Chinese Herbal Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine involves an assortment of different practices and medical procedures performed by trained physicians that originate from China. To almost all Asian doctors, this medicine is a common and accepted practice, while in most of the Western world, these medical procedures are classified as “alternative medicine”.
The underlying reasoning behind Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are established by Asian doctors through means of observation of nature, the cosmos, and the human body. Physicians study many theories to create these medical practices. This includes Yin-yang, the Five Phases, the human body Channel system, Zang Fu organ theory, six confirmations, four layers, etc. Modern TCM was standardized in the 1950s. Below are descriptions of several different practices that fall within the umbrella of what is considered TCM.
Acupuncture:
A technique in which the physician inserts cylindrical needles into a patient’s body at specific points. The intended purpose of acupuncture is to increase circulation and improve the balance of the body’s energy (Qi). People see Asian doctors who practice acupuncture to relieve stress, pain, anxiety, skin imperfections, and obesity.
Chinese Food Therapy:
In this practice, Asian doctors and physicians provide dietary recommendations under the guidelines of the Traditional Chinese Medicine standard. The “five flavors”, a concept used in many Chinese herbal practices, indicate what various functions certain types of food play within the human body. According to physicians, in order to obtain harmony in good health, one must balance the “five flaors”. When one is sick, food recommendations are given to restore the balance and bring the person back to health.
Chinese Herbal Medicine:
In Chinese culture, Asian doctors consider herbal medicine a primary therapeutic function of internal medicine. There are hundreds of different herbs used by physicians to treat patients. Asian doctors prescribe ailing patients with an herbal remedy that could consist anywhere from three to twenty five different herbs and each herb has a certain amount of the “five flavors” to help restore balance in a person’s body. Chinese Herbal Medicine often use a variety of mushrooms, which are under intense medical research for immune system enhancement.
Cupping:
Cupping is a type of Chinese massage that involves a trained physician placing several glass spheres on the body. During the process, a physician lights a match and places it in the cup and is then removed before placing the cup on a person’s skin. The air inside the cup expands and when it is placed on skin by a physician, the air cools down creating a suction on the patient. Massage oil helps the cups to be slid around various points on the patient creating a “reverse-pressure” massage.
Moxibustion:
Moxibustion is a common practice performed by Asian doctors that is usually used in conjunction with acupuncture. Physicians burn dried Chinese mugwort on acupoints (the part of the skin that is penetrated by the needle). After repeated use, Asian doctors believe that Moxibustion increases circulation in the body to improve the well being of the patient both mentally and physically.
Keep in mind that many of these practices performed by Asian doctors and physicians have not been or have not yet been scientifically proven to be effective in treating illness.