Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on the philosophy
of ‘find the cause’ and a belief that the body is made up of
interdependent parts when energy in one part is interrupted then disease
occurs. It encompasses all things and is based on mind, body and
spirit. If you remove a part, life force is interrupted and fundamental
to this is the flow of chi or life force.
In ancient China the doctor was only paid while the
patient was in good health. If the patient fell ill, the doctor
received no pay!
Chi or Life Force
Difficult to translate as there is no equivalent in
English, in the Chinese English dictionary it takes up over a page and
encompasses every living thing and influences of the mind, body and
spirit.
Two Types of ‘Chi’
(i) inherited innate chi or yan chi; and
(ii) acquired chi that we get from air, food and
social interaction.
Ancient Chinese believed that Chi has its own circulatory
system and was influenced by the flow of blood. When weak or exhausted
the patient is susceptible to disease, disharmony occurs. The balance
of yin and yang is affected.
Using food, herbs, acupuncture, reflexology, massage the
body is brought into balance. (Watching the Tree P.102.)
Chinese medicines consist of plant and animal ingredients brewed into
tea, soup or stews. We all know about western medicine in treating
disease.
Physician in Chinese yu cheng means "healer of life". In
the west or in western medicine it means curer of disease.
Diagnostic Methods
(assessing the patient)
In traditional Chinese medicine, many aspects are used to
find the inbalances and decide what form of treatment is agreed with the
patient.
Seeing;
observing the patient
Touching;
feeling the energy
Asking
questions; and listening together
Smell
Assessing
the body's pulses
Reading
the body; in terms of colour, texture
An old Chinese proverb says "let food be medicine". In
the west we live to eat. Food is considered the same thing and dishes
are prepared to balance the yin and the yang.
Food was often scarce so there was a respect for food.
The wok is used for stir frying, steaming and stewing. Soup at the end
of a meal prepared to aid digestion. Bean curd is a staple to the diet
and there is a Chinese saying "meat eaters are contemptible".
Green Tea contains certain antioxidants and is consumed
in large quantities.
In the sixth century a Chinese herbalist wrote a good
doctor first discovers the cause of the disease then tries to cure it
with food. only when food is ineffective will he use medicine (herbs).
The Skin
The colour of the skin can help to explain what is going
on in the body.
Red
- relates
to the heart meridian and can be affected by too many sweet things,
alcohol and an imbalance within the fire element.
Pale Skin
- relates
to the lungs and the large intestine meridians.
Yellow
-
relating to the gall bladder meridian.
Brown
- relates
to the kidney meridian.
The
Core
elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Food
Herbs
Acupuncture
Massage
Reflexology
Ears
Reflexology as part of Chinese Medicine
In historical records written by Sinaqian in the second
century BC - a well known doctor living in a remote village named Yu
Fu. Yu means healing, Fu means foot massage. Reflexology was used in
villages.
Today, reflexology is used as part of diagnosis and
treatment.
How can we learn from Traditional Chinese Medicine?
1. Become
skilled in observation and
listening to patients.
2.
Use the knowledge of the meridians in your
observations.
3.
USE The holistic and lifestyle approach to
your client.
4.
Be more aware of the healing properties of
food.
