TCM has a history of 5,000 years. People have been solidifying TCM theory and technologies based on practical experience in human activities. It is a medical form originated from the Chinese Han ethnic group (There are 56 ethnic groups in China. The Han group is one of them, accounting for around 91-92% of the total population. Mandarin is the language of the Han ethnic group).
TCM is a style of traditional medicine that has a complete theoretical system, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture and moxibustion, Tuina (massage), Qigong (exercise), and dietary therapy. It is widely used in China, and has begun gaining recognition. It is a comprehensive medical system that studies human physiology and pathology, disease diagnosis, prevention and treatment, as well as health care and rehabilitation.
One of the basic tenets of TCM is that the body’s vital energy (chi or Qi) circulates through channels which are called “meridians,” that have branches connected to bodily organs and functions. The concepts of the body and its functions are used in TCM reflect its ancient origins and its emphasis on dynamic processes over material structure, similar to European humoral theory.
What are the Characteristics of TCM
The three fundamental characteristics of the TCM theory system are:
- A holistic concept based on the unique individual, centred on five organ systems connected by meridians. It gives attention to the person rather than the illness
- Prevention and treatment plans are mainly based upon constitution types and identification of the disease syndromes.
- There is a correlation between man and nature. Nature refers to the seasonal changes, geographic location difference, and the variation of cultural and social environments. Our body is the corresponding system between the inside and outside of the body, between heart and soul.
Let’s take the second characteristic as an example. How do we define “constitution “? In daily practice, our body type is divided into Cold, Hot, Damp and Dry. Syndrome differentiation includes summarising and analysing the clinical data of symptoms and signs collected with the four diagnostic methods (namely looking, listening and smelling, asking and feeling) and categorising it as a type of syndrome.
A syndrome is called zheng in Chinese, which is a summary of the pathological changes of a disease at a certain stage in its course of development, including the location, cause, and nature of the disease, as well as the state of the relationship between xie (pathogenic factors) and zheng (the healthy Qi). The strategy is established accordingly, followed by methods of treatment, prescription of herbs or acupuncture points, or Tuina procedures. TCM doctors will inform you of the frequency and duration of the medical treatment that ought to be followed, combined with some diet and lifestyle changes for prevention.
Take the flu as an example. Modern vaccines against influenza are the same for everyone when they suffer from the flu. The main treatments are also similar for everyone. Treating the flu through TCM, the doctor will identify 3 to 4 clinical types. The method of treatment will follow these types. This is because different human bodies with the same virus will exhibit very different clinical syndromes. Therefore, the method of treatment will be different, followed by an individualised diet and more physical exercise.
Western medicine has also learned from these ideas. A doctor does precise adjustments regarding administration of medicine within the prescribed time, quantity, whether it can be combined with other medicines and so forth. TCM doctors try to learn your disease first through Western medicine then see your syndromes, which display a combination of the cause of the illness and the reaction of the human body.
What are the Advantages of TCM
Health status can be divided into:-
- Health cultivation
- Clinical symptoms
- Disease
- Serious disease
- Surgery
For the first three items, advancement in TCM has provided many methods and tools to improve and restore health, which allow the two latter conditions to be better integrated with modern medicine and new technology.
Modern medicine and TCM use different methods, study, and research to study the human body from different angles. Each has its own advantages.
TCM, especially acupuncture, has thrived and flourished throughout the world, even blossoming deep in the medical systems of other locales around the world. Another application of acupuncture called “dry needles” has been very popular in the USA. Tai Chi and Ba Duan Jin exercise have been recognised and actively used by many countries around the world to relieve pain and stress. TCM has made a profound impact on human health maintenance and made great contributions to disease recovery.
Compared with modern medicine which uses anatomical and experimental methods to look at human functions and judge health or disease, TCM studies the human body more macroscopically, and puts it into consideration in the natural environment, emphasising the trinity of heaven, earth and humans. The human system is like a little universe and many of the laws and movement of the universe can be used to guide and inspire peoples thinking on the path to health and the balance between dynamic and the static.
China has 5,000 years of civilisation, Chinese philosophy and medical experience and the written records related to Chinese medicine can be traced back about 3,000 years. The experience of healthcare and disease treatment accumulated over earlier periods has great application and some experiences are clinical repeatable. It is reproducible and can be used by other disciplines. TCM is the common heritage of mankind and has gradually spread to all parts of the world. According to the 2018 literature of the State Administration of TCM, acupuncture and herbal medicine practices have been applied in 183 countries and regions around the world, which fully proves that the universal effectiveness of TCM for humans is not limited to Chinese people or culture.
For chronic diseases such as cancer, atrophic gastritis, eczema, allergic diseases, female hormone syndrome, anxiety disorders and ulcerative colitis whose causes and pathological mechanisms cannot be explained by modern medicine, TCM can provide different perspectives and explanations, offering effective personal solutions to restore countless people’s health.
Gordon Hay
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