OUR LADY OF FATIMA UNIVERSITY

College of Pharmacy

Module II:
Alternative Medical Systems
Traditional Chinese Medicine

COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

PCAM 211

WEEK 2-Day 3
 ACTIVITIES FOR WEEK 2 DAY 3

1. Attend Online Lecture via Zoom Meeting

Topic: Traditional Chinese Medicine
Duration: 1 hour

2. Please answer Assignment no. 5 in Canvas

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 UNIT OUTCOMES

At the end of this unit, the students are expected to:

◉ Define Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
◉ Understand the philosophical concepts of TCM.
◉ Identify the types of TCM treatment.
◉ Enumerate the benefits of TCM.

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 UNIT OUTLINE:

◉ Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Ø History
Ø Philosophical Background
Ø Types of TCM treatment
Ø Benefits of TCM

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 CHECKLIST

◉ Read course guide

◉ Read lecture notes prior to online lecture
◉ Read required learning materials
◉ Watch videos related to the topic
◉ Participate in discussion board in Canvas
◉ Answer and submit course unit tasks

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 TERMINOLOGIES

◉ Acupuncture is a technique in which practitioners

stimulate specific points on the body, usually by
inserting thin needles through the skin. .
(https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/traditional-chinese-medicine-
what-you-need-to-know)

◉ Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine

technique that involves the burning of mugwort, a
small, spongy herb, to facilitate healing.
(www.acupuncturetoday.com/abc/moxibustion.php)
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 TERMINOLOGIES

◉ QiGong is the ultimate meditative practice that allows

the body, mind, and spirit to communicate with
Universal Consciousness. .
(https://www.tcmworld.org/qigong/)

◉ Traditional Chinese Medicine is a healing system of

Eastern medicine developed in China more than
2,000 years ago. (https://www.drweil.com/health-
wellness/balanced-living/wellness-therapies/traditional-chinese-
medicine/)
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TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE
TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE
HISTORY
• The doctrines of Chinese
medicine are rooted in books
such as the Yellow Emperor's
Inner Canon and the Treatise
on Cold Damage, as well as in
cosmological notions such as
yin–yang and the five phases.
TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE
HISTORY
• Starting in the 1950s, these
precepts were standardized in
the People's Republic of China,
including attempts to integrate
them with modern notions of
anatomy and pathology.
• In the 1950s, the Chinese
government promoted a
systematized form of TCM
 TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE
• Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
is a branch of traditional medicine
that is said to be based on more
than 3,500 years of Chinese medical
practice that includes various forms
of herbal medicine, acupuncture,
cupping therapy, gua sha, massage
(tui na), bonesetter (die-da),
exercise (qigong), and dietary
therapy.
Traditional forms of medicine have been used in
China since the 3rd Century. Traditional Chinese
Medicine (TCM) system consist three parts.
Philosophical Background
Ancient Daoist Theory
Philosophical Background Yin-Yang 陰陽
The Daoist yin-yang concepts:
• Yang predominates during the day and turns into yin after dark.
• The human body is regarded as the universe in miniature, when the
Yin and Yang elements in a person’s body are well balanced, the
person is in good hearth. A person falls sick when the balance is
disrupted.
Philosophical Background Yin-Yang and Qi
• Traditional medicine revolves around the principles of Yin and Yang,
which are the opposites found in everything, such as day (Yang) or
night. (Yin)
• Practitioners believe that every person has a life force known as “Qi.”
• The purpose of medicine is to establish a balance of the body’s Qi.
Philosophical Background
FIVE ELEMENTS THEORY
• The five vital organs (the heart,
liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys)
are each seen as corresponding to
one of the five elements of earth,
wood, metal, fire and water.)
• The five organs function in an
interlocked and interconnected
relationship.
• It is believed a pathological
change in any of the vital organs
will affect the health of the other
organs.
Types of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Treatment

Herbalism – 中藥 zhōngyào
Acupuncture – 針灸 zhēnjiū
Moxibustion -- 灸; jiǔ
Cupping -- 拔罐 baguàn
Massage Therapy -- 推拿 tuīná
CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE
• Chinese herbal medicine has been used by Chinese people to
treat diseases for over 4,000 years.
• Herbs consists mainly of natural medicinal materials such as
plants, animal parts, and minerals of medicinal value.
• It is believed that herbs can help boost Qi and balance Yin/Yang.
Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine --
mixing different kinds of herb to make
medicine that will cure diseases.
Chinese patent medicine (simplified Chinese: 提 取中
药; traditional Chinese: 科學中藥) are herbal
medicines generally consist of extracted condensed
pills called tea pills, which are usually small, spherical,
and black, appearing like black pearls.
ACUPUNCTURE
•a technique in which practitioners stimulate
specific points on the body—most often by
inserting thin needles through the skin.
Benefits
• For patients with chronic pain to
reduce the frequency of tension
headaches and prevent migraine
headaches
•Originally there were 365
acupuncture points, but
through the years this
number has increased to
over 2,000.
ACUPUNTURE POINTS
 ACUPUNTURE POINTS

