A Basic Overview Of Chinese Medicine There is an undeniable mystique that
accompanies Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM, a range of traditional medical
and therapeutic practices developed in China over thousands of years. In fact,
one of the earliest known compilations on Chinese medical practices dates back
to 2698 B Christian
Louboutin Wedges
.C. To the uninformed, it is assumed that TCM is
all about the use of exotic products such as bat excrement and cow urine as
medicine. Many also wrongly assume that the diagnosis and treatment offered by
TCM practitioners is nothing more than just guesswork; and that these
practitioners do not really have actual abilities to discern the patient's
symptoms. In truth, Traditional Chinese Medicine is a complex and centuries-old
system that has been shown to be effective in the treatment and management of
various ailments ranging from sinusitis to muscle spasms. Chinese herbal
concoctions have also shown efficacy in providing migraine reliefs and lower
back pain relief, and everything in between. The core concepts of traditional
Chinese medicine can be found in Chinese philosophy, with Wu Xing and the
concept of yin and yang as the primary foundations of both diagnosis and
treatment practices Christian
Louboutin Boots
. The basic perception of the body in Chinese
medicine is that it is a whole, but with separate parts Christian
Louboutin Peep Toe
. The parts are designed to work together in
harmony, generally by balancing their naturally opposing concepts against one
another. Each part not only serves a physical function, but is also important to
mental processes. This explains the belief in Chinese medicine that what affects
one's physical health also has consequences for one's mental health, with each
imbalance in the body having a counterpart imbalance in the mind. This aspect
echoes the principles of yin and yang, which is best summarized as a blending of
two opposing but complimentary concepts, with neither one being superior in any
way over the other. Disharmony is said to occur when yin or yang becomes more
prevalent in the body than the other. This disharmony or imbalance is thought to
be the reason behind human illnesses Christian
Louboutin Mary Jane
. The Wu Xing aspect comes into play in terms of
analyzing how the disharmony came about. Wu Xing is similar to the classical
concept of the basic elements which are composed of fire, water, wood, earth,
and metal. Each of these elements can be found in the body, with varying
concentrations in different areas of the body. Combined, the elements produce a
delicate balance and results in the normal state of a person's physical and
mental health. This balance can be affected by internal and external factors,
which can sway the elemental balance in a variety of ways. In theory, an
increase in certain elements in areas that perform certain functions can sway
the yin and yang balance, thus affecting a person's health. The treatment for
the condition, whether it be sinusitis, lower back pain, knee pain, migraine
headaches, visual migraines, insomnia or whatever else ails the patient is
ultimately determined by where the imbalance is and what caused it. For example,
an excess of water that swayed the balance more to the yang in the nasal area is
sometimes cited to cause problems such as colds and sinusitis. To counter this,
a traditional Chinese doctor might prescribe a formula composed of herbs and
more exotic ingredients to help suppress the water element and, thus, restore
balance to the yin and yang. Traditional Chinese medicine also espouses a number
of other treatments, including those based on the manipulation of the patient's
diet. Another famous aspect or branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine is called
acupuncture, a technique that involves the insertion of needles into the skin on
specific points around the body to help restore balance between the Yin and
Yang. Acupuncture is also the branch of TCM that is concerned with the treatment
of what Western medicine would term as mental health disorders including anxiety
and phobias. Acupuncture is seen as an effective means of balancing the flow of
chi or internal energy throughout the body. In TCM, the need to balance the
yin and yang of the mind and heart is as important as attaining balance in the
human body. Modern TCM practitioners in China, however, do acknowledge that
there are situations when the traditional remedies can no longer put the body
back in proper balance. In most cases, when such situations are encountered, the
patient is advised to consult a doctor who practices Western medicine. However,
this does not create a conflict between the two schools since most Chinese
patients and doctors actually appreciate the balance between Eastern and
Western medical theory and practice. For example, Chinese people will have no
problems with surgery for appendicitis. At the same time, they will see no
conflict in using traditional herbal formulas to help recover after the surgery,
or to prevent the appendicitis in the first place. This is often in sharp
contrast to the attitude of some practitioners of traditional Western medicine
who tends to dismiss other medical philosophies, theories or schools as mere
quackery.
cheapcl#shoescl%cl009