
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an ancient healing system that has been used to cure various ailments since the dawn of civilization. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a 5,000 year old medical system that is based on the theory of the natural flow of energy in the human body. TCM practitioners undergo specialized training in the theory and practice of TCM. They use acupuncture, acupressure massage, herbal remedies and other therapies to treat illness and promote wellness.
Thousands of years of research and development have allowed TCM practitioners to treat a wide range of conditions and diseases, including arthritis, asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, and more. TCM treatments are generally very cost-effective because they can be self-administered or administered by a practitioner.
If TCM is something completely new to you, here’s 20 summarized sentences explaining what the concept of TCM is:
- Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a holistic approach to healthcare, taking into account the integration and balance of the human body, the external environment, and the social environment.
- TCM believes that environmental factors, such as climate and social conditions, can influence a person’s health.
- TCM diagnoses and treats illnesses based on an overall analysis of the patient’s condition and symptoms, rather than just the specific disease or symptoms. This is known as syndrome differentiation.
- In TCM, the concepts of yin and yang are important in maintaining balance in the body.
- TCM treatments may include acupuncture, herbal medicine, dietary therapy, physical therapy, and lifestyle recommendations.
- Acupuncture involves the insertion of needles into specific points on the body to stimulate the flow of qi (vital energy).
- Herbal medicine uses plant-based remedies to treat illnesses and maintain overall health.
- Dietary therapy recommends specific foods and drinks for different health conditions.
- Physical therapy may include exercises, massage, and other manual therapies.
- Lifestyle recommendations may include advice on sleep, exercise, and stress management.
- TCM believes that qi, blood, and body fluids are essential for maintaining the body’s balance and health.
- TCM also recognizes the importance of the organs and organ systems in maintaining health.
- TCM practitioners may use pulse diagnosis and tongue diagnosis to assess a patient’s health.
- TCM classifies illnesses into different patterns, such as excess or deficiency, heat or cold, and internal or external.
- TCM treatments are customized to the individual patient and their specific pattern of illness.
- TCM may be used alongside Western medicine or as an alternative approach to healthcare.
- TCM has been around for over 3,000 years. The methods used today are all based on an ancient framework that has evolved and been refined over time.
- Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been practised for centuries and is now a global phenomenon. There are millions of people all over the world who practice TCM in all shapes and forms.
- Research on the effectiveness of TCM treatments is ongoing.The effectiveness of Traditional Chinese Medicine treatments is still up for debate. Researchers are continuously investigating the effects and benefits of therapeutic treatments, with many discoveries made over the last decade.Thousands of years of research and development have allowed TCM practitioners to treat a wide range of conditions and diseases, including arthritis, asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, and more. TCM treatments are generally very cost effective because they can be self-administered or administered by a practitioner
- TCM practitioners undergo specialized training in the theory and practice of TCM.These practitioners become experts in various ancient forms of body work, such as acupuncture, moxibustion and herbalism.There are five major schools of thought in Traditional Chinese Medicine: Yin-Yang; Qi; Zang-Fu organs; Diagnosis according to the 12 meridians and Diagnosis according to patterns.
Adapted from one of the serial TCM lectures produced by Professor Hung-Rong Yen at China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.