:
addictions (smoking cessation, drugs, alcohol), stress reduction, chronic
fatigue, chemotherapy side effects, diabetes, dermatological disorders,
weight control and more.
What do I need to know?
There are five treatment modalities that a TCM
practitioner may recommend, depending on your individual condition. These
include:
1. Acupuncture
Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine needles
into specific points on the body. It
provides a safe and effective way to encourage the natural healing and
balancing of the body, mind and spirit. For more details see Acupuncture. Other Oriental medical techniques may be
used in addition to acupuncture (based on the condition treated):
a. Moxibustion
- this technique uses burning herb moxa (Artemis vulgaris) on or above the
skin to warm acupuncture points and channels. The heat warms the channels
and increases circulation of Qi and blood.
b. Cupping -
a vacuum is created with glass or plastic cups placed on the skin. Cupping
is a technique used for a wide variety of conditions including: back,
shoulder, neck pain, common colds and muscular tension.
c. Heat Therapy
- mineral-plated TDP lamp is used to warm the affected area.
d.
Electro-acupuncture - leads from an electro-stimulator are attached to
the needles to provide a constant, mild electrical stimulation to the
acupoints. Electro-acupuncture has been proven to decrease pain, accelerate
tissue healing, and significantly reduce inflammation, edema and swelling.
2. Herbal Therapy
Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine is a rich and
powerful system, created and continuously improved over the past 5000
years. Classical herbal formulas
effective for many health concerns have been developed and tested during
this time. The herbs are available
in the form of herbal teas, liquid extracts, tablets, capsules, granules,
lotions, creams, salves, or poultices.
3. Dietary Therapy
Food therapy is based largely on Chinese herbal
medicine. Like herbs, foods have
been traditionally categorized by the energy they have and the reactions
they cause. Chinese Nutrition is
based on understanding the individual’s constitution and about recommending
foods that will bring balanced energy.
4. Tuina Therapeutic Manipulation
Tuina is a Chinese massage technique that uses pressing,
rubbing, kneading and pinching to bring your body back into balance. This technique is applied to the channels,
collaterals, and points of the acupuncture system.
5. Qi Gong
An ancient practice developed by the Chinese to
cultivate "Qi," or life energy. Through Qi Gong breathing
exercises, movement and quiet meditation, the mind becomes clear and
relaxed and the body's internal environment becomes balanced. Qi Gong promotes longevity, and improves
the quality of life. There are many
different types of Qi Gong.
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