FAQ
What is Traditional Chinese Medicine?
Traditional Chinese Medicine is a combination of acupuncture, herbal medicine, Tuina (massage techniques), Qi Gong exercises, nutritional and lifestyle therapies. These modalities are used by themselves or in combination to bring the body back into balance and health when it becomes diseased.
Chinese medicine views the body as an intricate and integrated system; all of the organ networks of the body function together to maintain homeostasis and optimal health. Physical and emotional well-being are a result of the healthy relationship and inner workings of every aspect of the body together. Disease develops when the vital energy that flows through the body, connecting all of its functions, gets disrupted or when the body is unable to handle an intrusion from an external source. The practice of Chinese Medicine is focused on diagnosing and treating not only the symptoms of a disease, but also the reason a person became susceptible to disease. The modalities of Chinese medicine bring about symptomatic relief as well as bringing all aspects of the body back into balance in order to strengthen the body as a whole.
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine have been around for 5,000 years or more. The theory upon which acupuncture was developed takes into account a deep understanding by the Chinese of the circulatory, vascular, lymphatic and nervous systems. With a profound understanding of the body and how it works, the Chinese discovered that stimulating particular points on the skin could affect a particular organ or energetic pathway. Today, acupuncture is practiced by inserting very small needles into particular points on the body to bring the body back into a state of balance.
What is Herbal Medicine?
Chinese herbal medicine is a very powerful tool by itself, or in conjunction with other therapies. The use of herbal therapy may pre-date acupuncture by a couple thousand years! An herbalist uses her medicine differently than western medicines or even western herbs are used. Chinese herbal therapy is used to clear the body of disease, but also, and perhaps more importantly, it is used to improve the functions of the body as a whole. This approach addresses both the disease, and the cause of the disease. For example, in western medicine a patient may be given a diuretic to help clear edema but the drug does nothing to strengthen the kidneys. An herbalist can create a formulation that would not only clear excess water from the body, but also strengthen the organ systems responsible for the dysfunction.
An herbalist can create and modify an herbal formula that addresses your specific needs. Herbal formulas can be administered as a strong tea that you make at home, granules that you can dissolve in water, or in pre-made pill form.
Why choose Traditional Chinese Medicine?
The education of a Traditional Chinese Medical practitioner includes not only extensive study in eastern philosophy, diagnosis and healing techniques, but also includes an in depth study of Western patho-physiology, diagnosis and pharmacology. Working with such a person provides then an opportunity to address your health issue(s) in a well rounded manner, address all aspects of healing (mind, body, spirit) and perhaps most importantly to receive therapies specifically tailored to you as an individual.
What does Traditional Chinese Medicine Treat?
Chinese Medicine is a complete medical system that has been used to treat too many ailments to list on one web-page! Acupuncturists and herbalists have treated thousands of diseases. Sometimes the medicine helps to limit a disease and sometimes the medicine cures. People come in for a wide variety of health concerns from the common cold to emotional well-being to diabetes and supportive care during cancer treatment.