What is TCM?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (T.C.M.) is one type of Oriental Medicine. T.C.M. possesses two outstanding features: holistic point of view and application of treatment according to the differentiation, including herbs, acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, massage (TuiNa), remedial exercises and diet. It has been used in China to restore health and treat disease for over 3000 years. In the western point of view, T.C.M. just stands for Traditional Chinese herbal Medicine, which consists mostly of nature herbal plants and mineral substances. The herbal medicine can be used to treat diseases by oral taking or external application. Herbal formulas can be oral taken in a variety of ways. The patient may be prescribed raw herbs. He/she will take home, and following simple instruction, steep these herbs into a tea to be drunk at home. Although we call it “tea,” some patients find the taste to be a little less than “delicious.
There are many forms of traditional medicine in the world, all with similarities and differences, advantages and disadvantages. There are few, however, as developed as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). One of the key features of TCM is that it has been able to develop for over 4000 years into a unique, tried-and-tested system of medicine, which is still a valuable health resource. Is it a complementary or an alternative therapy? The House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology defined alternative medicine as a therapy that uses diagnostic and therapeutic techniques external to conventional and Western medicine. TCM is such a therapy. TCM is mainly known for acupuncture, herbal therapy and tuina (chinese massage), but other lesser-known therapies are also used, such as cupping, moxibustion, guasha, Qi Gong, basic surgery and bone setting.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (T.C.M.) is one type of Oriental Medicine. T.C.M. possesses two outstanding features: holistic point of view and application of treatment according to the differentiation, including herbs, acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, massage (TuiNa), remedial exercises and diet. It has been used in China to restore health and treat disease for over 3000 years. In the western point of view, T.C.M. just stands for Traditional Chinese herbal Medicine, which consists mostly of nature herbal plants and mineral substances. The herbal medicine can be used to treat diseases by oral taking or external application. Herbal formulas can be oral taken in a variety of ways. The patient may be prescribed raw herbs. He/she will take home, and following simple instruction, steep these herbs into a tea to be drunk at home. Although we call it “tea,” some patients find the taste to be a little less than “delicious.” For this reason, many practitioners also offer herbal supplements in p
TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) is a well of medical knowledge gained from over 5,000 years of observation, investigation and clinical experience. TCM has very unique theory that is based on ancient Chinese philosophy that views the human body itself as an organic whole. The object of TCM is the person, not just the illness. In TCM, illness is only one manifestation of an imbalance that exists in the entire person. Chinese medicine recognizes that health is more than just the absence of disease and it has a unique capacity to maintain and enhance our capacity for well being and happiness.
