What is Traditional Chinese Medicine?

We may have jumped the gun a bit! Last month we wrote about cupping which is one form of Traditional Chinese Medicine and in our excitement, we forgot to introduce you to what Traditional Chinese Medicine is!! What a big, broad and all-encompassing topic this is. That being said, we would like to break this concept down into a four-part series so that we can fully share with you all the wonderful elements of TCM that we have grown to love and understand.

We were personally drawn to Chinese Medicine because it is a medicine designed to help people stay well. Ancient doctors in China were only paid when their patients were healthy. Our practice and our chosen lifestyle is very much aligned with prevention; we are passionate about treating and educating our clients based on this tenant so that they can live their best life.

"Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is one of the oldest forms of medicine, dating back over 5,000 years. Practitioners of TCM most commonly use acupuncture and herbs to treat patients, but there are several different modalities for treating various syndromes. .

Here’s a brief guide to different types of TCM treatments:

Acupuncture is a practice of placing of tiny, sterile needles through the skin in order to stimulate acupressure points targeting specific organs and functions of the body, while bringing balance to the flow of qi.

Chinese herbs are medicinal substances prescribed for their healing properties and known for restoring balance in the body. Chinese herbal treatments are mostly plant-based, but occasionally use mineral or animal products. They may come in the form of tea, pills, powders, lotions, pastes, and tinctures. Herb concoctions are typically created and prescribed specifically for the patient’s diagnosis, although pills are available for more generic symptoms.

TCM practitioners see diet as the first line of defense against disease. Like herbs, in Chinese medicine, foods are considered to have healing or damaging properties depending on how they affect one’s constitution or ailment. Foods are categorized by either flavor (sweet, sour, pungent, salty, or bitter) or by nature (cool, cold, warm, and hot/spicy). Practitioners believe that how food is cooked and prepared can affect the nature of the food, and how it will assimilate in the body.

This technique involves burning mugwort, a small spongy herb, to stimulate qi and strengthen blood. The heated herb can be placed on top of the acupuncture needle or indirectly placed near an area that is considered stagnant.

One of the oldest forms of TCM, cupping involves placing one or more glass or silicone cups on the surface of the skin. A suction is created either by heating the air inside the glass cup or compressing the air of the silicone cup. The cups can be left in place for several minutes or moved across the skin. Cupping can relax soft tissue, loosen adhesions, enhance circulation to the local area and stimulate meridians.

Known by several different names, tui na is therapeutic massage designed for the specific needs of the patient, used by practitioners to bring the body back into balance. Practitioners believe that the effects of Chinese massage can be compared to acupuncture, and sometimes describe it as acupuncture without the needles.

These gentle exercises integrate various postures with deep breathing and mental focus. People use these exercises to build strength, promote flexibility, calm the mind, and restore balance in the body."

And we will leave you with a diet therapy-summer eating tip! In TCM, living in harmony with the seasons is essential to good health. In the summer cooling foods should be eaten. Raw fruits and vegetables are cooling in nature so it is the time to eat lots of summer salads. Foods to incorporate into your summer salads: apricot, cantaloupe, watermelon, strawberries, tomatoes, lemon, peach, cucumber, orange, asparagus, sprouts, bamboo, bok choy, broccoli, spinach, snow peas, summer squash, watercress, mint, dill, bean sprouts. For more information or to book an appointment: Lynette at 403-512-9884 or www.ljwellness.com Kathy at 403-710-5027