Archive for the 'Chinese Medicine' Category

The basis of Chinese medicine revolves around the basic principle of yin and yang which are two opposing energy forces that reside inside the body.

Once the two forces are balanced then the body is able to achieve both wellness and health.

One way to reach this balance is through the practice of acupuncture which is the practice of placing needles into meridian points along the body.

Acupuncture also can involve the manipulation of the needles and the use of heat therapy as heat is supposed to allow energy to flow freely throughout the blocked body allowing for better energy and less disease.

The science of acupuncture first reached America between the 50s and the 60s with its rise to public knowledge occurring in the 70’s. Since the first article on acupuncture, scientists have tried to align the principles of acupuncture with Western medicines focus on healing and the human anatomy.

One such theory suggests that acupuncture works because it stimulates the production and release of endorphins in the body along with other natural painkillers.

This may be the reason why acupuncture has been found useful in treating addiction, mental states, and depression as it alters the body’s chemistry without the use of prescription dugs.

Qi not only forms the basis for the traditional medical systems of the East, but it has also influenced many parts of Eastern thought from martial arts to interior design.

The concept is so widespread that it has developed different terms across different languages. In Japan it is called ki.

In Vietnam, it is called khi, and in Korea it is known as Qi.

But whatever term you use for the concept, you are referring to the energetic principle that is part of all living things.

In the medical systems, it is held that the human body has natural patterns of Qi that move in certain ways and in certain patterns.

Different symptoms of each illness are said to be the result of disrupted or blocked movement of Qi across the body, or from a deficiency or imbalance of the Qi in the body.

Traditional medicine seeks to restore these imbalances and deficiencies by various means, such as acupuncture, herbal preparations, and other less widely known methodologies like traditional massage and traditional exercise. [Traditional Chinese Medicine]

Western medicine has been, as of yet, been unable to quantify Qi, linking its effects to everything from a placebo effect to a release of endorphins.

Moxibustion is the  Traditional Chinese Medicine practice of burning herbs on or near specific points of the body to produce a particular effect.

In the spirit of full disclosure, there is no basis in western medicine for the functionality of moxibustion.

There are, however, about 3000 years of practice spread across the whole of Asia, not just China, to show that process is effective.

In fact, the western word for moxibustion is more associated with the Japanese than Chinese language. And the practice is common in the medical systems of Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Tibet, and Mongolia as well as China.

The herb most often used during moxibustion is mugwort. It is generally placed either directly on the patient’s skin, on top of a piece of ginger placed directly on the patient’s skin, or the herb is held above the skin on an acupuncture needle.

The points or meridians where the herbs are burnt are very specific. As with most facets of these traditional systems, this should only be done by an experienced practitioner.

The basic theory is that the moxa (as the mugwort is called) warms these points and promotes circulation of both blood and qi, which is the subtle energy that is a pillar of these types of traditional medicine practices.

Qigong is a somewhat controversial practice that is purported to have vast health benefits.

It is, in short, a series of exercises that seek to balance the energy of the human body, first within itself and then ultimately with all of creation.

Intrinsic with this spiritual idea is the improvement of health and the curing of disease.

In many ways, it is the spiritual component that gives many western health experts the most trouble.

However, ground breaking research is currently going on that is attempting to lay aside the spiritual facet of this training and look at the results. And on that front, there are some tantalizing data.

Many Western medical experts and quite a few practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine view qigong as only a set of breathing and movement exercises, with the benefits tied to stress reduction and exercise.

In addition, any practice that encourages movement and is practiced consistently will result in an increased range of motion and improved joint flexibility and resilience. There are also mental benefits that come through focusing on the calm exercise.

Tui na is a massage therapy that is classed within the system of traditional Chinese medicine as an external method.

It is particularly appropriate for elderly persons and infants.

It has been used in China for more than 2,000 years. Notably, tui na has fewer side effects than many drug- and chemical-based treatments.

In the traditional Chinese medicine philosophy, the belief is that pain and disease are the result of an imbalance in the flow and/or amount of Qi, and that tui na will bring everything back into balance.

The tui na practitioner will brush, knead, roll, press and/or rub the areas between each of the joints, also known as the eight gates, to open the defensive chi of the patient and get the energy moving.

In addition, tui na has at its disposal the techniques of traction and massage, along with the stimulation of acupressure points. Interestingly, this can be used to treat both acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions, and non-musculoskeletal conditions.

There are many East Asian martial traditions that use a form of tui na to either manage or alleviate injury and pain due to training or training related injuries. That is understandable, given that an unmanaged injury in a martial career could lead to life and death consequences.

Alternative medicines can be found throughout the globe, originating from ancient remedies and rituals.

Very often China is the source of a lot of herbs widely used instead of manufactured drugs.

Asian ginseng, also known as Chinese ginseng attracts numerous claims over the benefits it can provide.

Much like a multi-vitamin, it is said to improve a person’s general well being especially those recovering from a long term illness.

The chemical part of the ginseng root is called ginsenosides and is the reason why it has strong healing properties. Manufacturers dry the plant’s root and it is subsequently made into tablets and capsules for internal use. Creams and various external preparations are also produced for sale.

As you can imagine anything which has so many beneficial claims made about it attracts a lot of research programs. Unfortunately, most of these have been relatively small and therefore science has not got much to say about ginseng as yet.

Scientists are prepared to agree that there are potential health benefits but it is left to the purveyors of alternative medicine to espouse its advantages.

Acne is a malady we would much rather keep away from. Think of the innumerable problems it gives. It causes skin irritation, and constant pain.

It gives us a poor appearance and we are constantly on a hide-out when hit by acne.

Acne is caused by excessive heat developed in the body. It can also be caused owing to hormonal imbalance.

Acne is also registered in the times of menarche when suddenly all the enzymes and hormones get on an overdose. Finally, acne may also be caused due to perpetual skin rashes.

At the end of the day, they require being treated. Though there are many medicines which can purposefully treat acne, they are either expensive or can have certain long-term side effects.

This makes herbs a most sought after regime for acne treatment [Herbal acne treatment]. Chinese herbs prove to be quite an effective cure for acne. Let’s gave a synoptic view of acne treatment through Chinese herbs.

Called the lesion of the lung wind by traditional Chinese medicine science, acne is generally believed to be caused due to heat forced by environment and dampness inside the body according to Chinese gerbil experts.

According to a study, an effective treatment for plaque-type psoriasis can be found in traditional Chinese medicine.

Yin-Ku Lin, M.D. (Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan) and colleagues found that an ointment based on the dark-blue, plant-based powder indigo naturalis can be used to treat the skin condition.

No cure exists for the chronic skin disease known as psoriasis, but there are therapies that lead to remission of the condition.

Lin and colleagues write that, “Traditional Chinese medicine is one of the most frequently chosen alternative therapies in China and Taiwan, and psoriasis has been treated for centuries with topical and oral herbal preparations.”

They add that, “Indigo naturalis is one of the Chinese herbal remedies that has been reported to exhibit potential antipsoriatic efficacy.

However, long-term systemic use has been occasionally associated with irritation of the gastrointestinal tract and adverse hepatic [liver] effects.”

Further studying the safety and efficacy of indigo naturalis, the researchers conducted a randomized trial with 42 patients suffering from treatment-resistant psoriasis.