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Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine
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China,
known as a long history and large population, is a nation with a
venerable civilisation. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been
playing an important and effective role in curing illness, promoting and
maintaining health of Chinese for the last three thousands years.
Traditional
Chinese medicine is a complete medical
system that has diagnosed, treated, and prevented illness. While it can
remedy ailments and alter states of mind, Chinese medicine can also
enhance recuperative power, immunity, and the capacity for pleasure,
work, and creativity.
Two classic medical texts, the Huang Di Nei Jing (The
Yellow Emperor Classic of Internal Medicine, compiled from 100 B.C.
to 100 A.D.) and the Nan Jing (written circa 100 to 200 A.D.) were
important early documents that presented the core concepts of TCM, and
they have informed generations of scholars and practitioners ever since.
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It
wasn't until 1971, however, that Western world really became aware of TCM
and of acupuncture in particular. This came about because James Reston, a New
York Times reporter became stricken with appendicitis while doing a
story on a ping-pong tournament in Beijing, and was treated for
post-surgical pain with acupuncture. In a front-page Timesstory he
wrote, "I've seen the past, and it works!" This exposure came at
a time when many Americans were looking for a more holistic, naturalistic
approach to health care, and caused quite a stir among the Western medical
community. Since then, acupuncture has become a widely accepted form of
treatment in the US and UK, and other aspects of TCM are gaining supporters
as well.
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The Basic Principles of TCM
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The
Chinese approach to understanding the human body is unique. The principle
and practices of TCM is based on the Daoist understanding of a universe
where everything is interdependent and mutually interactive. Within this
universe our mind, body and spirit are merely different manifestations of
the same life force and consequently cannot be considered separately. The
Chinese believe that health is achieved, and disease prevented, by
maintaining the body in a 'balanced state'. This concept was applied to
both individuals and society at large. In individual terms the ancient
Chinese physicians preached moderation in all things, such as alcoholic
intake and gastronomic excess. They also stated that daily activities
should include mental as well as physical tasks. The wealthier Chinese
visited their doctor when they were well, paying a retainer to the doctor
to keep them healthy. If they became ill the doctor lost his fee.
Such
a highly sophisticated and personal system of health care is impracticable
within the current limitations of Western society, but the concept behind
such ideas represents a radically different approach to health and disease.
Practitioners
of Chinese medicine define their patient’s illness in terms of that
naturally emerge from the Daoist philosophical principle. The diagnosis
will place the signs and symptoms into an interdependent tapestry where
physical symptoms and emotional reactions are set alongside social and
environmental factors in order to understand how the energy dynamics of the
individual lead to health and disharmony.
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As
TCM evolved over the centuries, it came to include treatment of disease
using acupuncture, herbal medicine, dietary principles, physical
manipulation of the body tissues, therapeutic exercise and movement (Tai
Chi), and the mind-body practice of Qi Gong.
Most
of people in the West are very difficult to understand their health and
sickness in terms of Chinese medicine. Therefore it is very important to
understand what is Chinese medicine is all about. In order to explore this
different frame of reference, the following concepts will be described.
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