Traditional Chinese medicine

(TCM)
Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)
• Definition
– based on a concept of balanced qi (pronounced "chee"), or
vital energy, that is believed to flow throughout the body.
Qi is proposed to regulate a person's spiritual, emotional,
mental, and physical balance and to be influenced by the
opposing forces of yin (negative energy) and yang
(positive energy).
 TCM
• It includes knowledge gathered over the
centuries about herbs, nutrition, meditation,
restorative physical exercise, massage, and
acupuncture.
 Herbal medicine
• Classified by
– The four natures
• - pertains to the degree of yin yang, namely cold
(extreme yin), cool, warm and hot (extreme yang).
– The five tastes
• - pungent, sweet, sour, bitter and salty, and each taste
has a different set of functions and characteristics
– The meridians
• refer to which organs the herb acts upon
 Cont.
• Purpose
• - promote and maintain health
• - promote blood circulation
• - Some believes that can treat breast and
ovaries cancer
 Examples of herbs-Ginseng
* reduce stress,
* increase performance
and energy levels,
* improve memory and
* boost the immune
system
 Examples of herbs-Cinnamon
* Orally - urinary tract disorders, mucous membrane
inflammation, syphilis, and as a tonic and "blood purifier".
* Topically - skin eruptions, rheumatism, eye inflammation,
sprains, swelling, and for relief of insect bites or stings.
* Folk medicine - bronchitis, geriatric high blood pressure, gout,
arthritis, skin problems, kidney disorders, and cancers.
 Examples of herbs-Ginkgo
* Relief asthma
* Relief lung congestion
* Increase sexual energy
* Regulate blood flow
* Promote general
longevity
 Examples of herbs-Lucid ganoderma
* lowering or raising blood pressure,
* stimulating liver actions,
* blood cleansing, and
* acting as an adaptogen in helping the body fight the effects of
stress.
* most extensive and effective healing powers
Medicine produced from herbs
- Reserpine (Indian snakeroot plant)
- Digoxin (foxyglove)
- Quinine (Peruvian bark)
- Morphine (opium poppy)
- Cocaine (coca leaves)
- Aspirin (willow tree bark)
- Atropine (deadly nightshade)
 Nutritional therapy
* Made according to the patient's individual condition.
* The "five tates" indicate the function of various types of
food.
- Bitter, Sweet, Pungent, Salty, Sour
* When one is diseased (and therefore unbalanced), certain
foods and herbs are prescribed to restore balance to the
body.
Example of diagnosis with supportive
foods
• Anemia
- dark leafy greens, spinach, grapes, lotus root, liver,
and etc.
• Cold condition (fatigue; poor appetite; tounge:
white coat, possibly blue body; pulse: slow)
- cinnamon, ginger, onion, cayenne pepper(cili) and
etc.
 Acupuncture
* Definition:
-Technique of inserting and manipulating
filiform needles into points of the body
 Acupuncture clinical practice:
- Use disposable stainless steel needles of fine diameter
- (0.007’’ – 0.020’’, 0.18mm – 0.51mm)
- sterilized with ethylene oxide
- Also by autoclave
- smaller in diameter (less painful)
- Upper third of needles wound with thicker wire or
covered in plastic (for easily grasping)
 Purpose
• Regulate qi and flow it harmoniously
• Lower the temperature by which it treats the
infection
• Relieve the pain
 Used to treat:
• Depression;
• Headache;
• Induction of
labour;
• Knee pain;
• Low back pain;
• Stroke; and etc.
Restorative Physical Exercise-Qi Gong
 Qi Gong
• Qi = Energy ; Gong = exercise; Qi Gong =
breathing exercise
• Meaning
- "Energy Cultivation," refers to exercises which
improve health and longevity as well as increase
the sense of harmony within oneself.
• How is ‘Qi’ related to illness?
– Qi BlockageBlood StagnationDisease &Illness
 Function
• Prevent and treat illness
• prevent & decrease the effects of aging
• improve memory and brain function
• increase metabolism for weight loss
• reduce blood pressure, stress and anxiety
• decrease hormonal imbalances (including menopause)
• increase libido(sexual desire) in both men and women
• lubricate joints
• improve balance and coordination
• strengthen muscles, tendons, and ligaments
• increase flexibility
• improve blood circulation
 Remedial Massage-Cupping
• consists of placing several glass "cups" (open spheres) on
the body to create localized pressure by a vacuum which
causing local congestion.
 Therapeutic actions
- affect the body up to four inches into the
tissues, causing tissues to release toxins,
activate the lymphatic system, clear colon
blockages, help activate and clear the veins,
arteries and capillaries, activate the skin, clear
stretch marks and improve varicose veins.
Cupping is the best deep tissue massage
available
 How it works

 Place suction cup on a problem area

 the vacuum pull of the cup
 creates warmth and circulation in the area
 the pain is reduced
 Indication
- Constipation, IBS, diarrhea
- Headaches
- Back Pain
- Arthritis
- Fatigue
- Sciatica
- Skin Problems
- Period cramps
- Weight problems
- and more