•Head
Acupuncture points to stimulate hair
growth
Acupuncture points for weight loss
MOXIBUSTION
• Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine
technique that involves the burning of mugwort, a
small, spongy herb, to facilitate healing.
• The purpose is to strengthen the blood and
improve Qi flow.
• Direct and indirect methods.
• Traditionally used to treat colds.
• But it is not for everyone.
• Because it is used specifically for patients suffering
from cold or stagnant constitutions, it should not
be used on anyone diagnosed with too much
heat.
CUPPING
• Cupping therapy is a form of CTM in which
cups are placed on the skin to create
suction.
• The cups can be made of a variety of
materials, including:
• Glass
• Bamboo
• Earthenware
• The suction of the cups mobilizes blood flow
to promote the healing of a broad range of
medical ailments.
PREVENTION AND MAINTENANCE
• TCM attaches great importance to the prevention of diseases, and Chinese
people believe prevention is better than cure.

• Nutritional Balance,
• Eating the right type of food,
• Massage,
• Qi-Gong, Tai Chi and
• Meditation.
CHINESE MASSAGE
• Chinese massage is known as Tui Na
• Uses wave-like motions to loosen
joints and nourish muscles.
• Brings awareness back to a person’s
body, making it a first step in the
healing process.
• Stimulates the flow of Qi, blood and
body fluids
• Can be used to treat pain, stress or
digestion problems. 推拿
QI GONG
• Qigong is a Chinese form of exercise.
• It regulates the mind and breathing
to promote the flow of Qi.
• Qigong is often used to treat
diseases.
• External Qigong is performed on a
person by a Qigong master
• Internal Qigong is practiced by
oneself.
TAI JI QUAN
• Tai-ji quan is an internal Chinese
martial art practiced for both its
defense training and its health
benefits.
• The study of Tai-ji quan primarily
involves three aspects:
• Health
• Meditation
• Martial art
MEDITATION
• Meditation has been practiced for thousands
of years.
• It involves focusing on one thing, such as
breathing patterns, while clearing all other
thoughts from the mind.
• Meditation is used to replenish the flow of Qi,
which helps to ward off illnesses.
• People may experience various feelings during
meditation. Some people may begin to feel
overjoyed, while others may experience
extreme sadness, and even cry.
• Meditation is also popularly practiced in
western countries as a means of stress relief.
 BENEFITS OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE
MEDICINE TREATMENT
1. Lowers Inflammation and
Might Offer Increased
Cancer Protection

2. Reduces Chronic Pain and

Headaches
 BENEFITS OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE
MEDICINE TREATMENT
3. Balances Hormones and
Improves Fertility

4. Improves Liver Health

 BENEFITS OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE
MEDICINE TREATMENT
5. Protects Cognitive Health

6. Helps Lower the Body’s

Stress Response

7. Preserves Muscle Strength,

Flexibility and Balance
 POP QUIZ/RECALL

Qi refers to the root of a human Female, Darkness, Moon

being, manifests on a spiritual represents:
level, in a constant movement .

True or False? Yin or Yang?

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 VIDEO LINKS

◉ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfUI9v_iqfg
(Traditional Chinese Medicine)
◉ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Huxjk3vn3c
(Benefits of Acupuncture)

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 REFERENCES:

◉ https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/traditional-
chinese-medicine-what-you-need-to-know
(Retrieved from National Center for Complementary
and Integrative Health website)
◉ https://www.acupuncturetoday.com/abc/moxibusti
on.php (Retrieved from Acupunture Today website)

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 REFERENCES:

◉ https://www.tcmworld.org/qigong/ (Retrieved from

Traditional Chinese Medicine World Foundation)
◉ https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/153
148/ (Retrieved from Hindawi website)
◉ https://www.drweil.com/health-wellness/balanced-
living/wellness-therapies/traditional-chinese-
medicine/ (Retrieved from Dr. Weil website)

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 ACTIVITIES for WEEK 3 DAY 1

1. Please take Quiz no. 4, topic: Traditional Chinese

Medicine. You have 20 minutes to complete this quiz
once you have started this
Questions : 20 questions
Time Limit : 20 minutes
2. Attend online lecture via Zoom Meeting
TOPIC: Meditation
Duration: 1 hour
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 REQUIRED READINGS for WEEK 3 DAY 1

◉ http://www.everydayhealth.com/meditation/types/
◉ http://www.mindful.org/how-to-meditate/
◉ The Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Lectures (2003),
Exploring Complementary and Alternative Medicine,
National Academies Press
◉ Mann, D. et. Al., (2004) Integrating Complementary
and Alternative Therapies with Conventional Care,
Program on Integrative Medicine
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 Thanks!

ANY QUESTIONS?

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