Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a history of many thousand of years during which a huge storage of knowledge and experience has been gained about health and diseases. The theories of Chinese Medicine are documented in Huang Di Nei Jing (The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine) that is thought to be more than 3000 years old. The main concept is based on ancient Taoist philosophy of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements. Unlike allopathic medicine that inclines to isolate a diseased organ from the rest of the body, TCM adopts a holistic approach and emphasises the influence of the environment, diet and lifestyle on health and disease.

Over the past 50 years TCM is increasingly recognised by the World Health Organization, the medical professions and the general public in the west. Many people have found TCM an excellent tool for maintaining optimum health and preventing illness.

TCM encompasses a number of therapies of which the most common are:
acupuncture, herbal medicine, therapeutic massage (tui na),
moxibustion, cupping, nutrition, and qi qong.
Any of these methods may be used alone or in combination with another.

Acupuncture is based on the concept that ‘qi’, the universal life energy, is circulating throughout the body along specific pathways called meridians. If qi is not flowing freely or becomes blocked, there will be disharmony that result in pain or illness. The Yin-Yang imbalance can be corrected by inserting very fine pre-sterilised needles to stimulate specific points located on the body’s surface. To increase the stimulation, heat or mild electrical pulses may be applied to the needles.

Chinese Herbal Medicine forms a major part of TCM. Chinese herbs are selected and combined in formulas based on very complex principles that bear no relation to modern biochemistry. The vast majority of herbal treatments use formulas containing four or more herbs. 

Chinese herbal medicines are used internally and externally. Internal formulas are prepared as powders, teas (decoctions), extracts, and pills. External types are liniments, powders, extracts, pastes and plasters. External formulas are used for bruises, sprains, open wounds, burns and swellings and other dermatological conditions.

Moxibustion is a form of treatment by applying heat produced by a burning moxa stick to the acupuncture points or meridians. Acupuncture and Moxibustion are considered complimentary forms of treatment, and are commonly used together.

Cupping is a method of stimulating acupuncture points by applying suction through a metal, wood or glass jar, in which a partial vacuum has been created. This technique encourages blood flow to the site.

The term Tui Na (or An Mo) refers to Chinese therapeutic massage and physical therapy that is also based on TCM theories and qi meridians. The practice of tui na has a rich repertoire of techniques including gliding, kneading, vibration, shaking, rocking, percussion, friction and oscillating compressions. Tui na also includes joint manipulations, such as traction, reduction, and stretching.