TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE AND ACUPUNCTURE
IN THE WEST The western allopathic medical model is the most common medical philosophy found in the United States and Canada today. It is largely adapted from the European medical model which arose out of the dark ages and focuses on the determination of disease and the removal or control of it’s symptoms. Recent inventions such as the microscope has directed such focus to single units (cells, body parts, and systems). This has given rise to specialists such as cardiologists and dermatologists whose focus is on these isolated systems or body parts.
Western allopathic medicine uses three treatment approaches, Drugs, Surgery, and Physical Therapy.
IN THE EAST Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) evolved along a very different path, as the name implies, Traditional Chinese Medicine arose out of China between 2,000 and 4,000 years ago. Because there were no microscopes 2,000 years ago, focus was on the observable conditions of the human body as a whole and how it relates to the environment it is in. These observations and collective experience over thousands of years has developed into what we know today as Traditional Chinese Medicine. According to the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (CACMS), Chinese Medicine (including the other Asian offshoots such as Japanese and Vietnamese Medicine) is the most widely practiced system of medicine in the world (including Asia, parts of Europe, parts of Africa, Australia and other countries).
Traditional Chinese Medicine uses 5 treatment approaches: Acupuncture (explained below), Chinese Herbal Medicine, TaiJi/Qi Gong, Eastern Nutrition, and Tui Na.
Typically, as is the practice of our office, Traditional Chinese Medicine is integrated with Western Medicne and the patients receive the best of both worlds.
ACUPUNCTURE
IN THE EAST Acupuncture is based on the theories of qi (pronounced “chee”), which is the vital energy that flows throughout the body in channels called meridians. In nature, qi regulates growth, seasons, climates, days and nights. In human beings, qi, regulates all life activites: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. All forms of energy are in balance with eachother.
HEALTH AND DISEASE When the body is in a state of health, qi flows freely like a river. Pain and disease arise when there is too much qi, not enough qi, or stagnated qi. Acupuncture is used to regulate the flow of qi and restore proper balance in the body.
IN THE WEST Western medicine explains that Acupuncture positively stimulates and influences neurotransmitter rates thus resulting in the experience of energy balance in many parts of the body.