Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine is the standardized medicine in China. The practice of Chinese Medicine dates back over 3000 years. The verbiage may seem abstract and mystical, but the practice is full of science-based medicine. The concept Yin and Yang is similar to Newtons 3rd law that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Or if you think of half a pie, there is also a half of pie not there. 3000 years ago medicine was spoken more philosophical. Doctors did not perform autopsies, so learned by inspection, palpating and discussing. TCM addresses the root of the problem and the manifestations. Neck pain may be caused by an auto injury and the root could be in your lower back. So a practitioner would work on both. We understand peripheral neuropathy in Western terms, and numbness that can work its way down the legs. Working down the legs is an example of a pathway and meridian in Traditional Chinese Medicine. If you ever banged your elbow and felt it up your arm, that would also be radiating up a meridian. TCM works on 8 basic principles which are: hot and cold, deficient and excess, yin and yang, interior and exterior. This again is science based. If you show heat signs like sore throat or fever, TCM would offer cooling herbs or food with cooling properties like mint. We know peppers and ginger are warm inside our body. These are food qualities and science. Qi is the word for energy. We have energy and very electrical, so qi is not a mystical concept but just a very old term.
Acupuncture
A main component of Traditional Chinese Medicine is Acupuncture. It is easy for us to understand how well acupuncture works for muscular pain. Bindings in the muscle cause pain. The knots you feel need to be released and we try massage, pressure and stretching to release the knot. An acupuncture needle which is the width of a hair, slides into the muscle binding, allowing it to release. We have confirmed that with dry needling and physical therapists. Going further with Traditional Chinese Medicine, an acupuncture needle sends attention to an area. Chronic conditions may have been forgotten as our body works on more acute problems. Acupuncture causes a micro signal (pain) and the body reacts to heal. We accept pain radiates, our body is very electrical with billions of nerves, and that our body works as a system. Acupuncture over thousands of years of trial and error has made the connections to allow your body to heal itself with less recovery time.
Herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Chinese herbs and formulas are derived from plants, bugs and minerals that are indigenous from China. Some herbs are now illegal like tiger bone, but remember, formulas were created thousands of years ago. Today TCM herbs and formulas are regulated and animal parts are protected. When getting a prescription for herbs, make sure your practitioner is a licensed herbalist. We know foods have healing qualities, and offer different vitamins and minerals, so TCM herbalists use the basic principles of health to create the right formula of herbs to get to the root of your concern and any manifestations. It is not chasing supplements. Talk with your doctor and TCM herbalist about any medications or allergies you have.